Family With Both Parents Battling Cancer Thankful For Support
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (WCCO) -- An Eden Prairie family is asking for the gift of health this holiday, after both parents started treatment for cancer on the same day.
The Heyman kids are active, but in between practice and piano, their parents are weighing on their minds.
"Even though I can't change anything that's happening, at least I can still think positively and help out," Cassie said.
On Aug. 20, parents Jodi and Bill both entered treatment for cancer.
"The last four months have been really tough," Bill said.
Bill is fighting stage four melanoma, while Jodi is battling a type of leukemia caused by her breast cancer six years ago.
"We've taken the attitude of taking it day by day, and seeing how things go," Bill said.
Friends and family are helping to raise funds as treatments could total hundreds of thousands of dollars.
"We have these bracelets we've all been wearing that say Heyman Cancer Warriors," Jodi said. "The orange is the leukemia, the black is melanoma, and the pink is for breast cancer."
Bill was admitted into a rare trial at the National Institute of Health in Washington, DC., and Jodi will undergo a bone marrow transplant next month.
"Carpe diem -- seize the day -- that's been my philosophy going through this," Bill said.
And each day, the entire family is surprised.
"People who don't even know me have positive feelings toward our family," Blake said.
Said Jodi: "We've always been givers in our life, and we never wanted to get it back. But we are getting it back so much, and it's been one of the biggest blessings for our kids because they feel supported."
Now you can help, too.
Gala Fundraiser at Minnesota Landscape Arb: 1 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2012.
Includes silent auction, live music, cash bar -- all benefiting the Heyman Family.
Tickets: $10 for adults, $5 for children (12 and under) with a max of $25 per family.
Tickets at http://heymanwarriors.org/
A fund has been set up at Wells Fargo, address your donation to...
Wells Fargo Advisors; Attn: Bob Warrick
601 Carlson PArkway, Suite 190
Minnetonka, MN 55305
For more info, contact Deb Werdin at 612-750-7579
