Hi, my name is Ginger. I am fundraising in memory of my little brother, John, and in support of his widow, my fabulous sister-in-law, Gloria.

John fought a stubborn, determined battle with cancer for more than a year but we ultimately lost him in July 2023. He was a veteran of the Gulf War and, after the Army, he earned a B.S. in Nursing, became a Registered Nurse, and worked as a critical care nurse for 16 years at the V.A. Hospital. Within weeks of his retirement he received his cancer diagnosis.

Throughout John's year-long ordeal with chemo, radiation, and all the side effects, Gloria took care of him. She took him to his appointments, cooked his food, cut his nails, tracked his medications, watched the same football games with him over and over when he was too sick to concentrate on anything else, bathed and fed the dogs, bathed and fed the neighbor's dogs, and let him know every moment that he was loved.

Unfortunately, during that hard year of cancer treatment, John was unable to focus on the practicalities of what might happen if he lost his battle with cancer. Now, Gloria is not only grieving her beloved husband and trying to figure out how to build a life without him, she is left with no paid employment and only the possibility of a small survivor's benefit if and when her application is approved. Until she is able to find work, Gloria needs help to keep up the mortgage on the house they just bought last year, her car payment, household bills, vet bills for the dogs, food, and--as if that weren't enough--Gloria had to retain a probate attorney and she incurred thousands in debt for John's funeral expenses.

If you have anything you can possibly spare, however small, please consider helping Gloria to get back on her feet as she grieves the loss of her loving and beloved husband. John touched so many lives and saved so many lives throughout his career. Please help to support his widow at this difficult time.

Thank you.