GoFundMe Helps Frankfort Teacher After Husband's Cancer Diagnosis

FRANKFORT, IL — The Frankfort community is helping to support a local teacher after her husband's brain cancer diagnosis. A GoFundMe has been created for the Bailey family after Bill Bailey's diagnosis of central nervous system lymphoma.

Bill will be in treatment for a minimum of seventh months and will not be able to work, according to the GoFundMe. His wife, Kaaren, teaches first grade at Frankfort Square School. As of April 24, the campaign has raised $13,355.

According to the GoFundMe, in late March, Bill started having breathing issues. He was originally treated for asthma, but was still not improving. In April, after symptoms had still persisted, Kaaren took Bill to the doctor and demanded further tests.

CT scans showed lesions on Billy's brain, and he immediately went for more testing, according to the GoFundMe. Originally, preliminary results showed Billy had high grade glioma, but his actual diagnosis is central nervous system lymphoma.

Bill will now begin treatment with chemotherapy and will eventually have a stem cell transplant, the GoFundMe shares. His treatment plan will span over the next 6-7 months. Currently, he remains in the hospital, but is alert and talking.

Kaaren and Bill also have three children, and funds from the GoFundMe will go toward taking care of the kids needs, medical bills, household bills and other daily expenses, according to the page.

"[Kaaren] is overwhelmed with the amount of support she has received," Christine Costabile, a friend of the family and creator of the GoFundMe, said. She said donations have come from friends, family, Bill's barber, and Kaaren's students, among others.

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