Nancy's Fr-amily: One heart, many hands

We have all experienced sorrow and tears with the loss of someone dear. It is a heartbreaking time that fills our hearts with tears and and consumes our every thought. There are times when a loss like this far exceeds what one person can handle and is far beyond our comprehension to understand and process.  This is just a portion of Nancy’s story.  In 2011, her daughter in law lost her battle with breast cancer at the age of 31 leaving behind her husband and three small children.  In 2014, her son Michael,  went to join his beloved Michelle, leaving three young kids without either parent.  It left more questions than answers, more tears than hope. How do they move on.  How and what can be done to give these three kids a life of love and hope.  A family. With sadness surrounding her life, Jim's words to Nancy were, "Don't worry, Nance.  We got this."  

Jim and Nancy brought the kids to live with them and created a new family of sorts.  These kids are amazing and very busy!  A busy schedule is a challenge for young parents never mind ones that already had the role of grandparents. The healing and hugs were endless, the pace of the obligations that the kids had with school activities immense. They met the challenge and smiles returned to the faces of sorrow.  Just last weekend, Nancy and Jim were with a group of friends celebrating Friendsgiving and as we sat and just enjoyed each other's company, Nancy told us that she was finally "ok."  They were coming out on the other side of their grief.  Not that the grief went away, but they had worked and had found their new level of comfort with what life had dealt them. 

One day later, on the morning of November 18th, Jim suffered a fatal heart attack at home and in a moment, he was gone.  Nancy's husband, her rock, her partner, her best friend was gone.  

Nancy is the strongest woman I know.  She will always find something positive to hold on to, she will always flash that beautiful smile.  But even the strong have their limit, you would think.  

Please give what you can, more than that if possible. So maybe,  just maybe,  we can say to Nancy just as Jim said, "Don’t worry Nancy we got this!"

Help us make a difference.   Help us help Nancy and the kids get through the next few months as they once again begin the healing process and adjust to life without Jim.