Rally for the Parkers
Spende geschützt
We want you to meet our beautiful friend, Diane. She is 54 years old, married to Ed for 37 years, and they have two amazing sons; Christopher and Kyle. Diane is truly one of those people that make you feel special and that you have been friends forever. She wants to know all about you and your family and really takes an interest in your life. She is soft spoken and has such a beautiful spirit that when you meet her you think, “Wow, what a beautiful lady and how very special she is.” She is truly a genuinely kind soul and will leave an imprint on your heart. You just feel good being around her. We like to call her our living angel.
Diane, sadly, for the last 16 years has been fighting cancer. Different areas in her body have tumors resulting in countless doses of radiation and chemo over these years, along with many surgeries. It has been hell for her and her family but it has never kept her from living life and enjoying time with family and friends. Most importantly, she has never complained about what she was going through. She would never let on how bad she really was feeling. She would still have a smile on her face. She is truly amazing.
Several weeks ago Diane and her family were given devastating news that would rock their world. Tests showed that the cancer has now spread and that there was nothing more doctors can do for her. Diane’s time here with us, her friends and her family is coming to a close. Life just isn't fair. Diane will not see her next birthday, see her boys get married or see grandchildren that she may have been blessed with. Her and Ed will not grow old together as they’d planned to do for many years. Rather than feel sorry for herself, Diane would say how thankful she is for the time she has had, how good life has been to her, and how proud and happy her and Ed are to see their boys become young men who are now on their own in other states. She considers her glass half full.
In spite of all the heartache and struggles cancer has given Diane and Ed, her illness inspired them to ‘give back’ as members of the Wounded Heroes Program of Maine. They have dedicated much of their time to this organization for the last 8 years. This is an all-volunteer non-profit that serves injured returning veterans as they struggle during their transition from active duty to civilian life. It was important for Diane to be involved in something that meant something to them and this program was a perfect fit. For these past eight years, Diane has selflessly and quietly focused on serving our veterans in their time of need and pushed through her ongoing medical struggles. Even when she was bald and beautiful, she would do anything she could to help out. She has coordinated fundraising events, been hands-on at anything that she could, putting her own challenges aside to make sure our wounded veterans were taken care of with whatever they needed. Her and Ed have hosted many team meetings at their home when she wasn’t up to going out. As a team, we have traveled to Arlington National Cemetery to place wreaths with Wreaths Across America. We have traveled to Providence, Rhode Island for Veterans Day to honor service members at the Waterfire events. We have had hundreds of events over the years and Diane has put in an incredible amount of time to fundraise for, and honor our veterans, at times very sick and very exhausted from the toll cancer has taken on her body, refusing to give in and let cancer take her away from her determined mission to continue to serve our wounded. The level to which Diane has put our veterans first and put aside her own illness is so inspiring to anyone who knows her. She is truly a shining example of ‘service above self’. Right now, Ed is having to reduce his workdays to try and spend as much time with Diane and care for her as much as possible. They flew both sons home for Mother’s Day weekend to spend some very important time together on the heels of her terminal diagnosis. People have provided meals and other items to help out, but as Diane’s days diminish, the financial aspect of things is taking its toll as Ed tries to continue working a reduced schedule. To honor their commitment and support for so many veterans, we who love them so much ask for your help to please recognize such selflessness and dedication and caring that they have given of themselves. PLEASE help us help her and Ed in the same way they have helped hundreds of veterans over the last few years through our program. Diane and Ed are very proud people and are not the type to ask for help in any way. But we feel strongly that the love and care Diane has given to our veterans come back to her in HER time of need. We at Team Wounded Heroes, and her family and friends thank you so very much.
Diane, sadly, for the last 16 years has been fighting cancer. Different areas in her body have tumors resulting in countless doses of radiation and chemo over these years, along with many surgeries. It has been hell for her and her family but it has never kept her from living life and enjoying time with family and friends. Most importantly, she has never complained about what she was going through. She would never let on how bad she really was feeling. She would still have a smile on her face. She is truly amazing.
Several weeks ago Diane and her family were given devastating news that would rock their world. Tests showed that the cancer has now spread and that there was nothing more doctors can do for her. Diane’s time here with us, her friends and her family is coming to a close. Life just isn't fair. Diane will not see her next birthday, see her boys get married or see grandchildren that she may have been blessed with. Her and Ed will not grow old together as they’d planned to do for many years. Rather than feel sorry for herself, Diane would say how thankful she is for the time she has had, how good life has been to her, and how proud and happy her and Ed are to see their boys become young men who are now on their own in other states. She considers her glass half full.
In spite of all the heartache and struggles cancer has given Diane and Ed, her illness inspired them to ‘give back’ as members of the Wounded Heroes Program of Maine. They have dedicated much of their time to this organization for the last 8 years. This is an all-volunteer non-profit that serves injured returning veterans as they struggle during their transition from active duty to civilian life. It was important for Diane to be involved in something that meant something to them and this program was a perfect fit. For these past eight years, Diane has selflessly and quietly focused on serving our veterans in their time of need and pushed through her ongoing medical struggles. Even when she was bald and beautiful, she would do anything she could to help out. She has coordinated fundraising events, been hands-on at anything that she could, putting her own challenges aside to make sure our wounded veterans were taken care of with whatever they needed. Her and Ed have hosted many team meetings at their home when she wasn’t up to going out. As a team, we have traveled to Arlington National Cemetery to place wreaths with Wreaths Across America. We have traveled to Providence, Rhode Island for Veterans Day to honor service members at the Waterfire events. We have had hundreds of events over the years and Diane has put in an incredible amount of time to fundraise for, and honor our veterans, at times very sick and very exhausted from the toll cancer has taken on her body, refusing to give in and let cancer take her away from her determined mission to continue to serve our wounded. The level to which Diane has put our veterans first and put aside her own illness is so inspiring to anyone who knows her. She is truly a shining example of ‘service above self’. Right now, Ed is having to reduce his workdays to try and spend as much time with Diane and care for her as much as possible. They flew both sons home for Mother’s Day weekend to spend some very important time together on the heels of her terminal diagnosis. People have provided meals and other items to help out, but as Diane’s days diminish, the financial aspect of things is taking its toll as Ed tries to continue working a reduced schedule. To honor their commitment and support for so many veterans, we who love them so much ask for your help to please recognize such selflessness and dedication and caring that they have given of themselves. PLEASE help us help her and Ed in the same way they have helped hundreds of veterans over the last few years through our program. Diane and Ed are very proud people and are not the type to ask for help in any way. But we feel strongly that the love and care Diane has given to our veterans come back to her in HER time of need. We at Team Wounded Heroes, and her family and friends thank you so very much.
Organisator und Spendenbegünstigter
MarcSue Patnaude
Organisator
Berwick, ME
Ed Parker
Spendenbegünstigte
