My name is Mary Sanford and I’m trying to help my brother, Rich Hutchings. Some of you know him from Nina’s, where he made your amazing food for more than 20 years, some from mutual friends, or family, from Roma’s in Sidney, maybe even from high school. This is the second time I’m trying to help him this way, because he desperately needs help at a time when all he should be worried about is surviving. Rich was diagnosed in October with multiglioblastoma-the neurosurgeon removed as much of the primary tumor (sized between a golf ball and a baseball) as he was able but it’s wrapped around his primary artery and could only get about 35% without causing a stroke. The four satellite lesions are too deep to attempt. He will be getting chemo and radiation for the rest of his life. I will not go there. Rich moved to Albany to his daughter’s home and is receiving treatment there. Benefits were applied for, Medicaid, disability, social security ssi, everything possible including a nurse aid to come into the home to help him get ready and start his day-his left side is mostly paralyzed and he spends most of his time in a wheelchair because he keeps falling. Even though he has been approved for every single thing, he has not received any assistance yet because of waiting periods the government imposed. He is desperately trying to hold on but he is drowning, in spite of the help he has received from family and friends. He has copays he must meet before Medicaid will pay, even though he is unable to work, he has a car payment and car insurance so his daughter has a way to transport him to and from the hospital, the nurse aid has still not appeared and his daughter cannot lift her dad alone! Disability and ssi were approved but won’t kick in until five months from the day of his approval-which took months of jumping through government hoops and red tape! Everything he owns, all his memories included, are in a storage facility because there’s no room in his daughter’s small apartment. Please, please-anything will help-even $10 will put gas in the car. Please share this, as often as you see it come up. Pride doesn’t matter now, it’s life ❤️‍. Thank you