Please Donate to Help Mark Couch Battle Cancer

My name is Brenda Ahring and my brother, Mark Couch, was diagnosed with tongue cancer in early August.

Mark has been my rock for many years. If you know him, you know he is "extra!" He is all the things a big brother should be. He's extremely funny (it's a special sense of humor!), he's caring, he's sarcastic, he's consistent. he's helpful and he LOVES deeply. He's "been there" any time I needed him. He's a hard, hard worker and will labor to help you however he can. He's a little bit hillbilly (OK, he's a LOT hillbilly - according to him!) and he has a metaphor for everything. I simply don't know what I'd do without him.

As a cancer survivor myself, I know what he's going through. The fear, the questions, the worry of how effective treatment will be, the impact on his family, and of course, the huge financial burden. Not everyone who gets cancer is fortunate enough to have a great paying job with wonderful benefits. This certainly describes Mark.

At a time in his life when he should be preparing to retire, he and his wife both work fulltime jobs, and he works a parttime job to help make ends meet. They live in a modest house and live a very modest lifestyle. They do without in regard to most of their WANTS but they get by and pay for their NEEDS.

But cancer is expensive. Even though insurance helps. insurance doesn't cover everything and out-of-pocket maximums are debilitating alone. People who live from one paycheck to the next don't have $10,000 or $20,000 laying around to meet those maximums, all the co-pays, and the expenses not covered by insurance.

We recently found out Mark needs to get all of his teeth removed and needs dentures. This is an IMMEDIATE need and has to be done BEFORE he can start treatment for the cancer. Each day that goes by without treatment is a day he worries if he'll live or die.

So, I'm humbly asking, if you have a little "extra," please consider helping Mark by easing the financial burden of cancer. Again, the need to get his teeth taken care of is IMMEDIATE and expensive.

I don't know why God chooses to allow certain things to happen to good people. Mark is "good people." But, I do know God will walk with him through this journey and will take care of him. But I also know God uses others to bless those in need. I experienced this myself during my own cancer journey. If you are moved to help, THANK YOU.

Debbie (Mark's wife) and I appreciate your blessing and covet your prayers for him. God bless you.

Brenda