New Family: Robin and Josh Whitcomb

I have traded emails with Robin and she has written the following:

"A little bit about my recent diagnosis; about 10 weeks ago I found out that I have Stage II invasive breast cancer, which has spread to my lymph nodes. I have 16 weeks in total of chemotherapy, treatments are every other week. After the chemo is finished in the fall I will have surgery, then most likely radiation, and a year of hormone infusion therapy every three weeks.

Up until last semester my husband, Josh, and I were full time students studying at UMASS and GCC. Josh will continue to attend full time for one more year before obtaining his bachelor's degree and I will reduce my studies to part time. Josh also works part time for my stepfather's cleaning business and I am a stay at home Mom to Cole and Hanna. Hanna has been going to daycare 2 days a week during the summer, but she will increase to full time in the fall so I can go to my treatments and school."

She is reluctant to receive help as she prefers to be the one helping.  I have been clear, once she gets better we are going to put her to work for the next family.

So, what can we do for the Whitcomb family? 

New Family: Always a Need

I received this email, in part, today:

"Hey there, we’re writing to you on behalf of our friends, their son, 5, and their daughter, 2. They are great people who live in Turners Falls and are currently facing some tough times.

Mom was recently diagnosed with breast cancer this summer and told that the cancer had already metastasized to her lymph nodes. She began chemotherapy several weeks ago and is facing months of treatment and surgery. The family is facing a mountain of mortgage bills, day care bills and other expenses that they just can’t keep up with.

It’s not just mortgage payments and buying food for the kids, it’s major car repairs, the gas mom needs to get to her medical appointments, the gas dad needs to get to school, everything. They don’t talk about it, but we can tell they’re in over their heads, and we just want to do whatever we can to help. We heard about you through your blog and admire the work you do helping people in dire circumstances.

Any help would be greatly appreciated."

SO, there you have it.

Who can help this family?

To donate directly to, well, we'll call them FAMILY 4 for now:

In the memo line, write Family 4.

We need an online meal coordinator and fundraising ideas, to start.

Probably time to get a board of directors together too.

Please email me at melissanykorchuk@hotmail.com or send me a message on Facebook if you can help or have any fresh ideas.