As many of you know by now, Laura has been diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor (grade IV glioblastoma). Laura is receiving incredible care from her family, her oncologist and neurologists at Sloan Kettering, her physical therapists, and clinicians. Laura started her first day of radiation and chemotherapy last week, and this will continue for six weeks. She then will have a month off from treatment before a second MRI will be conducted to assess the results; after that the cycle will continue for the next year.
Laura enjoyed working as a learning specialist to students in New Jersey for the last few years, and she is a mother to four awesome kids: Bailey, applying to Biology PdD programs; Elle, Scranton nursing student and field hockey captain; Gavin, senior at Gill and their lacrosse captain; and Meg, eighth grader ready to storm high school. Laura is married to Byron, a lacrosse semi-celebrity in New Jersey, Gill St Bernards’ Lacrosse Coach, Director of Lacrosse Operations and Middle School Physical Education Instructor as well as Director of Recruiting for BBL Lacrosse.
The Collins have been so grateful for the outreach from family and friends for providing meals, visits, and signing up to drive Laura to her treatments. Many of you—as family, friends, neighbors, students, teammates, coaches, players, and colleagues— have reached out, asking how you can be of support. In response, this GoFundMe site has been created to help with the medical bills not covered by insurance, treatments, food for the family and for Laura’s cancer diet, and for the travel anticipated for future trial opportunities. We all hope to ease the burden on the family by relieving some financial pressure so that Byron and the kids can focus on providing the best care for Laura, as they negotiate the tremendous costs alongside the obvious physical and emotional strains.
The Collins family has expressed their overwhelming gratitude for everyone’s incredible generosity and love as they navigate this complicated and uncertain road for Laura. We thank you all for contributing however you can to support Laura, Byron and their family. We are very hopeful she will get the treatment she needs so she can feel better and spend more time with those she loves.
Also, please visit Laura’s Caring Bridge website for updates on Laura’s progress and to add photographs or post “well wishes” as desired (she looks at this site and does love to see everyone’s inputs) https://www.
Thank you so much for your support of Laura and the Collins
-Building Blocks Lacrosse & Friends
