Family Battling Stage 3 Cancer Needs Financial Support

One of our Lakota families needs your help! The family is experiencing the recent trauma of Dad's stage 3 small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma diagnosis. The cancer is metastatic and has spread to his liver and lungs. Prior to the cancer diagnosis Dad was the sole income earner in the family. Due to the chemo ravaging his body, he is now unable to report to work and has exhausted PTO and vacation days, which currently means the family is without income. 

This Lakota family has 2 children in their home: a high school daughter and a 19 year old son diagnosed with autism, eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), and other medical disabilities, which are quite costly. The EoE requires surgery every 1-2 years to widen his esophagus and repair damage. Mom has needed to be a stay at home mom to care for their autistic son, but in light of current circumstances she is currently looking for 3rd shift employment opportunities that would allow her to continue to supervise their adult son and care for her husband, driving him to the Barrett Center for chemo treatments as well as to his other medical appointments.

This family has always been able to provide for themselves without the support of any government program or community organization. They have worked diligently to budget wisely while they are without Dad's monthly income. They are extremely humbled in asking the Lakota community for support because they are used to being the ones to offer help to others in need. Mom has even crocheted hats and scarves to donate to Reach Out Lakota while she's been waiting during her husband's chemo treatments!

This Lakota family is most concerned about their basic bills that provide for their shelter and food, stating they "can do without all the extras". Our goal is to provide $6000, which would cover basic need expenses (mortgage, utilities, medical expenses) for 2 months. Any additional funds raised will be given to the family to provide further coverage. Support through Neighborhood Bridges would lessen the financial burden weighing the family down, in addition to the emotional weight of the cancer battle they are all carrying. This freedom would allow the adult son, who struggles with transitions due to autism, and the high school daughter, who is in the middle of her junior year, to stay in their childhood home and not be forced to move while they are under so much other stress.

Despite the stage 3 diagnosis and being told by doctors that Dad has 9-15 months, he remains determined and optimistic. He has a strong desire to provide for his family saying, "I'm going to go back to work as soon as the chemo lets me stand upright for more than 10 minutes!" The support of the Lakota Community would be life changing for this family!