BLET members are asked to keep Brother Tony Ramos and his family in their prayers. Brother Ramos, a BNSF locomotive engineer and member of BLET Division 13 (La Crosse, Wis.), suffered an on-duty medical episode in October. Brother Ramos was rushed to a local hospital where doctors stabilized him and determined that he was suffering from a previously undiagnosed brain tumor.
In November, he underwent major brain surgery and doctors removed 95% of the cancerous tumor. It has since been diagnosed as the glioblastoma type of cancer, which is fast-growing, aggressive and malignant. According to UH Hospitals, only 5% of glioblastoma patients survive for more than five years.
Brother Ramos was the main breadwinner of the family. His wife Janice said: “We now have major medical expenses that we are responsible for and these expenses are accruing daily. This is a major life changing event that we were not prepared for as it blindsided us. Tony thought his job insurance included short term and long term disability but sadly it did not. This confusion was most likely caused from his brain tumor.”
Janice said the family is spending more than $600.00 some weeks in just co-pays for chemotherapy treatments and to see specialists. Fellow BLET members can help by donating to a charitable fund that has been established to assist the Ramos family with medical expenses. Please click here for more information.
Michael Banks, Local Chairman of BLET Division 13, said railroaders in La Crosse can make donations at the local yard office.
