Help us support April and Tom

It is with the heaviest of hearts we share the sad news that Tom has passed away. He was at home, surrounded by loved ones. Tom was an extraordinary man who brought so much love and kindness to those around him. He will be deeply missed. Please continue to donate, send love and prayers to April and her family as they navigate their new normal. Rest in peace Tom McLaughlin. We love you.

Hello everyone. It’s Jan.  Myself along with Brandy and Jame Mackson are parents of the children who go to April’s daycare. She is our rock. She is our family.  We were deeply saddened with the news that her beloved husband Tom was diagnosed with cancer  

Tom decided to get his chest looked at in February after some persistent chest and shoulder pain, which led to a series of tests and an official prognosis in April, Stage 4 lung cancer that had already spread to multiple organs. Chemotherapy and/or radiation wouldn’t have changed his outcome, unfortunately. While those treatments were offered, Tom opted out and sought other options, allowing him to “enjoy” himself for the first few months after his diagnosis. He was given 4-7 months to live.  Tom started receiving at-home hospice care in August, getting bi-weekly visits from his nurses. April, his wife, has been taking care of him otherwise. 

April has worked 11 hour days, 5 days a week, sometimes weekends, taking 1 week off around Christmas and 1 week off around the 4th of July for the last 40 years, caring for somewhere between 7 and 12 children, depending on her licensure allowance. During the pandemic she’s transitioned into a distance learning coach for her daycare children, helping them accomplish their schoolwork, while simultaneously taking care of Tom, acting as his full time nurse. This Monday mid-day she finally decided she couldn’t care for both Tom and the children, and called her daycare parents to pick up them up, and April took the rest of the week off. She is essential to many families, taking care of children from infancy to their teenage years, making sure they’re learning and thriving, sending them off to school everyday and meeting them at the bus stop. She has started caring for 2nd generations of families, maintaining her long time relationships with them.

Tom and April are goofy and lovable members of the community, and we’re heartbroken over what’s happened to them, especially during an already stressful pandemic. Although times have been very hard on these two, they would never ask for any help. April maintains a constant smile and is full of laughter.  

The last thing April and her family need to worry about are bills and expenses.   Your donation would greatly help ease the financial burden. 

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts