Amy and Leo

Remember I mentioned my high school bff Amy and her husband?  Tabrez and I went to their benefit dinner and dance in late August.  In case you don't remember or don't care to click the back link, Leo was diagnosed about a year ago with chondrosarcoma.  Sarcoma's make up only 1% of all cancers; chondrosarcoma makes up about 1-2% of all the sarcomas, so it's very very rare.

I found out Friday night that Leo only has four to six months left to live.  There's nothing more the doctors at the Mayo Clinic can do now, except pain management and make him comfortable til he passes.


"There is just too much cancer and it is growing too fast everywhere. It is hard to tell how much good liver he has left. A liver transplant is not an option because there is too much cancer on and around the liver, and there is also too much cancer on his left side, chest, and lung areas. Surgery is also not an option for the same reasons."

Amy and Leo have three small children, aged six, four, and one.

I was a bridesmaid at their wedding.  I've been to the kids' birthday parties.  Amy has always been so supportive in my endo battle.

I don't understand.

I don't understand how this is happening.  How a devoted husband and father can be told he will probably make it to Easter, but not the summer.  I don't understand how Amy can be a widow at 28.

I am so heartbroken.  

They're spending their last Thanksgiving together as a family.

Why is this happening?  He is a good man.  Amy is a good woman.  They have a beautiful family.  Why is he dying?  Why is my friend having to go thru all of this, being so strong because she has no choice?  Why will these kids grow up without their father?

They believe it's God's plan.

Well, if it is, it's fucking bullshit.

I don't care if there is a God/Supreme Being who will strike me down because I said that, but that's what I think.

I saw Amy and Leo at their son Jake's birthday party on Saturday.  They are both in good spirits and very committed to make the best of the time left.

They are going to be selling their house (which they were so proud to have, and put so much work into) and moving in with Leo's dad until he passes.  Then Amy and the kids will move back here.

Their CaringBridge website is here; I am not sure if it can be publicly accessed once you make an account, but I'm sharing the link nonetheless.  Please leave a comment if you cannot access it.

Needless to say, their expenses are great.  I created a ChipIn page for donations.  I will take t and the widget can be seen on the right sidebar.  The money raised and send a check to their Fund.  Thank you for anything you can donate.

Via WeHeartIt