Dan Gray's Fight for Life
Donation protected
Imagine you had already lost one son to cancer and you are now watching your second boy fighting for his life - again from cancer.
Mary Golba is a beloved second grade teacher in Erie, Pennsylvania. She was my daughter’s teacher - and the BEST math teacher I know. She works tirelessly to educate so many children in our community and challenges them to be the best they can be…despite the immense personal tragedy and adversity of losing her eldest son to cancer.
Now Mary is faced with another devastating family crisis. Her younger (and only) son, Daniel, has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. He is 22 years old.
In 2014 during his senior year of high school, Dan was sitting in English class when he experienced a Grand Mal seizure. A CAT scan and MRI revealed a brain tumor.
Dan underwent further MRI testing and brain surgery later that month and was diagnosed with a Grade 2 Astrocytoma.
Since Dan’s elder brother, David, died at age 16 of Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) when Dan was in 5th grade, Dan had genetic testing that revealed an extremely rare condition called Li Fraumeni Syndrome.
Here is a link describing the condition:
https://www.lfsassociation.org/what-is-lfs.
Li Fraumeni genetically predisposed these brothers to be FAR more susceptible to cancer than the general population. It also makes traditional cancer treatments much less effective. Hence Dan’s tumor only grew.
His family contacted the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland - as they are one of the only places in the world familiar with this extremely rare genetic condition. Even NIH does not have a cure.
In 2016 during his first semester in college, Dan experienced seizures every other day. An MRI and biopsy revealed the cancer had grown and worsened to a Grade 3 Anaplastic Astrocytoma. He decided to put college on hold.
Over the next few years, Dan focused on living his best life rather than being in a constant battle with cancer. He developed an interest in gardening and cooking. He became a very fine amateur chef for his family - enjoying time with his mom and sister, his best friends, and his dogs, Ein and Mila.
In March of 2019, Dan realized he could not grasp his cooking utensils and was experiencing weakness and significant loss of fine motor function on the right side of his body. An MRI showed the tumor had grown extensively into the motor cortex area in the left hemisphere of his brain.
This leads us to present day. Dan is scheduled for brain surgery at the National Institute of Health Medical Center tomorrow. The outcome of this major surgery is unknown. There is still no known cure for Dan. The hope and dream is to help extend his life and improve his quality of life…until there is a cure.
There are so many worthy charitable causes out there - I know. Every day I read something that tugs at my heart strings and I’m sure you do too. But please stop and consider Mary and her son. Please. They are incredible human beings who have been through such pain and heartache and have endured so much. While most of us can’t help fight cancer with our own abilities or talents…we STILL CAN help this family. ANY and ALL contributions will go toward Dan’s medical costs. And by lessening the financial burden on them - even a little bit - hopefully they can focus more on their precious time together.
Thank you SO VERY MUCH for your consideration.
Mary Golba is a beloved second grade teacher in Erie, Pennsylvania. She was my daughter’s teacher - and the BEST math teacher I know. She works tirelessly to educate so many children in our community and challenges them to be the best they can be…despite the immense personal tragedy and adversity of losing her eldest son to cancer.
Now Mary is faced with another devastating family crisis. Her younger (and only) son, Daniel, has been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. He is 22 years old.
In 2014 during his senior year of high school, Dan was sitting in English class when he experienced a Grand Mal seizure. A CAT scan and MRI revealed a brain tumor.
Dan underwent further MRI testing and brain surgery later that month and was diagnosed with a Grade 2 Astrocytoma.
Since Dan’s elder brother, David, died at age 16 of Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) when Dan was in 5th grade, Dan had genetic testing that revealed an extremely rare condition called Li Fraumeni Syndrome.
Here is a link describing the condition:
https://www.lfsassociation.org/what-is-lfs.
Li Fraumeni genetically predisposed these brothers to be FAR more susceptible to cancer than the general population. It also makes traditional cancer treatments much less effective. Hence Dan’s tumor only grew.
His family contacted the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland - as they are one of the only places in the world familiar with this extremely rare genetic condition. Even NIH does not have a cure.
In 2016 during his first semester in college, Dan experienced seizures every other day. An MRI and biopsy revealed the cancer had grown and worsened to a Grade 3 Anaplastic Astrocytoma. He decided to put college on hold.
Over the next few years, Dan focused on living his best life rather than being in a constant battle with cancer. He developed an interest in gardening and cooking. He became a very fine amateur chef for his family - enjoying time with his mom and sister, his best friends, and his dogs, Ein and Mila.
In March of 2019, Dan realized he could not grasp his cooking utensils and was experiencing weakness and significant loss of fine motor function on the right side of his body. An MRI showed the tumor had grown extensively into the motor cortex area in the left hemisphere of his brain.
This leads us to present day. Dan is scheduled for brain surgery at the National Institute of Health Medical Center tomorrow. The outcome of this major surgery is unknown. There is still no known cure for Dan. The hope and dream is to help extend his life and improve his quality of life…until there is a cure.
There are so many worthy charitable causes out there - I know. Every day I read something that tugs at my heart strings and I’m sure you do too. But please stop and consider Mary and her son. Please. They are incredible human beings who have been through such pain and heartache and have endured so much. While most of us can’t help fight cancer with our own abilities or talents…we STILL CAN help this family. ANY and ALL contributions will go toward Dan’s medical costs. And by lessening the financial burden on them - even a little bit - hopefully they can focus more on their precious time together.
Thank you SO VERY MUCH for your consideration.
Organizer and beneficiary
Beth Becker
Organizer
Erie, PA
Daniel Gray
Beneficiary