Curt Pereira

JOHN DAY — Grant County native Curt Pereira is in a fight for his life, undergoing radiation therapy after having a highly cancerous glioblastoma brain tumor removed.

His wife Lisa said they are hoping and praying it goes into remission.

While the Pereiras’ focus has turned to this crisis, there are still bills to pay. An account for donations has been set up at U.S. Bank in Curt Pereira’s name, and contributions can be made at any U.S. Bank.

A GoFundMe account has raised $1,125 as of Tuesday at GoFundMe.com (search “Curt Pereira”). Updates on Curt’s health, along with well wishes, are included at the site.

Other fundraisers are in the works, including a spaghetti feed with a dessert auction, Lisa said.

Curt is employed at Tidewater, but due to the size of the mass, Curt will be off work for three weeks or longer, she said.

“This will risk our house amongst other things,” she said. “Those who know Curt know how quick he is to help anyone and everyone, and I am hoping others will help him in return.”

She said each donation will go toward their house payment and medical bills and asked for continued prayers.

On March 17, doctors removed a 5-centimeter tumor, and now Curt is undergoing daily radiation therapy in Bend for a total of six weeks. Curt had his first cancer surgery in November 2012, when doctors removed a 1-centimeter brain tumor.

She said, while glioblastoma is aggressive, the doctors do “everything possible to put it into remission.”

She said they have family near Bend housing them while Curt undergoes the Monday through Friday treatments, and he travels home on the weekends.

The Pereiras were expecting a pathology report on Tuesday this week, past press time.

“We’re praying they have some good news,” Lisa said. “His surgeon, Dr. (Kent) Yundt, got all of the tumor, and his team of doctors are going after this aggressively.”