Missoula Area Brothers Fighting For Life
POSTED: 10:31 pm MDT October 11, 2010UPDATED: 10:37 pm MDT October 11, 2010MISSOULA, Mont. -- James and Wesley Cross suffer from a rare genetic disease.They both need operations costing over half a million dollars a piece.James and Wesley are just like any other brothers, they fight. What makes them special however, is their fight for survival."I have trouble breathing, so I can't really walk anywhere," says Wesley.The brothers suffer from a rare lung disorder called Pulmonary Fibrosis, a scarring of the lungs.17-year old James doesn't let it keep him down."I'm never really home, always hanging out with friends," he says.Their mother Danielle cares for them night and day. Last year, she says things took a turn for the worst."They got really sick, and the doctor decided it was time for them to get on the (donor) waiting list," says Cross.Insurance will cover most of the surgeries cost, but the family has to move to Seattle, and raise $60,000 to pay for caregiving. That is when Sue Thompson stepped in. She owns Bagels on Broadway, and decided to donate a day's worth of sales to the family."There was a line out the door for almost the whole entire day," says Thompson.They raised $11,000. However, it is only a fraction of what the Cross brothers need, and their mother knows, her sons are running out of time."It could be possible they might die waiting on the waiting list," says Cross.Still, the brothers are grateful for their community's support.The family plans to throw another fundraiser on November 7th at the Sunrise Saloon.
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