Help the Berry Family Through Their Toughest Battle

This is a story about folks in need who could really use your help, but like a lot of people...we all can become weary of some GoFundMe pages. Life hands everyone obstacles, financial pressures, and true life tragedies, no one is spared but some people through no fault of their own get an extra serving of hardship. A GoFundMe page of simple $10 donations can help turn a corner on what could be an otherwise dark path.

This is one of those stories. This is the story of Mark and Laurie Berry, two people who found each other in High School, would spend hours each night on the phone and became each other's world thru those four years. Mark even moved Laurie into her college dorm, and though still smitten, that's where their lives started to separate. They eventually went on to marry and have kids separately and when those marriages dissolved, they rediscovered each other 18 years later via classmates.com. They soon met up in a parking lot in Nashua, NH and instantly knew they'd lost valuable time and were meant to be together for the rest of their lives. Laurie came with 6 kids (3 by birth, 3 adopted). Mark was blessed with two kids, one with non-verbal autism. Within a few months, they married and became a family of 10, but life had more in store for them.

They were blessed with 2 more children together and when they showed up at their 25th High School reunion in their 15-passenger van, Laurie "in a black halter dress and 11 months pregnant" as Mark would joke.. it was apparent to all how much they were in love and how they felt so blessed with their "yours, mine and ours" family of soon to be 12.

Mark went on to become a manager at Lowes and Laurie became a nurse who specialized in home care, particularly focused on patients with Cancer. Mark and Laurie are true caretakers in every sense of the word and they rely heavily that their love and strong faith will get them through life's challenges, as providing for a family of 12 is no easy task.

They were doing well, healthy, deep in Love, full of faith. Then, the beginning of a series of challenges confronted them. Laurie's son had a health crisis that nearly cost him his a kidney and his leg. It was touch and go for 3 months. Recovery was intense and Laurie left their home in NC and temporarily moved to Florida to be closer to the hospital and then rehab to be there for her son. Mark held down the fort at home, working full time and homeschooling the kids. As a family, they prayed and held together tight until the storm passed. It did, 18 months later Jordan stood from his wheelchair and walked again.

Then Mark's stepfather became very ill. They sold their home in N.C. and pooled resources and moved home with Mark's mother & stepfather in R.I. Laurie and Mark both took great care of Mark's stepfather until he passed away in the arms of his mother. They were relieved he was no longer suffering.

You would think life would reward such kind souls, but they were about to face yet another mammoth hurdle. Through unforeseen circumstances, they lost the roof over their head and were given 30 days by the Bank to find new lodging...and zero funds to do it! All their savings used to buy the house.

They persevered. They both took extra, opposite shifts, they spent the summer living in a campground, and then a month in a motel in order to save for the needed monies to move into a tiny rental home in R.I. They mustered through, love and faith always their foundation and when they finally moved in...they felt truly blessed! That was last summer. I remember Laurie writing to me and saying they were loved, blessed and healthy. She had everything she needed. I was so relieved for them and so impressed with how they handled their struggles with faith and optimism.

A few months went by....and I was dealt a health blow. Laurie and I connected again. As a cancer/chemo nurse...she sent constant prayers and light for my journey. We were only acquaintances in HS and here we were sharing these crazy life trials.

Then came Tuesday morning of this week...I woke to a text from Laurie. She wrote... "I remember a night I woke, and prayed for you. My darling soul mate has Cancer. No one knows. Not even the kids, but..You know what he is going through so I told you. My heart is ripped to shreds, he is the air I breathe"

Both Mark and Laurie have posted now, so I am not divulging anything I have not been given permission to. They are very private people, I had to convince them both to allow me to create a GoFundMe page.

Mark found out his diagnosis last week, after 2 long years of crippling pain. He has what they believe is sacral chordoma, a 1 in a million, very rare Cancer on his spine and pelvis. This surgery is dangerous, it involves both front and back surgery, removing bone, and cutting nerves permanently. The bowel, bladder and legs are all in the target zone. It's unclear what functions Mark will have post surgery. Laurie mentioned she often catches him standing, while trying to sleep because everything else is too painful.

They go into this hopeful, and are asking for prayers for the wisdom and skills of the surgeons and doctors on Mark's team.

Here's the kicker...if all of that is not enough to take down most folks...they've the additional burden of Mark not being able to work. His pain so immeasurable that he had to quit his job and Laurie has taken on two F/T nursing jobs in order to cover their $3600 monthly rent. They were only recently notified that it was raised $900 from $2700, talk about bad timing.

The irony is not lost that she is a Home Oncology nurse, and cannot take time off for Mark's Dr's appointments, surgery or post op. It's absurd at best!

This is the sole reason for this GoFundMe page. There is no better nurse to care for Mark..and they simply cannot afford it. They still have 3 kids and a dog at home..and too many bills to think about.

My hopes are through RMHS class of 81, friends, family and complete strangers with big hearts, that we can raise $10,800 which is 3 months rent. Laurie will still need to work one full time job, but it will allow her to spend evenings with Mark.

We all know how tough it is for everyone right now. Small donations are truly welcomed, and if that cannot happen Laurie asked that folks send an old fashioned card, to flood Mark with love, light and kindness.

When I mentioned to Laurie that a half dozen girls from HS were already contacting me to donate, she was amazed.

The last thing Laurie asked was ....

"Please tell everyone how humbled we are and BLESSED by their love, support, and compassion".

I said I can ABSOLUTELY do that!

Please consider a donation, and if that is not possible a card sent to their to brighten Mark's journey. Every cent and sentiment will be truly appreciated.

Mark & Laurie Berry

64 Flint Corn Road

Portsmouth, RI 02871

Sincere thanks to all for reading this, if money is too tight please consider

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Many thanks, Jan