Help for the Ward Family
Donation protected
It is with great sadness that we inform you that fellow Oak Ridger and Linden Elementary parent, Janet Ward, has lost her long and valiant battle with metastatic breast cancer.
Janet was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer 8 years ago when her daughter Kendell was 5 months old. Almost immediately after diagnosis she endured a double mastectomy, reconstruction, and multiple rounds of chemotherapy. Several months later, the cancer was found to have traveled to her brain. Radiation and brain surgery followed. For almost 9 years, Janet fought her cancer bravely and with humor - never once complaining. All the while she has been a loving and engaged mom to her daughter Kendell, who is now a third grader at Linden, and friend to all who knew her.
During this time, Janet’s devoted husband Dustin has been the sole source of income for their family. However, in the final stages of her journey, he has been unable to continue working while caring for Janet and Kendell. Along the way they have been burdened with mounting medical bills and monthly out-of-pocket payments for prescriptions not covered by insurance yet essential for Janet’s comfort.
We are asking that our friends and community please come together to help ease the burden for Dustin and Kendell. It is essential that he stays home in the short-term to establish a routine - a new “normal” for Kendell without Janet. All donations will be used for immediate needs, including rent, utilities, groceries, etc. Any remainder will be put into a trust for Kendell.
Janet will be missed. We hope to honor her memory by caring for the people that she loved the most.
Janet was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer 8 years ago when her daughter Kendell was 5 months old. Almost immediately after diagnosis she endured a double mastectomy, reconstruction, and multiple rounds of chemotherapy. Several months later, the cancer was found to have traveled to her brain. Radiation and brain surgery followed. For almost 9 years, Janet fought her cancer bravely and with humor - never once complaining. All the while she has been a loving and engaged mom to her daughter Kendell, who is now a third grader at Linden, and friend to all who knew her.
During this time, Janet’s devoted husband Dustin has been the sole source of income for their family. However, in the final stages of her journey, he has been unable to continue working while caring for Janet and Kendell. Along the way they have been burdened with mounting medical bills and monthly out-of-pocket payments for prescriptions not covered by insurance yet essential for Janet’s comfort.
We are asking that our friends and community please come together to help ease the burden for Dustin and Kendell. It is essential that he stays home in the short-term to establish a routine - a new “normal” for Kendell without Janet. All donations will be used for immediate needs, including rent, utilities, groceries, etc. Any remainder will be put into a trust for Kendell.
Janet will be missed. We hope to honor her memory by caring for the people that she loved the most.
Organizer and beneficiary
James Kolpack
Organizer
Oak Ridge, TN
Dustin Ward
Beneficiary
