Help is needed for a very difficult situation.

One of our neighbors, a family in our community, desperately needs our support.

Unbelievably, both parents of three beautiful children (7, 14, and 17) are very ill and unable to work.

Their story is one that no family should have to endure.

Dad, a heavy equipment operator, was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia last year. Mom has advanced Lupus and is limited in the non-physical type jobs available to her due to her immigration status.

The Father had continued to work through his illness to provide for his family until this year when he not only contracted COVID but was then diagnosed with Myelofibrosis, an uncommon type of bone marrow cancer. He has been in and out of the hospital undergoing treatment for over a year, trying to work when he is physically able.

The good news is that cancer charities are paying for the Father's cancer treatments.

But, because of his reduced work capacity throughout the summer, there will not be enough savings to get this family through the winter. This family has exhausted all of their savings for rent and bills and relies on food pantries and community resources for the children's clothing and other essentials.

Though they have paid taxes for over two decades and complied with all employment laws, Dad is not eligible for unemployment or disability. Nor has the family received stimulus checks or any federal or state funds available for Covid relief.

While a Go Fund Me Campaign is always more compelling with names, and photos, in this case, protecting their privacy is of foremost importance. Parents fear that their children could be bullied if their desperate situation is made public. They also fear that their immigration status could be a cause for persecution.

To both help and protect them, I ask for your trust and kindness to help them make it through the winter months until the Father recovers and returns to work. His prognosis is optimistic, and doctors believe he will return to work in a few months if he undergoes treatments and has proper time to recover.

As parents, we all understand the pain these parents are going through trying to keep their children safe. If you could spare any amount to donate to help them maintain a roof over their head, pay bills, and keep food in the fridge, it would make a difference.

Let's help them and their children make it through to better days.