Helping Hearts For James

#HelpingHeartsForJames

Have you ever met a truly AMAZING person? Someone who is TOTALLY AUTHENTIC, who is a natural leader and respects EVERY LIFE he touches? I have met such a man… he is my soul mate and best friend. We have been married for 32 years. James often says his “real job” is to sprinkle glitter along his way to brighten the journey of those he meets. If you have ever met James, you know EXACTLY what I’m talking about.

When you meet James, you understand the experience of “boundless love.” You immediately wish you could be neighbors. He has an innate way of creating rainbows in ordinary days, and he always makes you feel special… TRULY special.

This man has taught many of us a richer meaning of kindness and caring. He is a creative force. Over the years James has worked with and assisted the homeless, the homebound, AIDS patients, and the elderly, he has spread cheer to those confined to the hospital, and he feeds the poor. Even our dogs are rescues. James is a GIVER. As such it is especially difficult for him to be on the receiving end of things, but pride cannot come before need; not when it’s literally a matter of life and death.

As is the case for many of us, Covid has taken a huge toll. In our case, Covid was the final straw that affected our livelihood. I have watched as the pandemic affected the economic, social, and emotional needs of our lives. Unfortunately for us, it has affected far more than that. James was diagnosed on May 17th, 2022, our 32nd wedding anniversary, with Stage 4A cancer of the throat and mouth. James does not smoke, nor does he drink. This diagnosis, like all cancer diagnoses, seems unreal and unthinkable.

You see the irony is that James is a phenomenal cook. Although he never took it up professionally, he did attend culinary school in his youth. Nothing makes him happier than preparing, and best of all, sharing his delicious delicacies. He creates magnificent Italian feasts, mouthwatering everyday meals, along with hot, out-of-the-oven desserts and savory treats. These wonders have consistently found their way into the homes of… the homeless, neighbors in need, church friends, and countless total strangers. James’s capacity to share love is as endless as the recipes he creates.

However, James’ radical, radiation and chemotherapy treatments are quieting his effervescent voice, they’re also extinguishing his ability to taste, therefore, enjoy eating. The treatments make it impossible for James to make or share his recipes any longer. Still, my biggest worry is HIS ability to eat. As the radiation goes on and on, with several more weeks to come, the burn and the pain make it increasingly more difficult to swallow. Almost always, throat cancer patients have to get feeding tubes at some point. Even so, the patient MUST continue to keep swallowing something through the pain, even though it’s not enough to nourish them, or they’ll risk permanently losing the ability to swallow. This does not end with finishing the radiation; the damage caused takes, on average, TWO YEARS to heal, leaving the patient with the same struggle as if they're still undergoing treatments. That’s how much damage the process causes!

Our retirement savings have been depleted by the co-pays required by our Market Place health insurance. I, myself, am disabled, and my meager income cannot sustain us. James is unable to work……first by covid and now by his diagnosis.

As you can see, the path of treatment and recovery is long and steep. He is undergoing 39 radiation treatments and simultaneously, ten weeks of chemotherapy…. …. It is enormously expensive. We, James' family and friends, are sharing this with you in the hope that you will help us alleviate some of the financial burdens that James and I face, allowing us to focus exclusively on his treatment and recovery. Each gift, no matter the size, will offset an expense.

James has remained strong of faith, positive in spirit, and quite inspiringly, has professed to become a better person BECAUSE of cancer. The outpouring of love from family and friends has deeply touched our hearts and is opening our minds to new perspectives, bringing us even closer to God. God has always been the center of our lives, and we KNOW the power of prayer can create miracles. We ask that you keep us in your prayers. James is determined to beat this cancer, not only to give us more time together..... but so that he can spend the rest of his life, somehow giving back and helping others who have to go through the horror he is now facing.

If you are able, we ask that you help us through This Go Fund Me page. Please help us ease the stress of wondering how to meet the medical expenses, keep our home, and even pay for the gas to get to and from the myriad medical appointments and treatments.

James has always believed in the goodness of people. Please help us to EXPERIENCE that goodness first hand. The greatest wealth is to live contentedly with simplicity. At this time we ask with humility, to help us to help James to continue to live. We NEED you.

I would like to end this plea with a quote from James’s favorite prayer, in fact, his favorite verse from it; one he has always strived to live up to:

“Let me love You my Lord and my God and see myself as I truly am; a pilgrim in this world, a Christian called to respect and love All whose lives I touch.”

Be blessed and know we greatly appreciate your help.