Charlie's Cancer Campaign

My brother, Charlie, lives in Saratoga, NY with his wife, Marianne, and his two-year old-son, Liam.  When he first fought cancerous melanoma four years ago, he was engaged and finished his chemotherapy treatment just before his wedding in November.  Charlie was able to stay with family in Gloucester, MA while he recieved chemotherapy treatment at Dana Farber Cancer Center in Boston, MA.  At the time we considered ourselves very lucky to be able to spend time with him while he recieved excellent care from the kind and caring staff at Dana Farber.  He spent alot of time with my sons, his nephews, and certainly kept us laughing in spite of the effects of his chemotherapy treatment.  My boys have certainly not forgotten that summer they spent with their uncle in spite of being just 18 months and 3 years old at the time. He left Gloucester clear of cancerous melanoma and went home to begin his own family.

He has been blessed with one son, Liam Stuart, and he is a shining light in Charlie and Marianne's life.  Liam turned two this October,  and unfortunately at the same time my brother found out that cancerous melanoma had returned.  The melanoma was sugically removed, but a scan revealed the possibility that the cancer had metastisized to the lymph nodes,  He underwent surgery on Wednesday January 6th and the lymph node was found as cancerous.  The surgeon removed it as well as 4 other surrounding lymph nodes.  He will be undergoing treatment at Sloan Kettering Cancer Center with Dabrafenib as a B-raf gene inhibitor; and although we know little of the specific course or length of the treatment it looks as though the side effects are very similar to chemotherapy.  We are ... "preparing for the worst and hoping for the best."  Please help us alleviate some of the financial burden and stress for this kind-hearted, funny, and loving father, husband, son, and brother.  I would be forever grateful to be able to surprise them with this outpouring of support!