In late January of this year, Megan (Supko) Drake and her husband Joe were on a weekend cruise when Megan got a very bad headache. As the headache worsened, she was medivac’ed to a hospital in Miami for testing. Scans revealed a large mass in her brain, and Megan was quickly scheduled for surgery to remove it.
Two weeks later the pathology report came back with terrible news. Megan, an incredible mother to daughters Amelia (7) and Penny (6), and a devoted wife, was diagnosed with a high-grade, aggressive form of brain cancer called glioblastoma multiforme. Megan is quite literally in the fight of her life. We are now raising funds to help this young family on their completely unexpected and life-changing journey.
Megan underwent successful brain surgery in February to remove the tumor. She is healing well and feeling good, so the next phase of her treatment is about to begin.
Megan is about to start 7 weeks of proton radiation therapy at the University of Miami cancer center every Monday through Friday, supplemented by daily chemotherapy. This means frequent travel, ongoing medical expenses, and a completely new reality for Megan and her family. After that phase is completed, Megan will undergo 6-12 months of a higher-dose chemotherapy regimen.
The aim is to shrink any remaining tumors and stop the cancer dead in its tracks. And Megan is ready for the fight! She’s young (this particular cancer is rare in people under 60), extremely fit, and enjoys amazing support from her family and friends.
Since January, Megan has been unable to work as she focuses on recovery and treatment. As a full-time personal trainer, she has always played a major role in supporting their household, and her inability to work has created a significant gap in the family’s income. It’s also unclear whether her treatments will leave her feeling strong enough to work. The funds raised here will go directly toward medical expenses not fully covered by insurance, transportation costs for her daily treatments in Miami, and basic living expenses in the event of any shortfalls.
We are also optimistic that Megan may qualify for a clinical trial aimed at her particular form of cancer, the cost of which likely would not be covered by insurance. Most importantly, your support allows Megan to focus her energy where it matters most: fighting her cancer, healing/recovery from surgery and treatments, and being present with her family.
Every contribution helps us create stability during this time and gives Megan the best possible environment to fight and recover.
We are incredibly grateful for any support, whether it is financial, sharing this page, or simply keeping Megan in your thoughts and prayers. Thank you for being part of our support system during this time.
**You can follow Megan's journey on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/meganpdrake/
