Support and blessings for Barbara Winchester

Let me introduce you to Barbara Winchester. We met Barb 15 years ago shortly after moving to Nova Scotia. She is a wonderful lady who has a deep relationship with her Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. She writes some of the most thoughtful reflections on her Facebook page that I have ever read. She is always willing to lend an ear when you need someone to talk to or even just a hug. She is always looking after others at work and is affectionately referred to as “mom”.

Barbara has started chemo and immunotherapy for stage 3 breast cancer. Cancer, that dreaded word that no one wants to hear. Barb has come to grips with this diagnosis since her first doctor visit before Christmas when this started to come to light. Luckily it looks like the treatments are working (amen!). After chemo there will be surgery followed by radiation treatments.

Barb will be off work for close to 6 months as she will require surgery and radiation treatments after the chemo is completed. This is where Barb needs help. Like many of us she is not able to retire just yet and very few of us would be prepared to deal with such a situation (mentally or financially). Barb was also recently renovicted with her rent now being double what she had been previously paying ($1,400/month compared to $750). Medical EI will covers less than half of her lost income and now that she is 65 she no longer qualifies for short or long term disability through work.

Would you be willing to help us take some of these worries off Barb’s shoulders? We estimate that the next 6 months will cost her $10,500 in lost income and estimated additional expenses. Fortunately, her drug plan will cover all but $1,000 of the expected $8,000 - $10,000 for her treatment.

If you have a few dollars that you can spare it would be such a blessing to Barb (and us also!).