After experiencing lingering pain and swelling in his cheekbone, my Uncle Tom checked in with his doctor only to discover the unthinkable: he had cancer ravaging his sinus cavity. Tom is a rare find; he is just genuinely a good person. An outstanding son, husband, father, brother, uncle and friend. Ask him anything and he won't hesitate to jump in and help. Whether it's responding to a somber phone call at 2 a.m., staying overnight to help care for an ailing parent, cooking food for 200 people for 10 years at a charity golf tournament, hosting a wedding reception on his farm, taking an eager 4 year old on a tractor ride, humoring his niece who asked him to be an usher in her wedding in his mid-forties, or just having the knack for stopping to say hi at just the right time, we know how lucky we are to have him in our family.
We don't doubt Tom's ability to prevail in his physical journey against cancer. In fact, not surprisingly, he is excelling in his treatment. But one of the particularly devastating things you learn when you have a loved one get hit with cancer is the financial toll that comes along with it. Even if you have "good" insurance, there's treatment that's only partially covered or not covered at all. Not to mention the incidental costs of treatment: travel, lodging, and time off work for you and your spouse.
We can't help alleviate the physical toll of cancer treatment, but we can help alleviate some of the financial burden that comes along with it. Any amount, no matter how small, that you may be able to contribute is appreciated. While you're at it, put some positive thoughts out there for Tom's recovery. I happen to know a 5 year old anxiously awaiting his next tractor ride from Uncle Tom.