Loraine Fairway

For those of you that know my sister Loraine, you’d have to agree, she’s one of the sweetest people you know…

She never misses liking every last one of your vacation photos or wishing you a Happy Birthday. She sends Xmas cards every year, even though we’re all lousy at sending one back. She was even known as the “sticker lady” at work, ensuring all the kids that went through her till got a sticker.

Her heart is pure gold.

So I’m hoping we can all come together and show her how much her kindness has meant to us.

This past fall when Loraine and David were given two months notice, that the owners of their condo wanted to move into their unit, they were fortunate to find another unit in their building coming available. The $750 a month jump in rent was a blow, but they hoped to make up the difference by getting second jobs, and by cutting their other expenses.

Loraine was already working at Superstore, as well as cleaning the common areas of their condo building. David also works at Superstore and was looking for a second job.

Then, at the end of November, just a few days before they were set to move, Loraine was experiencing abdominal pain. Fearing appendicitis, and because neither Loraine nor David drive, she took an ambulance to the hospital. The following day Loraine was diagnosed with cervical cancer.

She tried returning to work but quickly realized she was too sick, and on December 1st -aka moving day, Loraine was put on medical EI, making just 55% of her Superstore wage, and no longer able to do her cleaning job.

Only the bad news didn't stop there. After a lot of tests and medical procedures, both in Nanaimo and Vancouver, it was discovered Loraine has a rare and more aggressive type of cervical cancer, and it has spread throughout her body.

It has already metastasized beyond her abdomen and is now in her brain and bones. The doctors have given Loraine a 0% chance of recovery.

Last week Loraine started chemotherapy and immunotherapy in hopes they can manage her symptoms, and give her a little bit of time to get her affairs in order. However, the doctors have made it clear, their projections are being made in weeks, not months or years.

Understandably, David has not wanted to leave her side.

Already he's having to care for her as she’s become sick from both the cancer and the chemo… but in addition to that, each day he also has to leave her, and go to work, so their rent and bills can be paid.

I never expected our family would ever have to ask for this type of help, but David needs to be at her side.

David hopes/plans to go on Caregiver EI, but the reduction of his income to 55% will strain their finances even further. Not to mention the added expenses of Loraine’s illness - even just the taxi rides to and from the hospital, have started to add up. Already, even with help from their son Alex, they don’t make enough to cover their expenses.

As Loraine's big sister, I want to somehow fix this for her, but I can’t. No one can fix this!

All I can do is humbly ask for your help, to reduce the financial strain they are under, so Loraine and David can be together as much as possible now - and later, to give David a chance to catch his breath, before returning to work.

I know many people in similar financial circumstances can relate, Loraine does not have life insurance beyond the tiny employer policy Superstore offers. And as a Superstore employee, David will receive only 3 days off with pay for the passing of a spouse.

Please help me ease her mind, that her household will stay afloat as they navigate this crisis. I’m hoping if enough of us give, even a small amount, it will add up to enough to make a difference.

Thank you