Support for Justin Inserra's Family
Donation protected
Justin Inserra is a father, a husband, a son, a brother, a beloved family member and friend to many people who have been hoping and praying for a miracle for him for the past year and a half. Kelly and Justin have been married for 21 years and have loved each other since they were teenagers. They have 2 sons, Kyle, who is now 17 years old and Ethan, who is 10 years old. Together, they have been faced with the most difficult time in their lives.
On December 27, 2017 Justin was rushed to the hospital with symptoms that resembled a stroke. The Dr's ran various tests and it was determined that he did not have a stroke. Instead, what they found changed their lives forever.
Justin was diagnosed with Grade IV (4) Glioblastoma Multiform, a brain tumor that grows so aggressively that the life expectancy for most people with this diagnosis live under a year. Although, it can be treated to hopefully make the quality of life better through surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and clinical trials, it cannot be cured. Justin went through all of these treatments and has survived almost 18 months of living with Glioblastoma. This is longer than his Dr's expected him to live, but his prognosis is terminal and every moment we have with him has been more precious than the last.
Justin, who is 42 years old, is now receiving Hospice care in their home. Each day his family has with him is precious time that they they do not take for granted. They have all been through a lot these past 18 months and it's been very hard for the kids to watch their father change so drastically from the man that he once was, to who he has become. Justin loves his kids more than anything in the world and he has been so sad that they have had to experience watching him get worse over time. This has been devastating on the entire family, but it's been beyond devastating for their kids. They miss the man their father once was and are completely heartbroken that this is happening.
There are so many things that Kyle and Ethan will not get to experience with their father. Instead, they will cherish the memories of their younger years with the man that spent time with them fishing, boating on the lake, 4 wheeling, riding dirt bikes and spending time with them under the hood of a car.
They enjoyed life together as a family. They were happy. Life was good.
The past year and a half has been very difficult for them and Kelly has done her best to be strong, stay optimistic and positive for Justin and for their kids. She has endured so much, and has stayed stoic often times even if there were tears brimming behind her eyes, they would not see that. Instead, she has tried to give her kids a sense of normalcy the best way she knows how, but her heart is breaking and not only is she devastated that she will lose the love of her life, her best friend to this beast, but she is also scared for their future without him in it. There is a saying about not knowing how strong you are until it is tested and you have no other option but to be strong. I have watched my sister, Kelly, show such strength throughout this very difficult time. She has been Justin's advocate and caretaker while being a good mom to their boys, giving them love and reassurance that all will be alright and that they will get through this together.
Over the years, Kelly had been a stay at home mom raising their kids, while Justin worked. He wasn't able to return to work again after his diagnosis and over the past year and a half, life has given them not just daily health challenges to face, but also financial ones too. One of the financial concerns has been if Kelly and the kids will be able to afford to stay in their home. On top of all that they are dealing with, it is a cause of great stress, as anyone can imagine. Also, it's unfortunately expensive to treat cancer and the medical bills are still coming in. Although, they have insurance, they still have spent thousands of dollars for Justin's healthcare needs that weren't fully covered such as, surgeries, treatments, prescriptions, office visits, hospital stays, and MRI's.
It has been very difficult for Kelly to allow us to start a GoFundMe page for them and it is still not easy for her to accept this kind of charity, but she is allowing this page to be done by keeping her kids needs in mind. She has expressed to me that she never thought she would have to be someone who would need a GoFundMe page. I reassure her that people who donate, want to help. There have been many people who have asked me if there is a GoFundMe page over the past 18 months. And until now, there hasn't been one done.
Justin, Kelly, Kyle and Ethan have a great community of friends and loved ones who want to help in whatever way they can. Just like in any good community, when there is someone in need, we all pull together whatever we can do to help, whether it's by offering emotional support, cooking dinner for them or donating to a fund for them. Any form of support is greatly appreciated.
The hard truth is that we do not know how much longer Justin will be with us and we don't know what Kelly and their kids future will look like without him in it. We do anticipate that there will be more challenges that lie ahead for Kelly and their kids, both emotionally and financially. But, one thing is certain, they will continue to have a lot of support and love from family and friends.
If you would like to help by donating, you can do so here. Or if you cannot donate, but want to show your support, you can do so by leaving a comment for them to read and share this page with friends and family who may want to support them.
