Help Dustin Fight Brain Cancer
Donation protected
A sudden seizure followed by a diagnosis of brain cancer is not what you'd expect in a previously very healthy 33 year old, married, father of three young boys. Their story is as follows:
While attending a family gathering in Rochester, Dustin and Ashley's oldest son, Evan, age 9, began not feeling well and appeared to have a fever. They decided to cut their visit short not wanting to chance anyone else getting sick. They stopped at the North Walmart so Dustin could run in and get some Tylenol for Evan. Ashley stayed in the car with the three boys while Dustin went for the Tylenol.
Ashley became concerned because it was taking a long time to pick up just one item. Then she saw a police car pull up to the Walmart entrance, lights flashing, followed by a fire truck and ambulance. She tried to call Dustin on his cell phone with no answer which went to voice mail. Shortly after her call, her phone rang with a call from Dustin's phone. It was a police officer explaining to her Dustin had suffered a seizure.
Ashley called her parents who live nearby and they came to pick up the boys. Ashley rode with Dustin in the ambulance to St. Marys Hospital. A CT scan there revealed Dustin had a large mass on the right side of his brain which had caused the seizure.
He was admitted to the hospital and placed on anti-seizure and steroid medications. The following morning a MRI was performed and they were given an initial diagnosis the tumor was a primary glial neoplasm.
Surgery to remove the tumor was on February 1st. During his 10 plus hour surgery the surgeons were able to remove a little over 90% of the tumor without causing Dustin any loss of function or side effects.
Following surgery, pathology determined Dustin's tumor was a Grade 3 Anaplastic (malignant) Astrocytoma. Brain cancer.
After the staples were removed from his head and sufficient healing had taken place, Dustin began treatment to kill the rest of the cancer. He started a six week treatment of daily proton beam radiation along with chemotherapy on February 26th. He will have radiation treatments five days a week in Rochester and chemotherapy daily.
Because of his seizure Dustin is unable to drive for at least the next three months. He's unable to be left alone to watch the boys. Dustin is a journeyman electrician and not able to work because of the seizure risk and inability to drive. Ashley is a radiologic technician and is also unable to work because of her need to take of of the boys, ages 9, 5, and 19 months, and Dustin. She also has to drive him to Rochester daily for his many appointments and treatments. Family members and friends are helping watch their boys while in Rochester for his treatments.
After completing the initial six weeks of radiation and chemotherapy, Dustin will get a month off and then begin a six month course of chemotherapy and close monitoring.
Both Dustin and Ashley are fortunate in having good jobs and heath insurance coverage. But insurance does not cover all the expenses -- deductibles, co-pays, loss of income from their jobs, and daily travel to Rochester.
Very reluctant to ask for help, they have been convinced by their family and friends, that there are many people out there wanting and willing to help them.
We ask you to please consider helping in any way that you can. Even small contributions add up. We have chosen to use a GoFundMe page to reach all of their friends and family.
In the very near future, we will be selling wristbands to raise money and show support for Dustin's battle against cancer. The wristbands will be gray (for brain cancer) with the wording:
CANCER: Just Beat It! Go Dustin!
A benefit to be held in Rushford is also being planned.
Dustin, Ashley, and their entire family thanks you for your support and hopes you will include them in your thoughts and prayers.
Don't forget to share this with your friends and family.
While attending a family gathering in Rochester, Dustin and Ashley's oldest son, Evan, age 9, began not feeling well and appeared to have a fever. They decided to cut their visit short not wanting to chance anyone else getting sick. They stopped at the North Walmart so Dustin could run in and get some Tylenol for Evan. Ashley stayed in the car with the three boys while Dustin went for the Tylenol.
Ashley became concerned because it was taking a long time to pick up just one item. Then she saw a police car pull up to the Walmart entrance, lights flashing, followed by a fire truck and ambulance. She tried to call Dustin on his cell phone with no answer which went to voice mail. Shortly after her call, her phone rang with a call from Dustin's phone. It was a police officer explaining to her Dustin had suffered a seizure.
Ashley called her parents who live nearby and they came to pick up the boys. Ashley rode with Dustin in the ambulance to St. Marys Hospital. A CT scan there revealed Dustin had a large mass on the right side of his brain which had caused the seizure.
He was admitted to the hospital and placed on anti-seizure and steroid medications. The following morning a MRI was performed and they were given an initial diagnosis the tumor was a primary glial neoplasm.
Surgery to remove the tumor was on February 1st. During his 10 plus hour surgery the surgeons were able to remove a little over 90% of the tumor without causing Dustin any loss of function or side effects.
Following surgery, pathology determined Dustin's tumor was a Grade 3 Anaplastic (malignant) Astrocytoma. Brain cancer.
After the staples were removed from his head and sufficient healing had taken place, Dustin began treatment to kill the rest of the cancer. He started a six week treatment of daily proton beam radiation along with chemotherapy on February 26th. He will have radiation treatments five days a week in Rochester and chemotherapy daily.
Because of his seizure Dustin is unable to drive for at least the next three months. He's unable to be left alone to watch the boys. Dustin is a journeyman electrician and not able to work because of the seizure risk and inability to drive. Ashley is a radiologic technician and is also unable to work because of her need to take of of the boys, ages 9, 5, and 19 months, and Dustin. She also has to drive him to Rochester daily for his many appointments and treatments. Family members and friends are helping watch their boys while in Rochester for his treatments.
After completing the initial six weeks of radiation and chemotherapy, Dustin will get a month off and then begin a six month course of chemotherapy and close monitoring.
Both Dustin and Ashley are fortunate in having good jobs and heath insurance coverage. But insurance does not cover all the expenses -- deductibles, co-pays, loss of income from their jobs, and daily travel to Rochester.
Very reluctant to ask for help, they have been convinced by their family and friends, that there are many people out there wanting and willing to help them.
We ask you to please consider helping in any way that you can. Even small contributions add up. We have chosen to use a GoFundMe page to reach all of their friends and family.
In the very near future, we will be selling wristbands to raise money and show support for Dustin's battle against cancer. The wristbands will be gray (for brain cancer) with the wording:
CANCER: Just Beat It! Go Dustin!
A benefit to be held in Rushford is also being planned.
Dustin, Ashley, and their entire family thanks you for your support and hopes you will include them in your thoughts and prayers.
Don't forget to share this with your friends and family.
Organizer
Bruce Costigan
Organizer
Rushford, MN
