Helping the Richards- Hospice Care

I've been getting requests from so many people, wanting to know how they can best best help our friends Mike and Genevieve and their son Colin, and you never think you'll be here, but here we are.  For those of you unaware, one of the best guys you'll ever know, one of my best friends Mike Richard, was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer some 3+ years ago.  In this time, despite surgeries, treatments, set backs, you never heard a single complaint, and I mean not one, about his condition, or his plight.  In fact, the only person with more grace than him during this time has been his wife Gen.  They have been the power couple in strength and dignity that sets the gold standard for accepting life as it comes, and making every moment count.  The cancer, by the numbers and Mikes own admission was going to win at some point, but that was thought to be years out.  and from a cancer standpoint, it still could be.  However, with a heavy heart, unfortunately I write this telling you that the treatment to save his life is to blame for his condition today. The last month, especially the last 2 weeks, we've needed prayers more than ever as his liver function has continued to decline.  A result of multiple rounds of chemotherapy, targeted radioactive pills, medicines to grow the liver, surgeries to cut portions of it out, have all led us to where we are now.   Medical science has reached the end of what they can do, his liver is failing, and the good Lord has the entire family in his hands.   Home now with Hospice care, the family has endured, stood strong, taken care of their own.  As I'm sure some of you know, this can only last for so long, and the help needed must transition to that of nursing professionals.  I would be remiss if we at this point didn't reach out to try and alleviate the financial burden of such care from them.  None of this is fair. None of this makes sense. But what does make sense is providing for peace of mind for our friends/family.  I promise you, that if there were ever two people who have EARNED a little help from others, it's these two.   The most difficult part of writing this is that I unfortunately cannot tell you that the need extends through the end of the week. I cannot tell you that it's 2,3, or 4 weeks worth.  I simply know the need is now, and that good hospice care is a cost nobody plans for at 30.  Instead, I implore you to think about what removing this burden will allow them to do. As a family, Mike gets to spend more time with family, instead of them caring for him.  As a family, Mike and Gen are afforded the opportunity to stay with each other.  As a family, their young son gets to be held by his daddy, and his mother gets to enjoy the view.   We cannot change the past, we can only pray for the future.  As their friends, and as their family, I find it to be our duty to help provide for as much peace and tranquility as can be found; forwarding some of the Lords blessings given to us, onto them.  So if you can spare $5, or $500, I encourage you to please consider giving.  I can promise you that you won't regret it.