Zach Attacks Cancer

For quite a few months, our youngest brother Zachary Furr had been experiencing what he assumed was migraines. He’d get through work and his day with them, take some aspirin, and call it good. After a few more months, Zach decided it was time to see what relief a doctor could give him. It was September 1st 2018, and after a CT Scan, our family was informed that Zach had two tumors in his brain, and they were on the frontal lobe.

That hour Zach was rushed to Sutter Roseville Medical Center and admitted directly to the ICU.  The next day, September 2nd, Zach went in for a brain biopsy. The initial diagnosis changed our lives forever. The surgeon said while he wasn’t sure what type of cancer Zach had, he was 90% certain that it was cancer. After waiting an agonizing week with no answers, we finally got the news. Zach didn’t have typical brain cancer. Pathology came back negative for glioblastomas and any other brain cancer cells. With some intense research from the oncologists and pathologists, we had our answer. Zach was diagnosed with Intracranial Germ Cell Cancer. Germ Cell itself is common, it usually presents itself in the ovaries or the testicles. The odds of having Germ Cell in your brain are .10 (that’s correct, not even a full 1%) in every 100,000. It is so uncommon that local oncologists and even his care team in Roseville had never treated a patient with it. 

After a two week hospital stay, Zach was home and headed to Stanford to meet with their care team. Zach’s case went in front of a tumor board and it was decided that if it wasn’t feasible for him to be treated daily at Stanford, the next best place for Zach to get care is at UC Davis. He will be able to do chemo between the Marysville campus and the UD Davis campus, but he will be doing a 6 week long, daily, radiation treatment at UCD.

This is where we need your help. While Zach does have insurance, since he cannot work right now, he has to pay for COBRA Coverage 100%, as well as doctor office and prescription copays, daily travel to and from UCD and occasionally Stanford. As well as keeping up with his living expenses.

While we are having a benefit dinner, many people cannot attend for various reasons, and we made this account for those that can’t come but still want to help. Our family is beyond thankful and appreciative of your donations.  We love Zach so much, and it is so amazing to see how much he is loved by our community. Thank you for supporting Zach in his fight, it’s with the help and support of you all that he will beat this cancer!!!!