Rally for Lachelle: A Mother's Courage

Hello, my name is Darrin Troy Parris and I’m the oldest of 9 children born to this incredible lady, Lachelle Denise Rawlings. My mom’s journey started in Dec of 1970. She is 54 years young and fighting stage 4 pancreatic cancer with unwavering courage. 9 biological children and 23 grandchildren depend on her love and support, and this horrible disease has turned my once vibrant and beautiful mother into a shadow of who she once was, but her spirit remains unbroken. Every day is a struggle to get to the next, and I can tell it’s wearing her down, but she continues to inspire us with her strength.

Lachelle Denise Rawlings is one of the kindest-hearted people that you would ever want to meet. The type of person that would go above and beyond to help friends, family, and even total strangers, spreading love and kindness wherever she goes. She will take anyone in and help anyone in need of help, showing us all what it means to live a life of compassion and generosity.

Short example: There was a little, old, homeless Hispanic man that used to roam my mother’s neighborhood and search dumpsters for food and recyclables. My mother saw him searching her dumpsters for such, and she stopped him and asked if he was hungry and fed him. After she fed him, she let him take a shower in her home. After he took a shower, she felt so bad that she made a room out of her garage, and he stayed there for a few years and never left. Jose and my mother became really close, and she didn’t look at him as just a homeless person but just as a person and then as a friend, showing us that everyone deserves dignity and respect. Did I mention that he spoke no English and my mother spoke no Spanish? It was a very odd friendship but a true one indeed. He started working as a neighborhood handyman and landscaper around the neighborhood. One day, he was doing a neighbor's lawn and fell dead in his tracks. My mother was distraught over his death, but even in grief, she showed us the power of love and compassion.

This isn’t the first nor the only indigent person she’s helped. I can go on forever about how big her heart is, but sadly, we don’t have that much time. We are raising money for medical expenses and treatment that won’t be covered by medical insurance, and we believe that together, we can make a difference. We found a promising center abroad, but it is very expensive. We are asking friends, family, and future/soon-to-be friends to help us restore my mother’s health, and we are grateful for any support you can offer. Anything you can spare is much, much, much appreciated by our entire family, and we know that with your help, we can overcome this challenge and celebrate my mother’s strength and resilience.