Support Denise Ratkiewicz in Her Fight Against Glioblastoma

Help Support Denise Ratkiewicz in Her Fight Against Glioblastoma

In June 2022, Denise was diagnosed with glioblastoma (GBM), a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer. Glioblastoma has a poor prognosis, with an average life expectancy of just 12-18 months after diagnosis. Glioblastoma is one of the deadliest cancers, with only about 5% of patients surviving beyond five years. Despite the daunting statistics, Denise has shown incredible strength, resilience, and an unwavering faith in God. She remains positive, hopeful, and determined to fight this battle with all her heart. Denise is not only a fighter, but she is also deeply devoted to her family, especially her children and grandchildren. Her greatest wish is to be here for them—watching her grandchildren grow up and continuing to be the loving, supportive matriarch that she has always been. Her faith in God gives her strength each day, and she believes that with His guidance, there is always hope.

Under the care of her incredible and compassionate doctors at UPMC, Denise has undergone three craniotomies, standard of care treatments, and participated in two clinical trials. She is now entering a third clinical trial, all while continuing to pursue a groundbreaking treatment that could give her a better chance at a longer life.

We are working with CeGat, a leading medical research institute in Germany, to create a personalized neo-antigen vaccine. This cutting-edge treatment targets the unique characteristics of her cancer cells, and while it will take about six months to make, we are hopeful that it will provide her with a life-saving opportunity. The total cost for this personalized vaccine and the associated travel expenses is significant. On average, the cost for the neo-antigen vaccine is estimated to be around $100,000. This includes the production of the vaccine as well as the necessary consultations and assessments by medical professionals at CeGat. Once the vaccine is ready, Denise will need to travel to Germany every 6-8 weeks for her shots. This will require multiple trips over the course of the treatment, which will add to the ongoing travel and medical expenses. The frequency of these visits will continue for several months, meaning that we’ll need to cover the costs of flights, accommodation, and caregiving each time.

The funds raised will go directly toward:

We are deeply grateful for any support you can provide—whether it's a donation, sharing this campaign, or keeping Denise in your thoughts and prayers. Your generosity means the world to us as we fight to give her the best chance at a brighter future.

Thank you for being part of this journey with us.

The Ratkiewicz Family

"He replied, 'Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.'”

— Matthew 17:20