Anto: War Survivor to Cancer Fighter

This is my amazing father-in-law, Anto Bauman. Last year, he was diagnosed with bladder cancer and ended up having his bladder removed. Everything was getting better, or so we thought. At his three-month check, they found that the cancer had spread to his lungs, and he started chemotherapy. Unfortunately, with the chemo, the cancer mutated into a very rare muscular cancer that spread throughout the muscles of his entire body. He is one of about 174 people in the world that have this cancer. It has been very aggressive and very painful, and he has been incredibly strong throughout this whole last year.

However, he was strong before any of this ever happened. My father-in-law is from Croatia and was taken as a prisoner of war during the Bosnian war. He was forcibly taken from his home and placed in a concentration camp, starved, tortured, and witnessed unspeakable things. Through a miracle, he was able to escape. My in-laws and my husband, as a child, were able to seek asylum and come to America as refugees. They worked hard to become US citizens and have been great members of their community.

This man has already witnessed and endured more pain than most people will ever know. We were luckily able to make it down to Utah to say our goodbyes before he passed away early this Saturday morning. (12/14/24) Just 11 days before Christmas. This is a devastating time for us all but especially my mother in law. My mother-in-law has been the rock and support of their family. They have no other family aside from my husband and me here in America. I am hoping to raise enough money to cover the upcoming expenses she will be faced with, including medical bills, funeral costs, burial plot, etc. All thoughts, prayers, and donations are gratefully appreciated. We are grateful for all of the support and people who have been there for my in-laws over the years.