Help Paul & Cindy Gallalee

Meg Karchner is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Lucinda Gallalee.

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This GoFundMe is to help Paul and Cindy Gallalee, and Patsy Artz, Cindy’s 78-year-old, developmentally disabled aunt. They need to cover monthly expenses while focusing on Paul’s cancer treatments, Cindy’s search for employment, and Patsy’s transition to medical daycare.

The Gallalees—faithful members of our church who have supported so many in our congregation with their own hospitality, mentorship, and leadership—are navigating an emotionally and financially-taxing season:

Paul endures weekly chemotherapy treatments targeting his esophageal cancer while his medical team is considering surgically removing his stomach;
Cindy—Paul’s wife and Patsy’s full-time caregiver for the past 4 years—is completing paperwork to transition Patsy to medical daycare, so Cindy can reboot their Design/Build business or close it permanently to seek alternate employment;
Patsy—Cindy’s 78-year-old, developmentally-disabled aunt, who lives with Paul & Cindy, requires care equivalent to a pre-schooler —requires knee and hip replacement surgeries to maintain her mobility and does not respond well to the distress in their home, and needs extraordinary physical and intellectual support for daily living.

Cindy’s income began to decline four years ago when she stepped in to assist with caring for Patsy in Pennsylvania. Cindy’s cousin had been Patsy’s guardian, but suffered from alcohol abuse and committed suicide, leaving Patsy without appropriate advocacy. Cindy was appointed guardian, and after travelling 2-3 times per week to oversee Patsy’s care became untenable, they moved Patsy to Maryland not knowing that Patsy’s MedicAid services from Pennsylvania would not transfer to Maryland, which left them fully responsible for Patsy’s physical and financial care.

Their income was cut in half, forcing them to exhaust savings, incur massive debt, and ultimately depend on the grace of church and friends.

In July 2023, Paul was diagnosed with cancer. Now their cashflow has dried up along with their business as they have had no bandwidth to focus on marketing since Paul’s diagnosis. They have been forced to close their showroom and lay-off staff, but now have little income to cover the basics. They need:

$10,750 for past due bills, including medical, gas, power, and water bills
$2,350 for insurance payments due (health, auto, and business, which is required for the license to operate)
$2,500 monthly for mortgage
$500 monthly for utilities (power, gas, water)
$2,000 monthly for food, transport, phones/internet

If we can reach the initial goal of $25,000, that will address the overdue items and carry the family through early June.

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