Ivan's Cancer Treatment Expenses
Donation protected
Friends, I am appealing for help for Maria Teresa Petruzzo and her husband, Ivan Blunno.
Maria Teresa and I have been great friends since meeting at Air Canada where I know she has a large circle of friends, because she's just that kind of person: generous, thoughtful, optimistic, kind, always has a smile for everyone she meets.
In 2001, I had the privilege of being her maid of honour, when she married the love of her life, Ivan. The wedding (and most of the courtship) took place in Torino, Italy and it was a joyous occasion.
Ivan moved with his beloved Maria Teresa to Canada and started a beautiful life together, raising three children Martina, Alex and Manuela. Maria Teresa and Ivan are active in their community and live their lives with integrity, love and passion.
Almost two years ago, Ivan started to suffer from terrible headaches and began blacking out. After some testing, he was diagnosed with advanced terminal brain cancer. Ivan has had several complex surgeries in quick succession but the edema kept coming back. The most recent CT scan confirmed that his situation has worsened. Ivan is now in palliative care. Maria Teresa, Ivan and their children have recently moved in with her parents so that she can focus all of her time caring for him. His parents, for whom he is an only child, have flown from Italy and are also with them.
As these things go, Ivan has not been able to work for a while. Maria Teresa has taken a leave of absence from her job, and although they have benefited from some safety nets of our society, their income has greatly diminished. They are paying for the costs of supplementary treatments that are not funded by health care and are struggling with the enormous amount of the associated paperwork. Eventually, Maria Teresa will be raising three young children on her own and our help will be greatly beneficial to all of them.
If you know them, you know that they have been fighting this illness with courage, dignity and tenacity. They have pursued all available options, with the goal of prolonging Ivan's life.
You will also know that Maria Teresa and Ivan live their life by helping others. Now it's our turn to help them. Any amount is appreciated.
With much gratitude
Cidalia Ribeiro
Maria Teresa and I have been great friends since meeting at Air Canada where I know she has a large circle of friends, because she's just that kind of person: generous, thoughtful, optimistic, kind, always has a smile for everyone she meets.
In 2001, I had the privilege of being her maid of honour, when she married the love of her life, Ivan. The wedding (and most of the courtship) took place in Torino, Italy and it was a joyous occasion.
Ivan moved with his beloved Maria Teresa to Canada and started a beautiful life together, raising three children Martina, Alex and Manuela. Maria Teresa and Ivan are active in their community and live their lives with integrity, love and passion.
Almost two years ago, Ivan started to suffer from terrible headaches and began blacking out. After some testing, he was diagnosed with advanced terminal brain cancer. Ivan has had several complex surgeries in quick succession but the edema kept coming back. The most recent CT scan confirmed that his situation has worsened. Ivan is now in palliative care. Maria Teresa, Ivan and their children have recently moved in with her parents so that she can focus all of her time caring for him. His parents, for whom he is an only child, have flown from Italy and are also with them.
As these things go, Ivan has not been able to work for a while. Maria Teresa has taken a leave of absence from her job, and although they have benefited from some safety nets of our society, their income has greatly diminished. They are paying for the costs of supplementary treatments that are not funded by health care and are struggling with the enormous amount of the associated paperwork. Eventually, Maria Teresa will be raising three young children on her own and our help will be greatly beneficial to all of them.
If you know them, you know that they have been fighting this illness with courage, dignity and tenacity. They have pursued all available options, with the goal of prolonging Ivan's life.
You will also know that Maria Teresa and Ivan live their life by helping others. Now it's our turn to help them. Any amount is appreciated.
With much gratitude
Cidalia Ribeiro
Organizer
Cidalia Ribeiro
Organizer
Ottawa, ON