Your support in any way you can offer it means the world to them.
Thank you for your love and support.
On December 27, 2017 Justin was rushed to the hospital with symptoms that resembled a stroke. The Dr's ran various tests and it was determined that he did not have a stroke. Instead, what they found changed their lives forever.
Justin was diagnosed with Grade IV (4) Glioblastoma Multiform, a brain tumor that grows so aggressively that the life expectancy for most people with this diagnosis live under a year. Although, it can be treated to hopefully make the quality of life better through surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and clinical trials, it cannot be cured. Justin went through all of these treatments and has survived almost 18 months of living with Glioblastoma. This is longer than his Dr's expected him to live, but his prognosis is terminal and every moment we have with him has been more precious than the last.
Justin, who is 42 years old, is now receiving Hospice care in their home. Each day his family has with him is precious time that they they do not take for granted. They have all been through a lot these past 18 months and it's been very hard for the kids to watch their father change so drastically from the man that he once was, to who he has become. Justin loves his kids more than anything in the world and he has been so sad that they have had to experience watching him get worse over time. This has been devastating on the entire family, but it's been beyond devastating for their kids. They miss the man their father once was and are completely heartbroken that this is happening.
There are so many things that Kyle and Ethan will not get to experience with their father. Instead, they will cherish the memories of their younger years with the man that spent time with them fishing, boating on the lake, 4 wheeling, riding dirt bikes and spending time with them under the hood of a car.
They enjoyed life together as a family. They were happy. Life was good.
The past year and a half has been very difficult for them and Kelly has done her best to be strong, stay optimistic and positive for Justin and for their kids. She has endured so much, and has stayed stoic often times even if there were tears brimming behind her eyes, they would not see that. Instead, she has tried to give her kids a sense of normalcy the best way she knows how, but her heart is breaking and not only is she devastated that she will lose the love of her life, her best friend to this beast, but she is also scared for their future without him in it. There is a saying about not knowing how strong you are until it is tested and you have no other option but to be strong. I have watched my sister, Kelly, show such strength throughout this very difficult time. She has been Justin's advocate and caretaker while being a good mom to their boys, giving them love and reassurance that all will be alright and that they will get through this together.
Over the years, Kelly had been a stay at home mom raising their kids, while Justin worked. He wasn't able to return to work again after his diagnosis and over the past year and a half, life has given them not just daily health challenges to face, but also financial ones too. One of the financial concerns has been if Kelly and the kids will be able to afford to stay in their home. On top of all that they are dealing with, it is a cause of great stress, as anyone can imagine. Also, it's unfortunately expensive to treat cancer and the medical bills are still coming in. Although, they have insurance, they still have spent thousands of dollars for Justin's healthcare needs that weren't fully covered such as, surgeries, treatments, prescriptions, office visits, hospital stays, and MRI's.
It has been very difficult for Kelly to allow us to start a GoFundMe page for them and it is still not easy for her to accept this kind of charity, but she is allowing this page to be done by keeping her kids needs in mind. She has expressed to me that she never thought she would have to be someone who would need a GoFundMe page. I reassure her that people who donate, want to help. There have been many people who have asked me if there is a GoFundMe page over the past 18 months. And until now, there hasn't been one done.
Justin, Kelly, Kyle and Ethan have a great community of friends and loved ones who want to help in whatever way they can. Just like in any good community, when there is someone in need, we all pull together whatever we can do to help, whether it's by offering emotional support, cooking dinner for them or donating to a fund for them. Any form of support is greatly appreciated.
The hard truth is that we do not know how much longer Justin will be with us and we don't know what Kelly and their kids future will look like without him in it. We do anticipate that there will be more challenges that lie ahead for Kelly and their kids, both emotionally and financially. But, one thing is certain, they will continue to have a lot of support and love from family and friends.
If you would like to help by donating, you can do so here. Or if you cannot donate, but want to show your support, you can do so by leaving a comment for them to read and share this page with friends and family who may want to support them.
Your support in any way you can offer it means the world to them.
Thank you for your love and support.
Organizer and beneficiary
Erin Small-Guilshan
Organizer
Warwick, NY
Kelly Inserra
Beneficiary