My brother-in-law, Anthony Ricci, is a 43-year-old father of three amazing kids and two angels. In January 2022, he got Covid, and while getting a chest x-ray, a large and alarming mass was discovered. After many tests, biopsies and scans, on March 14, 2022, he was given the unthinkable diagnosis of stage 4 neuroendocrine cancer. The cancer was found on his lungs, liver, small intestine, hip, pelvis and vertebrae. It was deemed inoperable and incurable. Absolutely devastating.

Tony and our close-knit Ricci Family rallied right away to begin to fight the cancer, determined to stay positive and keep the illness at bay for as long as possible. His body responded well to the chemo and immunotherapy treatments, and when he completed the first round of treatments in June, all the tumors had shrunk significantly! With hope for the future, we took a large family vacation to Disneyworld with Tony, the kids and the entire immediate family (all 18 of us). Sadly, Tony suffered a seizure during the vacation, which left him in a Florida ICU for three days. When we got home, an MRI showed tumors on his brain that were not there before the trip. We were devastated again.

But the Ricci family is not one to give up, and we continue to help Tony with his radiation appointments for these new tumors. My amazing sister-in-law Nicole has taken two unpaid leaves from her nursing job over the last six months to handle all of the doctors’ appointments, scheduling tests, procedures and treatments, and driving Tony to them. With Tony’s diagnosis and resulting seizures, he cannot work, drive or live on his own. The family has not hesitated to take care of him during this time, but it has not come without sacrifices and financial and emotional stress.

I am starting this Go Fund Me to help support the Ricci Family as we support Tony through the battle of his life. Everyone has been doing their best to take all burdens off Tony, so his only focus is fighting cancer and spending time with his children. The money raised will go to making accommodations to the house he now shares with his parents and sister, travel and living costs. Any donation will be greatly appreciated as Tony fights this disease and continues to make memories with those he loves.