If you know Anna and James, then you know they are the people who show up. The kind who help before you even have to ask. The kind who serve their community, volunteer for school events, respond in emergencies, and somehow still find the energy to keep showing up for others again and again. James has worked on our local ambulance for many years as an EMT, Anna has also served as an EMT, and together they have both given so much through volunteer fire and first response. They are kind, hardworking, generous people with two growing sons, who love their momma. Now they need their community to show up for them.

In October 2025, Anna had a freak accident while mushroom hunting with her family and fell down a hill. After that, she began having pain under her arm. At first, it was unclear whether the pain was from the fall or something else. What followed was months of appointments, specialists, tests, and uncertainty. A large swollen area under her arm was thought to be a hematoma. Doctors drained it, hoping that would finally take care of it. It did not. It came back fast and made it very clear it had no intention of being polite. A couple of weeks ago, Anna had surgery, and everyone hoped the hardest part was over. Instead, things took a terrifying turn. She developed a life-threatening infection, went into septic shock, and then received pathology results showing a rare and aggressive form of melanoma.

Right now, Anna is in the hospital fighting to get the infection under control so doctors can determine the next steps. And in true Anna fashion, she is facing all of this with strength, grit, and her sense of humor still fully intact. She does not want pity, and she definitely does not want sad, gloomy “everything happens for a reason” energy. She doesn’t not want to hear “I’m sorry” or “Everything is going to be ok” She wants people to stay positive, laugh with her, and stand beside her as she gears up for the fight of her life. James needs time away from work to be with his wife through this unimaginable season. That means lost income on top of medical expenses, travel, and the everyday costs of caring for their family. Anna and James have spent years helping carry other people through hard things. Now it is our turn to help carry them. If you are able, please donate. If you cannot donate, please share. Every contribution, prayer, laugh, and act of support matters. Let’s help ease the financial burden so Anna and James can focus on what matters most: healing, family, and giving this fight everything they’ve got. Because if anyone can face something brutally hard and still somehow keep everyone else laughing, it’s Anna.