Firefighters step up to help a buddy

A firefighter for nearly 20 years, Russ Constantino has spent his career rescuing people in crisis. Now, the 45-year-old Gurnee man finds himself on the receiving end.

The father of two children and husband to Shenan has been battling brain cancer for more than a year. The family has nearly wiped out their savings paying for out-of-pocket expenses not covered by insurance. Hoping to ease the family's financial burden, his firefighting buddies have organized a benefit for Tuesday at Key Lime Cove watermark in Gurnee.

"These guys have been true to the reputation of what it means to be part of the 'firefighting family.'" Shenan Constantino said. "They've been wonderful."

Russ Constantino had just come off shift and was home with his son, Ryan, on a Saturday morning in June, 2007. That's when a seizure grabbed him and knocked him unconscious. Having grown-up with a firefighter dad, Ryan calmly called 911.

It took nearly two days and multiple tests for doctors to discover a grape-sized tumor behind Constantino's left ear. He underwent surgery to remove the tumor, started radiation treatments.

That seemed to work until he had another seizure three months later. The tumor grew back. He endured a second surgery and started chemotherapy. Again, it seemed they were on top of the disease until he seized again seven months later. This time, at Ryan's Little League Baseball game.

Constantino was forced to retire from the fire department last June because the tumor affected his speech.

He is undergoing experimental treatment which seems, at best, to be keeping the non-curable cancer at bay for now.

Benefit organizer and fellow Gurnee firefighter, Mike Swiontek, said he hopes to raise $40,000. He said $25,000 has been collected in early donations. "As a dad, baseball coach and firefighter, Russ has served his community," Swiontek said. "It's time for us to come together and serve him."

Information about the event is available by calling Swiontek at (847)-833-6302. Donations can also be mailed to the Gurnee Fire Department, 4580 Old Grand Ave., Gurnee, IL 60031