Three months ago we embarked upon a new journey with the launch of Family Reach Give, the first crowdfunding app designed specifically for families fighting cancer. Give is the only crowdfunding platform on which each family’s financial hardship is vetted by licensed social workers. In the app, twelve brave families share their stories to bring awareness to the financial devastation they face as a result of their cancer diagnosis, like so many families across the country. With Give, Family Reach will be able to provide more grants to more families in need thanks to support from donors like you.

Below is a sneak peek at updates from five of the twelve families featured on Give today, told from the parents themselves. Updates from the rest of the families can be read in the app. To be a lifeline to one of the families below, download the Give app and donate to a family whose story resonates with you. 100% of your donation will go to pay their bills next month, alleviating some of their financial burden so that they can focus on what matters: getting healthy.

OTTAVIO: Ottavio is so happy to be back to school this year. Because he’s still in treatment, some days are harder than others as he adjusts to his new routine of weekly clinic visits on top of school. The most important thing is that we are almost finished with treatment. Here is a picture of Ottavio at the beach at the end of this summer. He is always smiling!

SARAH: It has been four months since Sarah’s last surgery, and four months in remission! She is healing nicely from the surgery and feeling stronger each day. Sarah recently had several scans done. Her scans do show she has something new showing up in the lung area. At this time it is extremely small. Her doctors will watch this closely. In October, Sarah will need to have another scan to see if there has been any change in this area. Recently, Sarah was accepted to the University of Arizona and she is presently taking classes, living at home and enjoying time with her friends and family. As her hair grows back and she gains a bit of weight, she is also regaining her strength and stamina. Sarah is a fighter! She is strong, brave, and beautiful in every way.

THOMAS: Unfortunately, Thomas recently had an MRI confirming that a spot on his spine is another tumor. The disease Thomas has, Rhabdomyosarcoma, is rare and aggressive, so this news is devastating for Thomas and his family. Thomas will receive radiation for the tumor everyday for 6 weeks. Another tumor was also found in Thomas’s leg. The family is waiting for doctor’s recommendations as to how to treat the recent discovery. Despite everything, Thomas’s family is still fighting harder and harder. Here is personal note from Thomas’s mother: “We must continue our fight for a third time. This CANCER CAN’T WIN!! It can’t take my son. It’s so unfair and we are all destroyed emotionally right now. We ask that you continue to pray for our family and all families fighting cancer.”

GRAYSON: On August 22, 2015 Grayson finished his two-year leukemia treatment protocol! He is doing very well. The road to full recovery is long and we still go to UF Health Shands for at least a monthly check ups and blood work. To get Grayson acclimated to being around other children and a ‘normal’ lifestyle, he is now attending daycare a couple of days per week. The medical bills continue to roll in and will do so for some period of time. Our journey is not yet over and our next goal is to reach the ‘five year’ post treatment mark when we can classify Grayson as a survivor!

SEAMUS: Seamus is currently home after a few days in the hospital as he is severely neutropenic, which means his white blood cell count is very low. His kidneys are slightly inflamed, which will require further testing. Seamus is a brave boy who still smiles throughout everything! Here is a picture of Seamus and mom being silly in hospital.

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