For years, if you walked into the front office at Lopez High School, Adult Education, or the Lucia Mar District office, the first thing you saw was Judy's smiling face. As a receptionist and secretary, she wasn't just an employee—she was the heartbeat of our district. Subbing at all of the district's sites for seven years, she helped nervous kindergartners, guided parents through paperwork, and supported her fellow staff members. Judy did it all with unparalleled kindness and grace. As a permanent employee for seven more years, she brought joy to her co-workers, and assisted anyone who asked. She retired in October 2024 in order to take care of her ailing father, and now our friend who spent her career helping everyone else, needs us to step up for her.
One year after her retirement, Judy received the difficult diagnosis of stage 3 uterine cancer. She had a hysterectomy in November, and on January 27th, Judy had the first of many ongoing chemotherapy sessions. While she is facing this fight with the same strength and positivity she brought to her desk every day, the road ahead is a challenging one. As we all know, the costs of medical treatments, specialized care, and daily living expenses can become overwhelming very quickly. The bills for the surgery, ongoing tests, and office visits are already stacking up, and her insurance doesn't cover nearly enough. At this rate, the retirement savings Judy thought she'd have for living expenses will be gone in the blink of an eye. Medical expenses should not put us into debt or drain our retirement.
We are reaching out to the LMUSD community—past and present—to help ease the financial burden on Judy and her family. Whether you are able to give a little or a lot, every gift makes a meaningful difference. While we cannot take away the physical battle she is facing, we can help remove some of the financial and practical stress, so Judy can direct her strength toward healing. Our goal is to raise funds to cover out-of-pocket medical expenses and co-pays, travel costs for specialized treatments, and daily living expenses so she can focus entirely on healing. If you aren't able to donate at this time, there are still ways to help: share this page, leave a message of encouragement, or keep Judy in your thoughts. Your support means the world to her and to all of us who care about her.
One year after her retirement, Judy received the difficult diagnosis of stage 3 uterine cancer. She had a hysterectomy in November, and on January 27th, Judy had the first of many ongoing chemotherapy sessions. While she is facing this fight with the same strength and positivity she brought to her desk every day, the road ahead is a challenging one. As we all know, the costs of medical treatments, specialized care, and daily living expenses can become overwhelming very quickly. The bills for the surgery, ongoing tests, and office visits are already stacking up, and her insurance doesn't cover nearly enough. At this rate, the retirement savings Judy thought she'd have for living expenses will be gone in the blink of an eye. Medical expenses should not put us into debt or drain our retirement.
We are reaching out to the LMUSD community—past and present—to help ease the financial burden on Judy and her family. Whether you are able to give a little or a lot, every gift makes a meaningful difference. While we cannot take away the physical battle she is facing, we can help remove some of the financial and practical stress, so Judy can direct her strength toward healing. Our goal is to raise funds to cover out-of-pocket medical expenses and co-pays, travel costs for specialized treatments, and daily living expenses so she can focus entirely on healing. If you aren't able to donate at this time, there are still ways to help: share this page, leave a message of encouragement, or keep Judy in your thoughts. Your support means the world to her and to all of us who care about her.
Organizer and beneficiary
Judith Whisenhunt
Beneficiary