Support for Naomi & Kids

December 2016 Update:

Dear Friends,
It's been a year since I started this campaign in a time of health crisis for Naomi. There have been some times of better health through the year, but unfortunately as we near the holidays she is struggling with the effects of some recent mini strokes, which leave her unable to do any lifting and limits her mobility.  There is still so much to be done to help make her home safe and workable and organized so she and the kids can live comfortably and happily through the holidays. I am appealing to you again on the cusp of the holidays to consider contributing a bit again so that we can hire a professional organizer and some cleaning and domestic assistance to at least get the family through the holidays. She is reticent to ask for help of her friends and neighbours as she feels she has exhausted her community. If we can provide her with the means to get the help she needs without the entanglement of managing so many relationships it will be a real gift to her.  Please if you are able to give something again this year, it would make a big difference. 

thank you again for your generosity.

_____________________________

December 2015:
My dear friend Naomi is a single mother of two tween/teens who has been living with cancer for many years. Maintaining her health is a constant and ongoing struggle as she contends with medical complications, side effects of her medications, surgeries and  the vulnerability of having a permanently compromised immune system.  Despite some of the social supports that she receives, she still struggles to make ends meet.
She and her kids are three of the kindest, most loving, talented, generous and spirited people I know. Despite ongoing stress and frequent setbacks, they remain engaged with our community and optimistic to an inspiring level. They give back in their neighbourhood, schools and other communities in so many ways and enrich the lives of so many who know them. They are loving and kind and richly deserving of any support you can offer them.

I am hoping to quietly raise some money to help make Christmas and the winter months a little easier for this family financially.  Naomi's health is particularly poor right now and she is not able to seek any extra work to supplement her income. She is being supported through preparation of meals by neighbours and friends at the moment, but having some extra money that she can use at her own discretion will help with expenses such as taxis when needed for medical travel and appointments, christmas gifts for her children, extra medical and household expenses and simply getting the bills paid. If we are able to raise more than our goal, it will be used to help her with much needed repairs in her home.

This help could be used right away to help alleviate financial stress. You don't need to know someone in a situation like this directly to feel motivated to offer support to a parent in a difficult situation- so please consider sharing this beyond our immediate community to help us meet (or even exceed) the fundraising goal as quickly as possible. Here is a true opportunity to Pay It Forward at a time of year when much of our spending can seem frivolous and unnecessary.

 It is difficult enough keeping all of the balls in the air for any of us, let alone a single parent contending with serious illness. Please give if you can and help spread the word. 

Please use discretion in keeping any further personal/identifying information (not already included here) that you may know about this family from being included in your sharing. If you are using Facebook, please do not tag the family or encourage any detailed public conversations in the comments. We have their permission to proceed with this campaign, but would like to respect their privacy as much as possible.

This family means the world to me. Please be generous.