A local family hit hard by a flurry of unexpected medical bills recently got a little help from members of the Aurora Police Department.
Brian and Sarah Osborn received a surprise visit last week from Cops Fighting Cancer, an organization launched in 2003 by Officer Jim Seneca.
The nonprofit raises funds for people with cancer and presented the Osborn family with a check for $2,500.
The financial boost couldn’t have come at a better time for the Osborns, whose 2-year-old daughter, Natalie, was recently diagnosed with an aggressive and rare form of brain tumor.
The tumor, wrapped around Natalie’s spine, was found after the Osborns noticed in July that her head was slightly tilted.
Since then, Natalie has had the tumor removed at Children’s Hospital and had other surgeries to install a broviac central line and a shunt to alleviate swelling.
Her form of cancer is not reactive to chemotherapy, so Natalie has undergone several rounds of radiation, in addition to physical therapy.
Brian Osborn called the aid a blessing because he switched jobs and is struggling to get the family’s insurance plan to cover their medical bills.
Two of Natalie’s surgeries, at a cost of $68,000 each, are being reviewed.
“It all adds up,” he said. “So this helps. It lets us focus on Natalie versus how we’re going to pay off all these medical bills, plus all the rest of our bills.”
Friends, co-workers and relatives also have stepped up, he said.
A few have hosted benefit dinners and 5K walks to help.
“It’s been very eye-opening,” Osborn said. “All your priorities become clearer. All the things that don’t matter so much don’t matter at all anymore. We’ve had great support from our friends and family.”
The doctors were able to successfully remove the brain tumor, and Natalie is scheduled to return for an MRI in December to see if the tumor is coming back.
“Hopefully, it will be a good Christmas present,” he said.
To date, more than 200 families have received assistance from Cops Fighting Cancer.
Joey Kirchmer: 303-954-2650 or jkirchmer@denverpost.com
