The Hawker Family Needs Our Help.

Friends, family, and loved ones: some very special people need our help. I ask all those who can, please read below and donate to support The Hawker Family in their time of urgent need.

 

The culmination of medical bills from both Jeff and Rose’s cancer journeys, plus the sting of funeral costs have placed this family in an uncomfortable position with covering expenses. Rosalee Hawker, wife, mother, grandmother, and sweet friend called Rose by all lucky enough to know her, was released from the pain in her physical body at the age of 66 on February 5th, 2022. Rose passed in the comfort of her home, surrounded by her husband, daughters, and sons-in-law after an excruciating journey with colon cancer. Here is a small chapter of her story:

 

Rose’s stage 3 colon cancer diagnosis in May 2021 was an unexpected heartbreak. Especially after her unwavering dedication as a primary caregiver for Jeff, her loving husband who successfully battled Acute Myeloid Leukemia from 2016-2019. Another emotional, physical, and financial devastation to this wonderful family.

 

 

Rose immediately underwent outpatient chemotherapy and radiation treatments. The latter so aggressive and intense, that the treatment perforated her bowel resulting in an emergency transfer via ambulance for life-saving surgery. She remained at the hospital to recover, working with an extensive care team including oncologists, surgeons, cardiologists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and dietician specialists as she received IV nutrition. The family and clinical team were confident healing was on her horizon, she was so brave and ever her sweet self.

 

When Rose was strong enough, she was transferred from the hospital to an inpatient rehabilitation center where she focused on physical/occupational therapies and continued IV nutrition. She endured tremendous pain when a radiation-induced wound on her tailbone resulted in a life-threatening bone infection. She was once again transferred to the hospital via ambulance for emergency care following a bone biopsy and antibiotics. She remained in the hospital for weeks receiving acute IV antibiotics until our brave Rose was strong enough to be transferred. This time, she went to her new rehabilitation center where she continued her strength training, therapies, and nutrition. Rose needed to build her strength and stamina for her final, curative tumor removal surgery. While the emergency bowel surgery had saved her life, it drained so much of what made Rose, Rose. This rehab facility was the shelf on which The Hawker Family placed their hope.

 

 

Less than 1 week after her transfer, that shelf was broken. Our Rosie tested positive for COVID-19 a few days before Christmas 2021 and was transferred back to the ICU for the third time in just a few months. This chapter of her journey was a harrowing whirlwind where she was placed on a ventilator. Rose was unable to hug her granddaughter, unable to be kissed by her husband, and restricted from laughing with her daughters. The cost of this nightmare was far more than financial, but the bills did not stop. Her cancer didn’t care that she had contracted Covid, her cancer didn’t care that she was already living with lupus and impaired kidney function, her cancer didn’t care that her family still needed her. Her cancer was ruthless and on January 31, 2022, it was confirmed that the cancer had spread into her lung and pelvic organs.

 

 

The Hawker Family made the heartbreaking decision to bring Rosalee home to be surrounded by those who love her most with the support of hospice care. She passed away peacefully just 24 hours later.

 

According to the National Cancer Institute, the average yearly cost of stage 3 and above cancer in America is $110,000. The Hawkers have experienced this 2-fold and need our help. Our goal is to raise $50,000 to ease their burden. Thank you for reading and thank you in advance for sharing Rose’s story with your family and friends. For Rose, please plant some seeds of goodness today.