Support for a Young Family Battling Brain Cancer

Hi, my name is Mandy, and I’m creating this GoFundMe for my sister-in-law, Kati—who is truly more like a sister to me—and her husband, TJ.

TJ is currently facing an incredibly difficult health battle: a recurrence of stage 4 astrocytoma, a type of glioma (brain cancer) that he originally fought when he was younger. About 17 months ago, he and Kati received the devastating news that the cancer had returned—and their lives were turned upside down.

Understanding Gliomas and Brain Cancer:

Gliomas are a type of brain tumor that develop from glial cells, which support and protect the neurons in the brain. These tumors are often difficult to treat because they invade the surrounding brain tissue, making it challenging for doctors to remove them entirely. Stage 4 astrocytoma is one of the most aggressive forms of glioma, and it grows rapidly, spreading into the brain's tissue. Unfortunately, there’s no clear understanding of what causes gliomas, which makes them even harder to predict or prevent.

For those battling brain cancer, treatment options typically involve surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy—but even with all of these approaches, the cancer can come back. There’s also no certainty regarding how the brain will respond to treatment, and many people experience serious side effects or complications as a result, like neurological deficits, cognitive changes, or stroke-like symptoms. The journey with brain cancer is filled with uncertainty, and it often becomes a constant challenge of hope, fear, and resilience.

TJ’s Medical Journey:

What makes this journey even more remarkable is that Kati was pregnant throughout this entire time, carrying their twins—who were born in April 2024. Despite everything, Kati has remained a steadfast support to TJ, all while raising their three young children, including preparing for the arrival of their newborn twins.

To add to the weight of this situation, Kati is working full-time as a teacher, bringing in income and carrying the insurance for their family. Despite the demanding nature of her job and caring for TJ, she continues to balance it all with grace, providing what stability she can while TJ focuses on his recovery.

The physical, emotional, and financial toll has been enormous. With ongoing hospital visits, therapies, medications, home care, transportation, and daily support now required more than ever, the costs are quickly adding up.

For a long time, Kati and TJ’s privacy was incredibly important to them. They didn’t want to burden the community with their struggles. But now, the time has come for us to rally behind them. We can help relieve some of the financial burden they’re facing so they can focus on TJ’s health and their growing family.

If you’re able to donate or share, it would mean the world to them. Every bit of support makes a difference, and they are incredibly grateful for the love and kindness surrounding them.

Thank you for being here.