My name is Maddison Lake. I’ve been friends with Jedidiah (“Jed”) for over 25 years, and I’m organizing this fundraiser for his family to honor their mom, Virginia A. Handy.

In late August, Virginia was admitted to University of Tennessee Medical Center and diagnosed with grade 4 glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer.

The family’s focus is now exactly what Virginia asked for: to come home and be cared for by her kids, especially her son Earl (Eugene) who is stepping up as primary caregiver.

Here’s who you’re helping:

Virginia loved to laugh and joke—the kind of person who could make a stranger feel like an old friend in five minutes.

She was brilliant and endlessly curious: a computer engineering graduate from Kent State, a math whiz who taught high-school calculus, and a lifelong teacher who also taught special ed and even preschool.

She wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty, either—she knew automotive work back in the ’70s and ’80s when that was anything but common.

Her brain was big, and so was her laughter. That’s the Virginia her children want to surround with love at home.

Virginia’s four children—Michelle (the oldest), Marriah, Jed, and Earl—are doing everything they can to make home care possible on short notice.

What your gift makes possible:

Home access & safety: building wheelchair ramps into the house, installing grab bars, shower chair, and other accessibility upgrades.

Care setup: renting a hospital bed, linens, comfort items, and supplies not covered by hospice.

Caregiving support: groceries, medications, transportation, and lost wages for Earl as he provides full-time care.

Dignity & closure: if needed, help with simple final arrangements and a small celebration of Virginia’s life.

How funds are handled:

All proceeds go directly to the family. Transfer go directly to Earl, who is managing day-to-day care for Virginia. We’ll post updates so you can see the impact in real time.

If you can donate, thank you from the bottom of our hearts. If you can share, that helps more than you know. Together we can give Virginia what she asked for—gentle days at home, surrounded by love, laughter, and her kids.