Ian Vallejo has been battling osteosarcoma, bone cancer, for 3 years. During that time he has...

·   Had his leg amputated,

·   Hiked, biked, camped and climbed,

·   Been given 10 different chemotherapies,

·   Earned his GED and started college,

·   Been given high dose radiation to the base of his spine,

·   Won 3rd place earning a spot on the US National Adaptive Climbing team,

·   Been given IV highly radioactive radium injections 6 times,

·   Earned straight A's his entire first year of prosthetics and orthotics school,

·   Had his spine glued back together as the tumor made the bone unstable,

·   Lived on his own in the St. Paul area, Minnesota

·   Ended up in ICU with a very serious blood infection

·   Traveled to the French Alps on his adventure Make-A-Wish trip

It is devastating that this list of unbelievable triumphs is punctuated by such tremendous hardships - and unfortunately the battle is not over.

Ian has been diagnosed with therapy induced AML leukemia. He has began chemo a few days ago and we pray he will reach remission.

Ian and his family have always tried to focus on living fully while battling mightily; however, recent financial needs have made this focus more challenging than ever. Liz has been unemployed while she has coordinated Ian's care and his future care and hospitalization will present some new challenges as Eric will want, and need, to take additional unpaid leave. As Eric is the only one working full time and maintaining the much needed medical insurance, this will create a huge financial burden.  

 Providing the best medical care and preserving the best quality of life for Ian will be an incredibly stressful financial challenge during a time where the emotional stress would be more than most of us could bear. Decreasing the Vallejo’s financial burden would help them to continue their resolve to live fully while fighting mightily.

 For those of us fortunate enough to know and love the Vallejo family, we have watched proudly yet helplessly as they have battled this horrible disease with grace and determination. Now we all finally have the opportunity to help them with their fight.  They need financial help to continue providing Ian the best care while spending precious time with family and friends. If you are able to help free them from even the smallest amount of financial burden, please donate now.