Current Applicants

Daniyah is being treated for a malignant brain tumor. She is a very intelligent little four-year-old and already knows all her numbers, ABC’s, colors and even knows many popular children’s songs. Her mom is unable to work due to the everyday trips to the hospital for her daughter’s treatment.

Another patient receives treatment for her brain cancer at a center, which is a 66-mile round trip from her home. Once a two income family, this patient is trying to manage the household bills on 60% disability pay from her job alone because her husband was in a car accident and is not able to return to work yet. They are three months behind on their mortgage.

Arthur Beckman lives in New Jersey with his wife and two teenage boys. In March of 2008 he was admitted to the hospital where a CT scan showed a possible brain tumor. After undergoing a right partial craniotomy to remove the tumor, he was told it was a glioblastoma multiforme, grade 4. Since then he has received radiation and chemotherapy. He is not able to return to work and his state disability payments have run out. Arthur is waiting to find out if he can be approved for Social Security disability. In the meantime, his wife’s income doesn’t come close to paying all the bills.

Diamond Leath is 5 year-old girl who was diagnosed with brain cancer at 10 months of age. She underwent chemotherapy for a year and a half. As a result of the tumor, Diamond lost all vision in her right eye. She went into remission for a time but the cancer has returned and Diamond is back on chemotherapy.

 Niki lives in Philly, PA. She is 36 years old. She is married and has 2 teenagers. The family has relocated to Philadelphia so Niki can be closer to a clinical trial that she is in for her current treatment at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.  Niki does not qualify for disability and her husband was laid off from his job 6 weeks ago.  Niki is fighting a grade III anaplastic oligodendroglioma.  They have exhausted their liquid assets and need help with monthly expenses. 

Khloee is 2 years old and an only child. Khloee was diagnosed when she was 23 months old and had surgery on New Year's day. Her mom had to stop working to care for her. She has had proton beam radiation therapy and is now receiving chemo again.

Cindy, is 40 years old and has had two brain tumors removed. She has tried several agencies for help but has been told that there is no funding. She is on disability and food stamps and she is not able to return to work. A community group picks up and delivers her groceries, but she is struggling to make ends meet.

"Our lives were turned upside down on January 15, 2008. It was after an MRI that we were told our daughter needed to be admitted into the hospital for surgery to remove a lime-sized brain tumor." Megan & Kurtis Kegler live with their daughter, Madison in Michigan and need help paying their rent and transportation costs in order to get two-year-old Madison , the chemotherapy she needs. Someone must always be with Madison so the Kegler's combined income has been cut drastically. Any help will be appreciated.

 Myles, is three years old and lives in Illinois . Beginning in April of 2008, Myles suffered weeks of really bad headaches, vomiting and dizzy spells. Myles’s dad, Jeffery, took him to Children’s Hospital in Chicago . Myles was diagnosed with brain cancer (Medulloblastoma) and underwent surgeries to remove the tumor and to insert a shunt. After a few more weeks, he started chemotherapy. Myles finally got to go home with his family for a few weeks in August, but had to return for a higher dose of chemotherapy in September. Jeffery needs help in paying on their mortgage.

Carmen, from New Jersey , has been a New Jersey State Corrections Officer since 1990 and was recently diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme. He has been out of work for 5 months and is collecting disability. Unfortunately, it is less than half of his normal salary. He had to take out a pension loan to catch up but those pension paybacks come out of his salary. He set up a payment plan with his mortgage company but has not been able to keep up with the payments. Carmen feels desperate and degraded in needing to ask for help, but in his words, "… it’s either swallow my pride, or lose my house."

 Jan lives in Wesley Chapel, Florida with his wife of 31 years. He has three children and his first grandchild is due in October. He was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme in May of 2008 and has already had two surgeries. He has not been able to work since May, so their family has had to live on only his wife's income. This diagnosis has put a tremendous burden on his family and Jan just wants “to make it easier for them in some way." Jan says " I am optimistic that the doctors at Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa have given me a few months to live so I can enjoy my family ." He is looking forward to the birth of that first grandchild whom he "...can't wait to meet."

 Adan, age 28, lives in New York . He is originally from El Salvador and came to the United States for treatment for his malignant brain tumor. His family still resides in El Salvador . Adan is living with friends so he can “obtain care for a life.” He needs ongoing treatment and has had frequent hospitalizations. He needs money to give to his friends for rent.

 Robert lives in Florida and due to his brain cancer, must apply for disability with Social Security. He has received a small amount of help from the National Brain Tumor Society but is still overwhelmed with the costs of insurance and medical bills in addition to the normal household expenses of rent, utilities and transportation.

  Rosalena lives in Mesa , Arizona . Five people live in this Arizona home and are trying to survive on a total after tax household income of $28,000 per year. Rosalena was 15 years old when she was told that she had incurable brain cancer. She had surgery in December of 2005 to remove 80% of the tumor and hopefully give her more time. She is currently on oral chemo that “is keeping the tumor asleep.” The doctors have told Rosalena’s parents ( Robert & Jackie ) not to get their hopes up because there is nothing else that can be done. Robert & Jackie have mortgaged their home two times in order to pay medical bills. They have fallen behind in their current payments and have been sent a “pre-foreclosure letter” by their mortgage company.

  Eric is a US Navy veteran living in Orange City, Florida . He is a 41-year-old father of 3 children. He has a wonderful and supportive wife to whom he has been married for 13 years. In May of 2008 he underwent a biopsy which confirmed glioblastoma multiforme. Quoting Eric himself, “I wish to ensure an environment for my wife and children that allows them to thrive and grow with or without me. The cost of fighting cancer is putting significant strain on our household finances. We appreciate the opportunity to share and to know that there are organizations out there that care about the families torn apart by brain cancer.”

 Dennis is a disabled Navy Veteran who served in the Gulf War. He and his wife Donna, live in Connecticut. Donna has brain and lung cancer and Dennis has applied to every organization he can find to get help with their gas and electric bills and their mortgage. Medical bills have drained their savings and remaining income.

Terry lives in Easley , South Carolina . He was diagnosed with grade II astrocytoma at the famed Duke University Medical Center where Senator Kennedy received his brain surgery. Terry can no longer work and must travel 250 miles from their home to Duke for treatments. Terry has also had to apply for disability and food stamps. He and his wife are trying to maintain a homelife for themselves and their three children.

  Another patient who lives in Florida , wishes to remain anonymous . This patient like many others has lost his/her job and now has no income. He/She must pay people to be driven to treatment."

  Janis, from the state of Washington , is the mother of Shannon , a courageous 14 year survivor of malignant glioma (oligoastrocytoma grade 3). Shannon has undergone 4 brain surgeries, radiation therapy, 3 courses of chemotherapy and a dendritic cell vaccine. She is preparing to begin another course of chemotherapy next month. After using her credit cards to pay for many medical and travel expenses for treatment over the years, and then re-financing their home 4 times to pay off that credit card debt, Jan is in extreme financial trouble and she fears losing their family home of 40 years.

 Two other anonymous patients wish none of their stories shared but they are also in deep financial stress.