Extremely sad news from Brad Schnure

Some incredibly sad news from Brad Schnure, the longtime communications director for the New Jersey Senate Republicans, that is best left to his own words – and a link to a GoFundMe site set up to support him and his family and perhaps make the battles they face just a little bit easier:

“I’ve been in the hospital for the past 10 days following an emergency room visit for severe difficulty breathing.

Unfortunately, following scans and tests, I was diagnosed with advanced metastatic lung cancer, likely Stage 4, that has already spread to other parts of my body.

I’ve also had multiple pulmonary emboli reach my lungs, any one of which could have killed me.

I was told that the cancer is probably not curable, but it might be treatable, which could buy me some time. I’ve already had multiple surgeries to try to address both the main tumor in my lung and the PEs. For now, the PEs appear to be the immediate risk.

I was actually set for discharge on Sunday when a massive clot broke off (probably from my leg) and nearly killed me while I was waiting for a wheelchair to take me down to our car. A CT scan showed that it was a huge saddle embolism that was almost completely blocking my lungs.

Nora has saved my life multiple times during all of this. First, she got me to the hospital when I was hesitant to come. Then she noticed the immediate change when the saddle embolism hit my lungs and insisted that the nurses and doctors check me out instead of letting me leave. After I was moved to the ICU, she caught a mistake a doctor was about to make that might have prevented me from getting surgery yesterday to remove the new embolism that was almost completely blocking my lungs.

Nora has been by my side for the entire stay, and she has been a hawk for me to advocate for my needs. I cannot put into words how thankful I am to have such an amazing wife.

Rachel has been here for me too from the very beginning. Despite our divorce several years ago, there has never been a lack of love between us. She has been caring for our kids and trying to keep a brave face despite being absolutely devastated by what’s happening to me.

I am beyond grateful for the wonderful relationship that Nora and I have developed with Rachel and James to jointly care for Andrew, Matthew, and Anastasia. We’re one big messy sprawling family, including Nora’s kids. They are my tribe and I love them all. It makes everything a little bit easier knowing they’ll all be there to support each other whatever happens to me.

I’m also extremely thankful for my parents, siblings, extended family, and colleagues who have shown me an immense outpouring of love and support since this all started. It really has kept me going.

Given everything that has happened, however, I was forced to make the extremely tough decision to take a disability retirement from work. It’s not how I expected to leave a job I love after more than 22 years in public service, but it’s something I realized the other day that I have to do, both for me and my family.

I don’t know if I have weeks or months or maybe even years left, but I’m committed to doing everything I can to fight this.

Please keep my family in your prayers. I know we’ll need them.”

Click HERE to visit a GoFundMe page to benefit Brad, his wife Nora, and his three children: Andrew (13), Matthew (11), and Anastasia (8).