Palmetto family remains hopeful after father’s potentially fatal cancer diagnosis

Their car was totaled in an Oct. 12 accident on I-75, and the Stanislas family was happy to still be united.

And even when a doctor at St. Joseph’s Hospital diagnosed Hilary “Leroy” Stanislas, 59, with a “very rare, very aggressive” form of cancer, they were thankful.

“I have my faith in God. And my family — my wife and sons — keep me positive,” said Stanislas.

Now, Leroy and his family are celebrating the holidays — with a little help from volunteers at the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation and Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. as part of the Bring Hope Home program, which aims to aid lung cancer patients and bring awareness to the most deadly form of cancer in the nation.

A custodian at William Monroe Rowlett Academy, Leroy has taken off to wage his war with cancer. He received his first immunotherapy treatment about two weeks ago.

On Tuesday, 10 Bring Hope Home volunteers visited the Stanislas residence with decorations, gifts and a dinner in tow to wish the family a happy holiday season.

The Stanislas family sat around their dinner table as volunteers led Christmas songs such as “Jingle Bells” and “Feliz Navidad.” Stacey Stanislas called it “a blessing,” and said it reminded her of the event that Rowlett put on for her husband last week.

When the Rowlett faculty learned Leroy, an 11-year employee, had been diagnosed with a 13-centimeter stage III sarcomatoid-carcinoma tumor in his left lung, the school hosted a huge Christmas benefit to raise money for his family.

The event featured a spaghetti dinner, a Christmas show, a bake sale and “so much love,” Stacey said.

Leroy is expected to miss five or six months at the school while he fights off cancer. He said he feels lucky that the tumor hasn’t spread to other parts of his body. Stacey said she feels lucky to have been touched by such caring volunteers.

“They do exactly what they stand for,” Stacey said. “They really do try to bring hope to you during this time of the year.”

Leroy’s children — Jontae, 10, and Jarel, 13 — feel the same way.

“Them being here makes me feel happy and grateful,” Jarel said.

Even though his first treatment left him feeling “dizzy and weak,” Leroy said he looks forward to the next treatment. After that, he’ll be placed in line for surgery to remove the tumor from his lung.

“I feel blessed. I ain’t worried,” Leroy said. “Everything will be all right.”

This story was originally published December 12, 2017 at 7:02 PM with the headline "Palmetto family remains hopeful after father’s potentially fatal cancer diagnosis."