Have you ever had one of those moments when life throws you such a curve ball that your breath catches and everything around you starts to spin? One such moment recently occurred for one of our own, an individual who has grown to become one of the very essential parts of the Camden community.
Marlene was entering this past year’s busy fall and holiday season like every other when she received a very startling diagnosis of a very aggressive form of breast cancer. Talk about having your life go from 0 to 100 in a matter of moments. Once that diagnosis hit, in August, her calendar became full of all manner of unanticipated appointments. And since that day, Marlene has remained determined to fulfill her job commitments and serve her community for as long as she is able.
She has worked some weekdays isolated and masked in her Camden office, and from home on the weekends, while recovering from months of weekly treatments. In addition to the rigorous chemotherapy, Marlene has undergone multiple surgeries and myriad tests. Through it all, she hasn’t complained, and she has found comfort in the familiarity of her life before cancer came to the forefront.
Marlene has built a family within her community, which is amazing because her own family has always occupied so much of her free time with different celebrations and events to plan and be a part of. She is always willing to help and participate. She is a great mother, wife, aunt, sister, daughter, friend, and co-worker. And 35 years, Marlene’s has been the familiar face, smile, and voice you experienced when you visited the town office or called on the phone.
Marlene is poised to start her next round of treatments soon. All the while, she has remained stoic and steadfast in her dedication to her family, friends, and her work. This is a major battle for her and her family. And during this difficult time, despite continuing to work as much as she physically can, unexpected expenses have built up for travel, lodging, fuel, and health insurance deductibles, among other things.
Several in her community want to lend her a hand at this time, support her and take away some of the burdens she is facing as she goes through the relentless treatments. Our goal is to help ease some level of stress by providing for some of her unanticipated expenses so Marlene can focus on two of the most important jobs she should have: healing and enjoying life.
