‘Family Fun Night Fundraiser’ to benefit community member with cancer

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ST. GEORGE — Who doesn’t love a good family friendly night out at the park? On May 15 from 5-9 p.m. there will be a “Family Fun Night Fundraiser” for a member of our community, Dennis Brown, who was recently diagnosed with T-Lymphoblastic Lymphoma Leukemia.

Dennis and Nicole Brown have three young children all under the age of 3. Their youngest is only two months old.

 Dennis’s story

On April 6, Dennis went to the doctor to find out why he was having such a hard time breathing. They gave him an inhaler and told him they would do a chest X-ray.

On May 10 they found a mass in his chest that they could not identify. It started in his chest and went into his throat. There was fluid around his heart and fluid in his lungs. His lymph nodes were enlarged. His white blood cell count was high. The mass ended up being wrapped around major arteries in his neck and heart.

Dennis and Nicole Brown pose for a photo together, location and date not specified | Photo courtesy of Courtney Anderson, St. George News

April 13, the doctors were telling him it was most likely lymphoma.

April 15, he couldn’t eat, because his throat was swollen shut.

April 17, he had a biopsy done and the doctors found out he had tonsillitis. Giving him antibiotics for treatment.

April 18 they did an ultrasound on his heart and scheduled surgery to remove the fluid around his heart for Friday.

April 19 his throat closed off and his uvula was so swollen it was touching his tongue and making him gag. After a quick trip to the Emergency Room they gave him steroids to treat the tonsillitis.

April 21 he went in for his bone marrow biopsy, came home to prepare for his scheduled surgery to drain the fluid around his heart and his doctor’s office called and said “Don’t go to the hospital. Please go to Huntsman’s Cancer Institute in Salt Lake City.”

The results came back and he has been diagnosed with T-Lymphoblastic lymphoma leukemia.

Dennis and Nicole are currently staying at The Huntsman Cancer Institute and the doctors have said to plan on being there for the next month while Dennis receives treatment.

As a family, we are asking that you please keep Dennis and Nicole in your prayers. Please pray that the cancer will shrink and the physicians will have a clear mind to find the best treatment possible.

Please share and donate if you are able. The medical expenses are piling up quickly. Dennis is self employed, running an excavation company and fiberglass Pool company, and he is unable to work while he is going through his treatments.

In addition to attending the May 15 fundraiser night, there are three ways you can donate:

  1.  This PayPal link is active and 100 percent of the funds will go to Dennis and Nicole and their family.
  2. The GoFundMe account. There are administrative fees associated with GoFundMe but it has proved to be a great source.
  3. Find your nearest America First Credit Union, tell them you’d like to make a deposit to the “Dennis Brown Charitable Account” and 100 percent of the proceeds will be available to them as well.

Ed. note: When making charitable contributions it is advisable to consult with professionals for tax advice and investment risks.

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