Spike met 16-year-old Toby Versola at our Runway of Hopes and Dreams event in January. He is in remission from Hodgkin's lymphoma after being diagnosed at the age of 14. He was a freshman football player and thought he hurt his ribs, went to the hospital and they found a football sized growth in his body.
Just when they thought they were out of the woods, his mom Courtney wasn't feeling well. She went to the doctor and they found a growth the size of an orange. She has non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Please donate to their GoFundMe page here. They have a $10,000 goal and we want to help them reach their goal to continue the fight. We are going to donate $3,000 from our Breaking and Entering Christmas funds to kickstart their campaign and we hope you can add to it.
FROM THE GO FUND ME PAGE:
Courtney is a true mama bear. A fierce advocate. The loudest fan cheering in the stands. She loves hard, works hard, prays hard, and Lord help you if you threaten her cubs. She wants you to receive exactly what you need whether you like it or not, and sometimes she knows what that is before you do. If she has the power to make something happen for you she will use it. She will stand up for you and stand with you.
Now it’s Courtney who needs us to stand with her. If you know her, you know that her son Toby was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma in August of 2018 and is now a two time survivor. Courtney has always been a rock for her family but especially since that news rocked their world. In February, with her son still in treatment to heal his body and prevent the cancer from returning, and fresh from a recharging family getaway, Courtney got her own diagnosis of Lymphoma. Hers is a different type: primary mediastinal large B cell Lymphoma. The wonderful doctors, nurses, and staff at U of M laid out a six month treatment plan of chemo and immunotherapy, and the prognosis is good. However, having two people under one roof with major health concerns is a sort of diagnosis in itself, especially when one of those people is usually everyone’s primary caregiver. The process is physically, emotionally, and financially draining at best.
This is our chance to do for Courtney what she has done for so many others. She needs all the support we can give to get her through this ordeal. She has faith that she will heal. The biggest concern she has is for her family while she does. Whether it’s sending up your prayers, sending her an uplifting message, or sending a contribution toward her treatments, anything is appreciated.