Carter's "Make-A-Wish" Florida Trip

Imagine being a Mom and getting diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer and then one month later finding out your 18-year-old son has a Stage 4 rare, aggressive, life- threatening melanoma that has spread from his head to the lymph nodes in his neck.  

That is the story of the amazing, caring and strong Douglas Family.  As Mom, Amy was going through chemo and a double mastectomy, the family traveled across the US to get their son, Carter, care from various specialists.  This week we learned that Carter did not respond well to the last clinical trial currently available to him.   

The goal is to send Amy, Carter and their family to Florida in a Make-A-Wish style program.  Only we don't have the program.  Just our community of caring people that take care of each other.  If you can spare a few dollars and share this with others you know, we can send this family on their way to Florida to be together, out of their home or hospital, and to enjoy each other in a new and beautiful setting for a few weeks.

We are raising funds to help the Douglas Family spend May through July in Clearwater, Florida so they can celebrate life and not think about cancer for a few months, while their youngest son is taking a course at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium.

The Douglas' youngest son,  Jarrod (a junior in high school) has had a life-long dream of being a marine biologist and has been accepted into an early summer program at the Clearwater Marine Aquarium .  The hope is that the whole family can be in Florida together to celebrate life.  They have 3 children, including Julia (age 12), and just want to enjoy life together, enjoying the beach and sun, without thinking about medical issues for a while.

Although Carter does not currently have any more treatment options, he plans on continuing to take courses towards his nursing degree and hopes to take three courses this summer, to stay on track with his program.  His determination, tremendous spirit and strength is a testament to his parent's love before and during this ordeal.  Funny, smart, strong and spiritual - that is Carter (and the whole Douglas Family).

We have found a very reasonably priced house for the family and are trying to raise funds to help cover the travel and lodging costs.   

Upon returning home, Carter is going to have to have more surgery to remove some tumors from behind his ear, to alleviate the pain they are causing.  As you can imagine, the medical bills are mounting and this "getaway" isn't possible without the help of the community.

If you can help at all, it would be most appreciated.   
xoxo  Jen Cafferty, Friend of the Douglas Family 

P.S. - To be fully transparent, I will be reserving the house for the family and using the funds to pay for the house ($9,000) and any additional funds raised will be given to the Douglas' to help cover travel expenses.