Support the Gilbert Family

Hi, my name is Jill and I set up this page to help the Gilbert family with their medical expenses. I've been blessed to work with Becky for several years and have her permission to share her husband's story.

Early this March, Dana began having vision problems that were serious enough for his doctor to send him to the ER at Concord Hospital. Imaging showed that Dana has a large mass in his brain that was obstructing the normal circulation of his cerebral spinal fluid. This was causing a dangerous condition called hydrocephalus, and Dana was rushed via ambulance to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center for urgent surgery to relieve the pressure on his brain. His surgeon was able to drain the fluid and biopsy the mass.

Days later while back home, the Gilbert family learned the results of the biopsy. Dana was diagnosed with a glioma that is cancerous, inoperable and fast-growing, requiring aggressive treatment. More testing has been completed since then, and we now know that Dana's tumor is classified as a high-grade primary CNS Glioblastoma.

Dana was referred to a Neuro-Oncology team at Dana Farber in Boston. Since Dana's tumor cannot be removed, he will require a combination of treatments to control the growth for the rest of his life. The initial treatment plan calls for six weeks of radiation and daily chemotherapy. After that, he will take a four week reprieve from treatment while still visiting doctors and undergoing tests. Then Dana will have six more cycles of chemotherapy treatment.

During Easter weekend, Dana's family noticed that he just wasn't his usual self. His oncologist immediately ordered another MRI which showed that the hydrocephalus had returned, causing confusion and other neurological symptoms. Dana needed a second surgery just weeks after his first. Becky rushed Dana back to Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center where the surgical teams implanted a permanent shunt. This will allow any excess fluid to drain and should prevent the hydrocephalus from returning in the future.

Dana is at home recovering again, awaiting the start of his treatments. He has been surrounded with love from Becky, their children Ellie and Andy, as well as their family and close friends. They are so grateful for all of your love and support.

If you are compelled and able to do so, please consider contributing to this fund. The goal is to help the Gilbert family offset the emergency and medical expenses not covered by insurance. In addition to Becky and Dana both taking leaves from work, there has been medically necessary travel to Concord, Lebanon NH and Boston MA (incurring parking fees, gas costs, meals and hotel stays). Also, we anticipate that not all the prescription costs will be covered by insurance. As one can imagine, it all adds up quite fast when managing multiple care teams across three locations. We greatly appreciate any help you can offer this beautiful family so that their burden can be eased and they can focus on Dana's treatment.