"You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them." ...Desmond Tutu

The bald guy in the picture above is our brother-in-law George.  He is married to our sister Allison.  The treasures surrounding him are his children—Christian (24), Ethan (16), Carleigh (13), and Makenna (11).  The younger kids attend Brick Township schools. 

So, what’s the deal and why the site?  CANCER.  Never did we think we would ever be writing this word on a site in relation to someone in our family.  Tragedy had mostly ignored us and that was just fine by us.  We took our blessings for granted, as most do when times are good and life is sweetly rolling along.

And so George’s story goes…what started as back pain in August became an unthinkable diagnosis in September:  at the young age of 49, George had transitional cell carcinoma.  Now, after an almost two-week hospitalization due to severe pain that was difficult to manage, tests show this aggressive disease has metastasized.  Although we now have answers for the pain, it is obviously not the result we desired. 

Now, the good news is that if you know George, then you know he is tenacious…and when the opponent is cancer that is the best quality one can possess.  He also has an army of people in his corner who will do whatever is necessary to help as he fights this battle.

We are asking people to consider a donation to the family to help ease the financial burden they are facing in fighting this despicable illness.  Additionally, if you are willing, we would greatly appreciate thoughts and prayers for the family as they go through this difficult time.

Thanks so much for your consideration.

Patty Griggs, Jessica O’Neill, Laura Applegate, and our parents, Gary and Pat Applegate