New Lenox Family Seeks Support Amid Beloved Dad's Second Cancer Fight

NEW LENOX, IL — A New Lenox family is grappling to find a way through a beloved husband and father's second battle with cancer.

Doug Wozniak, 50, was first diagnosed with throat cancer in August 2023. He underwent treatment and was in remission, when the cancer returned in July 2024. Wozniak's wife, Marina, now finds herself seeking support from the community, as medical bills mount.

"I’m the only one working, trying to take care of him, trying to take care of our special needs 12-year-old," Marina said. "It has been ridiculously hard."

His condition worsened near Thanksgiving when his breathing became labored, Marina said. Doctors performed a tracheostomy, inserting a tube in his throat to help him breathe.

Marina works as a medical assistant, and has to take time off to transport Doug to his chemotherapy appointments. Her time off is unpaid, and Doug is not able to work. As they face increasing financial challenges, Marina has created a GoFundMe to help offset the impact. Its goal is set at $7,500, with just under $3,900 raised to date.

"Just so much stress, anxiety," Marina said. "My heart breaks for him—for everything he’s gone through, going through."

Prior to his illness, Doug was a driver with delivery service DoorDash. Marina needed his help at home, caring for their son Mitchell. Mitchell is high-functioning autistic, and has Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). He attends Martino Junior High School.

"They’ve been amazing helping us," Marina said, of the school administration. "...being understanding with Mitchell missing school sometimes.

"He’s having a hard time seeing his father like this."

Struggling to talk now, Doug's spirits have taken a turn.

"He’s normally an outgoing, upbeat kind of person who would help anybody. Very talkative," Marina said. "Now he can’t talk, it’s put a big damper on his mood.

"It’s been life-changing with the trach—not being able to work, not being able to help his family financially.

"He feels helpless."

Family life has changed, too. They used to enjoy trips to Starved Rock, and family time at the movies.

"... just to spend family time," Marina said. "Family time is big for us."

Most of their time out together has stopped, with Doug's medical equipment making travel challenging, Marina said. Mitchell wonders aloud when his "old dad" will be back.

"Mitchell is having a difficult time processing this," Marina said. "He keeps asking when he’ll be back to normal."

It's a difficult position for Marina to be in.

"Moms can usually fix everything," she said, "but this is one thing Mom can’t fix."

Doug will undergo six months of treatments before doctors are able to give a prognosis, Marina said.

"We just don't know yet," she told Patch.

"Doug is taking it day by day," she updated supporters. "He is the strongest person I know."

She hopes sharing his story will stir support for their family, but also inspire gratitude among others for their own health and family time.

"It can happen to anybody," she said.