Our family is reaching out with heavy hearts to ask for prayers and support for my grandparents, Johnny and Patricia Worley. Recently, my grandfather Johnny received a devastating diagnosis of aggressive cancer in his kidney, and has now spread to a mass in his lungs. He only has one kidney, and the doctors have found a mass they believe has already spread through his lymph nodes and possibly into his lungs. His health has declined quickly, and he is no longer able to walk on his own. This has left my grandmother not only carrying the weight of worry but also caring for him physically each day.

Johnny is a well-known painter in our community, a hardworking man who has always provided for his family. He is the father of two sons, the grandfather of four, and the great-grandfather of four. His family has been shaken by this diagnosis, especially his children and grandchildren, who are struggling with the reality of seeing the man they love so much go through this fight.

While his insurance has thankfully approved treatments, what it doesn’t cover are the financial burdens my grandmother now faces. There are many co-pays and medications not fully covered, and on top of that, she will lose income as she takes days off to get Johnny to and from appointments. She works full-time at Piedmont of Monroe Hospital—many of you know her as Pat, always greeting others with kindness, even while pushing through the pain of her bad knee. She has always been one of the hardest-working women you’ll ever meet, never complaining, but at her age and with her own health struggles, this is becoming an overwhelming challenge.

Johnny and Patricia have been married for 53 years. They have built a lifetime together, and anyone who knows them knows that their love and faith run deep. This diagnosis has not only shaken them financially, but also emotionally and spiritually, as Patricia faces the hardest season of her life caring for the man she has loved for more than five decades.

If you are able to give, no matter the amount, it will go directly toward easing their financial burdens—helping with co-pays, uncovered medications, and missed work days—so that my grandmother can focus on what matters most: being there for Johnny. If you aren’t in a place to give, we ask that you lift them up in prayer and keep them close in your thoughts. In a small town like ours, it’s the prayers, love, and support of neighbors, friends, and family that carry us through.