How to sum up Brendan McNamara... generous, giving, kind... he would literally give you the shirt off his back. He's a devoted family man, loyal friend, and funny. Brendan makes everyone laugh! To know Brendan is to love him! A little over two weeks ago he received a cancer diagnosis. The last few weeks have been challenging while waiting and receiving a diagnosis no family wants to hear. Brendan's family is an important, well-loved, and well-respected part of our surrounding communities and beyond. Brendan has given much of his life to serving others whether coaching, umpiring, being a town manager, a member of the Proctorsville Fire Department. When someone is in need of help, Brendan is one of the first to respond. Even in the midst of his recent diagnosis, you will see him at fire calls helping others.
Many people are asking how to help which is not a surprise given all he does for others. His diagnosis of urachal adenocarcinoma has already required a large copay, several trips to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, and trips to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. When a family faces cancer it is overwhelming to everyone and unfortunately brings on financial strain that is unexpected. Brendan will be facing surgery and a recovery in the next few weeks that will require him to be out of work for an extended amount of time. There will be many more trips to Dana-Farber and Dartmouth and follow up for the foreseeable future.
Money raised here will go directly toward the costs that cancer brings to a family and allow Brendan to be out of work and spend time recovering without worry. It will help pay for cancer costs in the future as well as costs associated with being in Boston as well as traveling to and from Dartmouth. Currently, Brendan is meeting with surgeons at Dartmouth and Dana-Farber to get ready for surgery to remove the tumor. He has had a number of scans which currently look clear and a PET scan will be happening soon as well.
Urachal adenocarcinoma occurs in one in one million people which makes Brendan even more special than he already was! Brendan and his family have a village which has already provided support as he begins to navigate the next steps. As Brendan continues to kick cancer's ass, we will provide updates and other ways to help here.
Thank you for being part of Brendan's village! If you would prefer to donate another way, you can mail a check to Brendan and Miranda McNamara at PO Box, 144 Cavendish, VT, 05142 or drop a donation off at the Proctorsville Fire Department on Tuesday nights.
"Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much." — Helen Keller
Organizers: Denise Hughes, Lisa Marks, Bobby Glidden