School Rallies to Help Family
Donation protected
"A little bit of help can go a long way"
Meet Patrecia, a mother of one of our students, Ariel. Ariel is a third grader in our Alexandria, VA School. Ariel comes to school every day ready to learn and most days with a smile on her face. Oh, she has her personality alright, but she is full of life and love.
Ariel’s mother, Patrecia is a wonderful, kind, spiritual women. She came to the United States from Jamaica over ten years to go to college in South Carolina. There she studied psychology and sociology and obtained her Bachelors of Science Degree. She was blessed with Ariel’s’ birth in 2006 and worked hard to provide for her. In 2010 she moved to Alexandria with hopes of obtaining a government job. Meanwhile she worked for Marriott and Macy’s. Ariel began kindergarten in 2011 and loved school from the first minute. Life was good and Patrecia was grateful for her blessings.
In August of 2012, life changed for Ariel and her mother. Three months after having a “normal” mammogram, Patrecia was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. She underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation over the next year with numerous complications. Family members who all live outside the U.S. helped when they could. A handful of friends did what they could do to lighten her load. Patrecia looked forward to feeling better and going back to work after her yearlong treatment. The doctors were optimistic about her recovery. Ariel looked forward to getting her mother back.
Then in November of 2013 the severe headaches began, and Patrecia was devastated to receive a diagnosis of a brain tumor. After digesting the news she did what she knew she had to do: get treatment while continuing to care for her daughter. In the past nine months, Patrecia has had cyper knife surgery and radiation and endured numerous complications including ongoing swelling of the brain, which has required steroid treatment and pain management. Additionally she has developed Type 2 Diabetes and high cholesterol, both which require treatment. Her battle has not yet been won. An experimental drug recommended by her doctor was denied coverage by Medicaid. Patrecia continues to pursue treatment for the ongoing swelling in the brain.
Patrecia is an amazingly strong woman. Through this all she has never given up. She has never asked for help. She attends school functions. She substitute teaches whenever a job is available, even though she often is in pain. She thinks of others and helps when she can.
Meanwhile Patrecia has had to rely on Medicaid to guide her treatment and has accrued significant debt. She has had to borrow to make ends meet some months. She still has school loans to repay.
We asked Patrecia in the spring of 2014, “let us help you”. We wanted to raise money so she could have the time to heal without having to worry about finances. But she was too proud to accept our help. We asked again this month when we saw that she is still ill and in pain, and she has finally agreed.
A little bit of help can go a long way. Can you imagine as a team of educators, mothers, fathers, daughters, brothers, sisters, friends, neighbors, and even strangers how we can help this most deserving family if we all just donated $10 or $20 dollars. We can make a life changing and a lifesaving impact. I am in; I hope you all are too. Thank you for your support and please post, forward, or pass along in any fashion to make this a success.
Meet Patrecia, a mother of one of our students, Ariel. Ariel is a third grader in our Alexandria, VA School. Ariel comes to school every day ready to learn and most days with a smile on her face. Oh, she has her personality alright, but she is full of life and love.
Ariel’s mother, Patrecia is a wonderful, kind, spiritual women. She came to the United States from Jamaica over ten years to go to college in South Carolina. There she studied psychology and sociology and obtained her Bachelors of Science Degree. She was blessed with Ariel’s’ birth in 2006 and worked hard to provide for her. In 2010 she moved to Alexandria with hopes of obtaining a government job. Meanwhile she worked for Marriott and Macy’s. Ariel began kindergarten in 2011 and loved school from the first minute. Life was good and Patrecia was grateful for her blessings.
In August of 2012, life changed for Ariel and her mother. Three months after having a “normal” mammogram, Patrecia was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. She underwent a mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation over the next year with numerous complications. Family members who all live outside the U.S. helped when they could. A handful of friends did what they could do to lighten her load. Patrecia looked forward to feeling better and going back to work after her yearlong treatment. The doctors were optimistic about her recovery. Ariel looked forward to getting her mother back.
Then in November of 2013 the severe headaches began, and Patrecia was devastated to receive a diagnosis of a brain tumor. After digesting the news she did what she knew she had to do: get treatment while continuing to care for her daughter. In the past nine months, Patrecia has had cyper knife surgery and radiation and endured numerous complications including ongoing swelling of the brain, which has required steroid treatment and pain management. Additionally she has developed Type 2 Diabetes and high cholesterol, both which require treatment. Her battle has not yet been won. An experimental drug recommended by her doctor was denied coverage by Medicaid. Patrecia continues to pursue treatment for the ongoing swelling in the brain.
Patrecia is an amazingly strong woman. Through this all she has never given up. She has never asked for help. She attends school functions. She substitute teaches whenever a job is available, even though she often is in pain. She thinks of others and helps when she can.
Meanwhile Patrecia has had to rely on Medicaid to guide her treatment and has accrued significant debt. She has had to borrow to make ends meet some months. She still has school loans to repay.
We asked Patrecia in the spring of 2014, “let us help you”. We wanted to raise money so she could have the time to heal without having to worry about finances. But she was too proud to accept our help. We asked again this month when we saw that she is still ill and in pain, and she has finally agreed.
A little bit of help can go a long way. Can you imagine as a team of educators, mothers, fathers, daughters, brothers, sisters, friends, neighbors, and even strangers how we can help this most deserving family if we all just donated $10 or $20 dollars. We can make a life changing and a lifesaving impact. I am in; I hope you all are too. Thank you for your support and please post, forward, or pass along in any fashion to make this a success.
Organizer
Karen Laurier
Organizer
Alexandria, VA
