Melissa's family expenses

Sweet Melissa Otoole was diagnosed in April of 2010 with stage 4 brain cancer. At that time she was living in Alabama. The following year she and husband Donovan moved their family to Glenwood Springs and this valley has been their home ever since. They eventually were able to purchase a home in New Castle. All five children are in school now that the youngest has reached kindergarten age and Donovan has been kept busy juggling work at Juice Lucy’s with the children’s needs and caring for Melissa.
Melissa is now progressing in her disease. She is unable to be out of bed for longer than a few moments at a time, is unable to keep food down and has increasing difficulty with mentation and bringing forth words. Her mother is now here, as well as Donovan’s mother (both from out of state) and the two moms are fully involved with helping to care for Melissa while Donovan works as well as providing for the children when they are not in school.
As one might imagine, even the most basic needs of a family of 7 are difficult on one income. The additional stress and burden of serious illness after so many years has also taken a tremendous toll on this family in every possible way.
We are setting up this site in an effort to bring some relief to this family. Melissa’s children range in age from 6-16. There are no big bucket list items, no trips to Jamaica or family vacations to Disneyland although wouldn’t it be awesome if someday Donovan will be able to gift his children with things like that? Right now there is simply a mortgage that can’t wait, electricity that needs to stay on, gas that needs to heat their home, children who need care, and a car that needs gas so Donovan can get back and forth to work.
Donovan wants to be home now. He feels torn. He can have all the time he needs away from the restaurant and still have a job when it’s over, but none of it is paid time off. It takes his whole paycheck to keep their heads above water. So as much as anything else, this Go Fund Me site is in an effort to allow Melissa to be surrounded by the arms that have held her through this whole ordeal while she finishes wrapping up a life that is being cut way too short. Please help us help them have the best End-of-Life they can have….one that includes them all being able to be together.
If anyone wants to contribute to this family’s well-being and contribute to their desire to all be able to be with Melissa as she does this gracious and painful work of saying goodbye, please use this vehicle as a way to do that. If you are unable to contribute dollars, know that your love and good wishes are equally welcomed and just as appreciated. Light a candle, say a prayer, send a good thought. All of it helps. Thank you!!!!!!!!!