Weathering the storm for Wendy

My name is Dustin Charles and I am creating this account for my mom, Wendy Charles.  She has always been a beautiful, strong, intelligent, and hard working woman. She was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2004 and has been battling the disease valiantly. She had one lung removed, endured chemotherapy, and multiple procedures to reduce the malignancy. In May, an episode of confusion and disorientation led to the discovery of the cancer having spread to her brain. She had a procedure to drain a cyst in her brain but the cancer itself is inoperable.

The strain of all this has taken a toll on her 25 year marriage as she and her husband watched their hopes and dreams for retirement drift away as more money was going out than coming in. Her deteriorating condition and mounting medical bills contributed to the need to sell their much loved country home and move into Las Cruces. She entered in-home hospice care in May; there are some good days but many where the disorientation leaves her anxiously pacing through her home, confused by things once very familiar.

Then, two weeks ago, her husband was tragically killed in a car accident. He was 400 miles from home making it very complicated and expensive to retrieve his body and his belongings. A family member paid the mortuary costs and arranged for his burial at the National Cemetery at Fort Bliss in El Paso. But there are known expenses to cover in addition to many we have not yet discovered. I signed a lease in April so am paying rent in addition to the expenses of my mom’s home. My goal is for both of us to be in her home eventually. All of this has affected my contract work (I do not get medical leave benefits from the state of New Mexico) and I cannot add unemployment to the situation.

My mom was very resourceful and a hard worker. For many years she was a single mom and worked wherever she could find work to support me. She also took care of her grandmother in her last years. She has been a loving and devoted wife and mother. She and her husband worked hard for everything they have. Now there is a struggle to keep the lights and water on and avoid foreclosure.

I never imagined myself in the position of asking for help. My mom always demonstrated to me the ability to keep going in spite of obstacles relying upon a strong work ethic. I am at the end of my resources and I desire to make my mom’s remaining life comfortable in her own home. I have put my dreams on hold for now (I have been recruited by Amazon in Seattle) for the more important priority of taking care of my mom. There is not a woman more deserving. Any support will be greatly appreciated and I thank you advance for your generosity.

God Bless!