Donations Sought For Norwalk Fire Inspector Battling Brain Cancer

NORWALK, CT — A fundraising campaign is seeking donations for a city fire inspector who is currently "fighting the battle of his life" as he undergoes treatment for brain cancer.

According to the GoFundMe campaign, Luca Feola, a fun-loving and helpful father of two daughters, has undergone three brain surgeries over the past 12 years. Recently, he received news that the tumor in his brain has transformed into cancer.

Feola was found to be in a rare percentile of patients where the location of his brain cancer makes it inoperable and has recently undergone interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) ablation, as well as gamma-knife radiotherapy, according to the campaign.

"Some of these procedures are not covered by insurance and the bills are adding up...with your help, we can help ease some of the financial burden and get him the care that he needs to continue to fight the good fight," the campaign description reads.

Feola was hired by the Norwalk Fire Department in November 2004. He was promoted to the role of fire inspector with the Fire Marshal's Office in January 2011.

In an email sent to Patch, Deputy Fire Marshal Kirk McDonald said Feola is currently in the care of Lord Chamberlain Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Stratford.

McDonald also noted he was determined to offer Feola and his family any support possible and help share information about his "very rare" case so better prevention, treatments and cures could be found.

"He's not just a colleague, but a very close friend," McDonald said in an email, "and I have faith that he will overcome and endure."

As of Friday afternoon, the GoFundMe campaign has raised over $38,000 toward a $70,000 goal after receiving over 300 donations. Anyone who wishes to donate to the campaign can do so here.

New 12 reports Feola, a 46-year-old former United States Marine, has remained optimistic and upbeat despite the diagnosis thanks to the support of his friends and family.

"Being negative just doesn't help anybody," Feola told News 12. "So even in the situation we have going on now, I still have hope. You know, it's not that bad."