Let’s lift Tracy Smith up in her hour of need!!!

Tracy Jo Smith.....Our dear friend and 1984 Notre Dame Catholic High School Classmate needs our collective help!!!

In the Fall of 2018, Tracy was diagnosed with a very serious and advanced form of breast cancer and underwent a double mastectomy and the removal of 27 lymph nodes. The cancer has advanced to those lymph nodes and requires very aggressive and debilitating treatments.

Despite Tracy’s sense of humor and chipper disposition this curveball of breast cancer is terrifying to her. The treatments leave Tracy weak and vulnerable to infection. She is struggling physically to get through her days. 

Tracy is currently undergoing intensive chemotherapy which will be followed up by radiation for many more weeks. Tracy has been out of work since her surgery in October of 2018 and has been told by her treating physicians that she will be out of work until July of 2019 at a minimum. 

For those who do not know Tracy personally, she is single and lives alone in her own home in Bridgeport.  Both of her parents are deceased.

She is riding this train solo, albeit with the assistance of some very generous, thoughtful and dedicated friends who have reached out to her over the past few months upon learning of her difficult life struggle to visit, bring over a hot meal and drive her to her doctor and chemotherapy appointments. 

Tracy has used up all of her paid and unpaid medical and family leave with her job.  Like many of us , Tracy has exhausted her personal savings over the last few months in an effort to stay afloat and pay her household bills. 

She has been told by her Non-Profit Employer that her job may not be held for her as she has reached the maximum allotted number of days out of work. Tracy is at serious risk of losing her job, which brings her so much joy and life meaning.  Beyond that Tracy will lose her health insurance benefits, her home and will not be able to provide for her own basic needs because she cannot return to work. 

We are trying to raise funds that will keep Tracy financially stable until she is able to return to work. Enough funds to pay for her health insurance, mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities and groceries for the next few months. 

Tracy has been endlessly giving back to her Community in the Greater Bridgeport/Fairfield Area since she left the halls of NDCHS some nearly 35 years ago.  

As a trained and skilled social worker, Tracy has been providing countless hours both professionally and on a volunteer basis in her free time assisting the most needy citizens among us who struggle with mental health and addiction issues transition to independent living housing situations. 

Tracy has, year after year, personally sought and delivered donations of food, clothing, coats, hats, gloves, basic personal products, household supplies and furniture donations to assist The Thomas Merton House in Bridgeport as well as her own clients and the population that she serves professionally to help make their transitions more comfortable and easier.  All without additional compensation or the expectation of any remuneration. She has been and continues to be an Imitator of Christ. 

We need to show Tracy how much our community loves and appreciates her!! Please help in any way that you are able. All donations are much appreciated by Tracy!!