Team Anthony

 

 
As many of you know, Anthony Schillaci was diagnosed with stomach cancer in February of 2018.  
 
On March 16th of 2018, his 57th birthday, Anthony had a port placed in order to begin chemotherapy. He continued these chemotherapy treatments for three months. In July of 2018, his stomach was removed as a means of removing the cancer from his body. Anthony was in the hospital for 33 days due to complications from this procedure. However, with his strength and determination – he was discharged to a rehab facility where he began extensive physical and occupational therapy. After all of this, a new CAT scan was completed in November of 2018, and our family was given great news – the cancer was gone! 
 
At this point, Anthony’s physical strength started to return. He was able to have his feeding tube removed, his appetite grew, and he was, once again, able to enjoy and celebrate holidays, birthdays, and family celebrations with those he loved. 
 
On New Year's Eve of 2018, Anthony began to feel sharp pains in his back and severe nausea. We rushed him to the emergency room. He was diagnosed with bile stones and pancreatitis and told to follow up with a gastroenterologist. His GI specialist performed an endoscopy and cleared him of any cancer at this time. However, Anthony’s appetite weakened and he began to lose weight. After multiple follow-up appointments, a new CAT scan was performed in February of this year, where suspicious lesions were noted.  
 
In March, Anthony was laid off from his job. However, he was able to celebrate his 58th birthday with his family, which despite his many struggles over the past year, we were all incredibly grateful. Then, just one week later, Anthony was brought back to the emergency department, an additional CAT scan was performed and it was decided at this time that surgery was necessary to determine if the cancer had returned and to what extent it had spread. Unfortunately, the results of this operation were devastating. The cancer had not only returned, but had diffusely spread throughout his abdomen. After some time in the hospital, it had been determined that not much else could be done, as my father now had stage four metastatic cancer, and he was discharged home.  
 
Only a few days later he spiked a high fever, and was, once again, brought back to the emergency room, where he was admitted to the hospital. It was again reiterated that not much could be done to improve his condition. At this point, our family is in the process of making this man we love and cherish as comfortable as possible with this terminal diagnosis.  
 
While his fight against cancer was faced with many victories and hurdles, ultimately, we are in a place of acceptance of his condition, and have focused our attention on his quality of life and well-being. This is an incredibly trying time for our entire family, and unfortunately this last year has been a constant financial struggle. Many procedures have been costly and not covered by insurance. We have been blessed to have the support of our family and friends throughout this journey, and we ask that you donate whatever you are able, in order to help us cover the financial cost of his cancer battle.  
 
We are grateful and thankful for your love, support, kind words, and prayers.