Today we received another dinner delivered. For the last week families from Tricia’s lacrosse team, San Jose Extreme, have been bringing us some really delicious meals. In the 6 months since my diagnosis I have been blessed with meals, rides to and from doctor appointments, and other support from co-workers, Sharks hockey friends, my family, Tricia’s soccer teammates, RPG gamer buddies, neighbors, and long time friends (that might as well consider themselves family). It is just amazing. I am often brought to tears with the generosity and love from so many people. It is also pretty amazing that in some way I have touched the lives of so many people, and clearly in a good way. I must be doing something right with my life to have so much good to counter the bad. Thank you all so much.
And now I am getting support from strangers in the form of grants from some cancer charities. The oncology department at Kaiser has a social worker on staff to help cancer patients. She told me about a few charities to contact. Of course the local chapter of the American Cancer Society has helped, giving me a wig, a camisole to wear post-mastectomy, information about disability, SSDI, medicare and other financial things. A national organization call CancerCare in New York has sent me a check for $150.00 to help offset my co-pay on the many anti-neusea and pain medications I have taken and may send more. The biggest blessing is a local charity called FamiliesCAN – The Ronald Whittier Family Foundation. They have sent me enough money to pay off our biggest single bill – Tricia’s braces – almost $1500.00. That will lower our monthly bills by $150.00. They are also giving us some gift cards for Albertsons and Costco to help our grocery costs. Since state disabilty checks are quite a bit smaller than my normal paycheck these charities have been a huge financial help. Thank you to the wonderful caring people at these charities and to all who have supported them.
Links for these terrific organizations:
http://www.cancer.org/
http://www.cancercare.org/
http://www.familiescan.org/index.html
