Please help Barbara fight pancreatic cancer.

  Our Angel Needs Angels

On Christmas Eve, barely two weeks ago, our family’s emotional – and financial – world was turned upside down: my mom, Barbara (Greenfield) Hoffman was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer that has already spread to her liver, colon, abdomen and breasts.
You have to know that my mom is accustomed to being everybody’s “earth mother” -- once you are in her tribe you are part of the family for life. She and my dad are normally the ones to step up to help others whenever possible . . .

. . . but now, although it is hard for them to accept, they are the ones who need your help urgently to meet medical debt which in just two weeks has added crushing stress to an already emotionally tough time.

A Little Background
Barb has been battling with what we believed to be chronic back pain for the last year. We were told by multiple doctors that the pain was bulging discs and possible arthritis located in her spine.  It was only when unbearable pain sent her to the ER on Christmas Eve that a cat scan revealed: the tumor on her pancreas, lesions on her liver and other lesions on nearby tissues. Our family was told that pancreatic cancer is one of fastest progressing cancers and in many cases is terminal.
So at least we finally know what’s really going on and with the team at Sutter Hospital, she has gotten the pain to a more controllable level. This has allowed her to get some much-needed rest. After a week in the hospital, she is now home where we are trying to keep her comfortable and as pain-free as possible.

Why She Needs Help So Urgently
My mom had been in good health all her life until this point.  Like many Americans on a fixed income, she chose to pay out-of-pocket for her incidental medical expenses rather than pay upwards of $15,000 a year for insurance.  However, late last year she did decide to enroll in Covered California . . . unfortunately, for bureaucratic reasons, it will not take effect until 1 Feb. In addition, it will be $2,000 a month when it kicks in.  That premium will be hard enough to meet on my parents’ income, but now they also must pay for that week in the hospital, extensive tests, medications and another month to go before she has insurance . . .

. . . they truly need your help to meet these growing medical expenses.

We will be so grateful for any donation you can make, no matter how small, along with your love and prayers.  Thank you so very, very much.


(family party at one of her favorite local state parks- Armstrong Woods)
(My parent's wedding day in 1997. Here my mom is putting the ball and chain on my dad's foot before he walks down the aisle.)
(Sharing a smooch with "adopted" family member, Sierra, during a friends wedding) 
(Mom and grandson at the Forestville tree lighting 2017) 
(Mom and I cuttin’ the rug on the dance floor of a friends wedding. This wedding was the last time I saw my mom let loose and have fun pain free))
(My parents kayaking in Alaska- my mom kept chanting  in her head “don’t tip over, don’t tip over!")