Kelly’s Time of Need

I met Kelly the summer before 3rd grade. We became fast friends and were inseparable. She is in the center of my heart and always will be. For her entire life, she has selflessly taken care of others. Her mother was a single parent who was diagnosed with MS when we were in the 4th grade. That left Kelly to be her sole caretaker. Not only did she have to clean the house, do laundry, cook and do the grocery shopping, she had to be her mother’s personal nurse and make sure she was kept clean, given her medicine and put to bed each night after her mother lost use of her legs. I spent many many nights there and know firsthand how hard this was on her. Her mother lost her battle with the disease in January of our 7th grade and Kelly moved in with her aunt and uncle.

Kelly started her family at the young age of 19 when her oldest of 8 biological children was born. She claims 2 more children, a brother and sister who were best friends with her kids and always at the house where Kelly took care of them all. Not only that, but her youngest biological child had severe medical issues and was not expected to come home from the hospital. (He is now 25 and thriving)

Because of her nurturing nature and all the love in her heart, she said “yes” to caring for two of her step-grandchildren, and they have now become children #11 and 12!! They are both minors and are still in school. She is a single parent to them and their only support. Just recently, one of them finished 3.5 years of treatment for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). She took time off of work to take him to St. Jude for treatment and lost much needed income during that time as well. He is now cancer free, and trying to get back to being a teenager.

Kelly has also served women and families during one of the most vulnerable times in their lives…childbirth. As a midwife/doula, she assisted women for 25yrs.

This is only a glimpse into the character of Kelly. There is so much more to her giving nature that I would need a book to tell you her whole story. Now it is time for all of us to rally around her and to give not only financially but also spiritually to help support her. She recently found out she has leukemia, specifically stage 3 Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) and is undergoing chemotherapy. This has and will continue to affect her ability to work. She will become weaker as the treatment progresses and will not be able to function at her normal level of strength.

So please, if you find it in your heart and are able to give something, it will be greatly appreciated and much deserving. I know times are hard right now for everyone, but anything will help.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts!!!