On 9/15/2025, my stepmom Dana and I received a phone call that flipped our lives upside down. My dad, Tim Zrebiec, had been involved in a brutal, single-vehicle tractor-trailer accident while at work. My dad’s truck, while carrying 38 tons of stone, ran off the road, flipped on its side, and although he was wearing his seatbelt, he was ejected from the cab of his truck. First responders found him unconscious and began life-saving measures, which included my dad being airlifted to Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

My dad was lucky, to say the least, to have survived the accident, with some broken ribs and fractured vertebrae, a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), among multiple other lacerations and road rash. While assessing my dad’s injuries, several scans were done, which included an MRI of his head. The results of this MRI and a subsequent spinal tap provided doctors with a diagnosis that we were not prepared for.

My dad has been diagnosed with Primary CNS Lymphoma, an incredibly rare and aggressive form of brain cancer. We have no idea how long he has had it, but the cancer cells have spread through his central nervous system and are in his brain and his lower back. While ensuring his trauma injuries are healing, we were informed cancer treatment needed to take precedence due to the aggressive nature of this cancer.

Primary CNS Lymphoma is so rare, there are not a lot of studies on it. We have been told 85% of people respond to treatment. However, if one does not respond, or the cancer returns within the first 2 years, the prognosis is extremely poor.

My dad has been in the hospital, 90 minutes from home, for over 3 weeks now, and we still don’t know when he can come home. He has little to no mobility on his right side and cannot walk on his own, which is a symptom of the location of his brain tumors. He is also still dealing with the trauma injuries that are slowly but surely healing.

My dad will have to complete 8 rounds of chemo, each round being every other week. Even when he is cleared to come home, it’s mandatory for him to receive his chemo treatment at Strong Memorial Hospital every other week and will have to be admitted for 3-4 days each time so they can ensure the chemo medication clears his body.

I continue to read progress notes and have yet to read a doctor’s update that doesn’t express the complexity of my dad’s case.

Once Dad is cleared to come home, he will continue with acute physical therapy/occupational therapy, which he is currently receiving 3-5 times a week.

Although this accident occurred while my dad was at work, workers' comp has denied his claim, and we have not heard a word from his employer regarding short-term disability. FMLA paperwork was submitted; however, this is unpaid.

I am setting up this GoFundMe to help with massive accruing medical bills, assist with supplementing my dad’s lost wages, costs of transportation and family lodging for his trips to Rochester, and to ensure my stepmom can keep the household stable with just her income.

Any donation goes a long way, as we are in for a very long road. Dad is strong, and he’s a fighter, and we are all in this together.

If you are not in a place to donate, please keep us in your thoughts as we navigate this unexpected life change.