Hi, my name is Denise DeCroix Thomas. Many of you know me from work at the Bear in DC, are my family members, or are lifelong friends. On December 1st of this year, my beloved son-in-law Daniel and daughter Brandy's world changed in a way no newlyweds ever should or anyone who made vows or a commitment to forever could have envisioned. Without warning, our hearts were shattered when Daniel was diagnosed with a brain tumor, a kind of glioma called a diffuse astrocytoma. He had surgery this past Tuesday, but only a small part could be removed. A plan is being developed for further treatment by his physicians, which will likely include chemo and radiation therapy.
Daniel and Brandy met in South Korea in 2010 while teaching English. They fell in love and continued teaching there. Eventually, Daniel returned to Canada and Brandy to the United States, but their relationship continued, and they married in October of 2015. Brandy continued to live and work in the United States as they waited for the Canadian immigration papers to be processed. When their application was approved in October 2016, they chose to wait. Brandy works at a public charter school in DC, and last year she and her colleagues won a grant to build a makerspace program. She wanted to stay and be able to help put the program in place, finishing a chapter of her life in DC before starting a new one in Canada. In the meantime, Daniel and Brandy flew back and forth to visit each other. When she heard the news, she resigned her position to be with her husband in Canada. This is hard on so many levels, but as her mom, I want to do whatever I can to relieve the financial burden that comes with this sudden upheaval to their world. Daniel is currently unable to work and Brandy needs to be with him. Because Canada has a National Healthcare system, Dan is fortunate that his medical expenses will be taken care of. However, my wish is for them to be able to stay in the home that Dan was already making for my baby girl, and for them to have the life they hoped for as husband and wife without the financial uncertainty that has been suddenly thrown at them and with neither of them working at this time. They deserve time together to make memories.
Any help will be appreciated and treasured. I believe in the goodness of people and know so many who through kind words of support and gestures of love want in some way to help. They are good kids just starting their life together, two of the best people I know who need that love and support and would never ask for it for themselves, so I am doing it for them. 

Daniel is a photographer, and as a gesture of appreciation for your kindness, his goal is to send some of his work as a thank you to those who donate.