Rita and Ron are not only lifelong partners, they are now partners in the most difficult fight imaginable, as they battle cancer diagnoses just months apart.

On December 18th, Ron’s birthday, Rita received the devastating news that she had Stage IIB triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), a rare and aggressive form of the disease. After weeks of consultations, testing, and imaging, Rita’s medical team was assembled and her treatment plan put in place. She then bravely began what will be a long and grueling road through chemotherapy and recovery.

Just as hope started to arise, Ron began experiencing serious symptoms of his own. After a two-week emergency hospital stay, Ron was diagnosed with esophageal adenocarcinoma, a life-threatening cancer at the gastroesophageal junction. Due to the tumor’s location, Ron could no longer keep food or liquids down and required surgery to place a feeding tube directly into his small intestine through the abdomen, which now provides 24-hour nutritional support.

For the past several months, both Rita and Ron have been undergoing aggressive chemotherapy treatments—all while managing an overwhelming daily schedule of labs, imaging, testing, infusions, surgeries, consultations, and follow-up visits. They’ve come so far with incredible courage, but their journey is far from over.

As proud union members of over 30 years, they worked hard their entire lives to build a secure and peaceful retirement together. Now, their financial security is rapidly depleting as the mountain of medical bills continues to grow. With today’s healthcare system and the effects of inflation, even the most prepared individuals can be set back in a heartbeat.

We’re reaching out not only for support but also for comfort—hoping that one day, the struggle will subside and hope will be restored to this wonderful couple who has brought so much happiness to so many people. Battling cancer is hard enough, but fighting for your own life while watching the person you love endure the same pain—unable to be their pillar of strength, emotionally, physically, or financially—is utterly heartbreaking.

Please consider donating, sharing their story, or simply leaving a kind message to lift their spirits. Let’s remind them that they are not alone—and that a community stands behind them, cheering them on through every scan, every treatment, and every sleepless night. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your compassion during one of the most difficult times our family has ever faced. Love to all!