Homeless with cancer
Cancer is never a straight-forward journey. Right from the moment of diagnosis, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by treatment decisions to be made, practical arrangements to be put in place for your job, your home, or child-care arrangements. For the lucky ones, we can turn to a support team of family, friends and community. Or perhaps there is just one person you can turn to – your spouse or partner or a friend, or parent or sibling. Cancer isn’t an easy road to embark on, but having social and practical support confers a degree of well-being and has a protective effect, which helps in recovery from treatment.
But what of those who are alone with no one to turn to, what if you have lost your home, or your job and you feel isolated and alone? My friend Taiya Evras is reaching out on behalf of a couple, who find themselves in a position of homelessness, while dealing with cancer.
Kathy and Paul live in Los Angeles, and have been married for 15 years. Kathy has endometrial cancer, stage 2. She has had a radical hysterectomy and salpingo oopherectomy and biopsies of her lymph nodes. Her surgery and hospital stay have been paid for through medical financial aide and if she requires chemo and/or radiation this too will paid for.
Paul and Kathy had been staying in a shelter in Glendale. Recovering from surgery is something even the best of shelters is not equipped to help with. There is no privacy. All space is shared and come early morning, residents must leave. A private individual has paid for the couple to live in a budget hotel up until this Thursday, but after that, Kathy and Paul will have to leave their haven.
I am appealing to any you who may be in a position to help provide accommodation in the short-term, to please consider helping out this couple. Or perhaps you would think of paying for a night or two in this hotel, until a more permanent arrangement can be made? I can assure you that this is a genuine case. Before I posted this, I spoke with both Kathy and Paul on the telephone and they are, as Taiya had told me, a gentle, devoted and genuine couple, who are so grateful for the help they have received so far. They are not addicts, they are not mentally ill, nor any of the preconceived notions we may have of the homeless; they are just two people who have fallen on hard times – an all too familiar story in today’s economy. They are not asking for cash; they just need somewhere safe and clean for Kathy to recover.
So if you can help in any way, please contact us directly at beyondbreastcancer@live.com. The hotel per night costs about the price of a restaurant dinner, or the price of a new dress, or a beauty treatment – really not much at all,when you consider that the price of a restful night’s sleep to someone recovering from cancer treatment is priceless. Of course, I realize that this is a price too far for many, so if you know someone who might be able to help instead, please forward this information to them.
Many of us have been lucky to have had great support and help while we recovered from our own cancer, so please then, spare a thought for those who are not so lucky. No one should have to face cancer in even more difficult circumstances than are warranted.
Let me leave you with this one last thought. Whether you believe in some kind of final judgement, or karma, or just the brotherhood and sisterhood of (wo)man…”we will be judged on whether we fed the hungry, welcomed the stranger , clothed the naked, comforted the sick…” It is powerful to have an opportunity to re-learn this wisdom – who might we feed, welcome, clothe, comfort or visit this week?
I feel very moved by this post and the plight of this couple. I wish I was in a better financial situation to help them, but I will be thinking and praying for them.
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How awful for this couple, but again, like Maisie, I am not in a financial position to help out either. I do hope someone will come to their rescue.
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I really hope this isn’t a scam!
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What a sad story – I hope someone is able to offer this couple all the help they need.
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Maria,
My heart aches for this couple. I am not sure if there is any blogger rules etc, but can I copy and paste this blog with a referral to your blog? Thanks for bringing this to our attention.
Kim
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Oh Kim, yes, please do pass it on and encourage others to do the same. Thank you x
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It makes me realize how truly blessed I am in having a loving and supportive family to help me through life’s tough times.
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I trust you enough to believe this is not a scam as someone has suggested. We have unfortunately become too cynical about things – i truly believe this is a couple in genuine need and I love the biblical quote you placed at the end of this post – it certainly has given me food for thought!
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I agree with Denise – we have become very untrusting, but that is because there are so many scams out there. If this is a genuine story, it is very sad indeed.
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Even if it was a scam, if you give the help in good faith, you have fulfilled your christian duty!
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How could you fail to be moved by this story. I have sent you a direct email with some suggestions, but again, unfortunately I’m not in a financial position to help.
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This is such a sad situation. Wish I could be of more help but I can manage enough to give them one more night at the hotel for some respite so I’ve just emailed you Marie regarding this x
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Paula you are so good – I will be in touch x
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Wondering what has happened for this couple since you posted? Did you get any response to your appeal?
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I think my reply to those of your commentators who feel this is a scam would be that I would rather be fooled by a scam trying to help than do nothing! Have emailed you directly with my offer of help.
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The bible verse you quote is very powerful..it is hard to ignore it…have sent you an email also.
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Thank you for reminding us of this basic Christian message to see Christ in the stranger, the homeless, the sick, the imprisoned.
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I have been blessed with a loving extended family who cosseted me throughout my treatment – my heart just goes out to this couple in their situation.
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Hi Conor, I will update everyone on what has been happening in the next few days. Thanks for your interest.
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yes, I would like to know what is happening too please.
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Really made me stop and think today – count my blessings and realize how truly blessed I am in my life to have a home and family to support me.
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Marie,
Thank you so much for doing this for Paul & Kathy!!
*UPDATE: As of today we have the commitment of a few true Angel’s to pay the next 16 nights stay! If you have questions or if you can help, please contact Marie or myself and please forward this to anyone you can think might be able to offer help in keeping Paul and Kathy in the hotel. Because of the cancer, it is imperative that Kathy is able to remain in L.A. at this time. This is where her doctors are and arrangements have been made in L.A. to pay for her medical care. Kathy will begin an aggressive course of chemotherapy and radiation on Monday. If you would like to contribute to a chemo-comfort/care package being sent, or would like to send something to comfort and cheer her please contact me and I will get you the information you need to do so.
Paul and Kathy are understandably afraid. This is new territory for them. But their spirit and positive, hopeful outlook on Life will get them through this challenge as it has gotten them through so many others. Thank you all for your incredible support, thoughts and prayers…Kathy and Paul are incredulous that strangers would care, but so grateful we do!!
If we are able to keep them in the hotel until the end of March, Paul says he will have enough money to get and maintain a small apartment for them. I am confident. Love makes a way, where there was no way.
All my Love~
Taiya
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Thanks for the update and well done to Taiya and Marie for highlighting this and the efforts they are making to help out this couple.
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Well done for trying to make a difference. I am sure there are many people in this situation – what is being done for them I wonder?
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Pingback: Update: homeless with cancer « Journeying Beyond Breast Cancer
I pray this truly be a scam but something tells me it’s another human’s perfect storm. I wish to God I could do absolutely anything to help this couple for if anyone knows of this disease’s agonies and deep sorrows they should also know of the horrendous infinite challenges, major life loses,I.e. your health, home, assets,quality of any decent
life, loss of salary, income, your life’s savings…on avg. bankrupt at 12 mths past diagnosis,…left homeless, penniless and
often left childless when THE COMPLEX SEVERE PTSD FINALLY TAKES OUT YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM and YOU TOO WITH CANCR. Lengthy PTSD from YEARS of INHUMANE ABUSE and/ or NEGLECT OFTEN results in death, ( by cancer, homicide or suicide w/o adequate support physically, psychologically, financially, spiritually, socially, mentally, practically, LEGALLY, domestically, etc.) OR let’s be honest a torturous existence with cancr if you are trying to not only live but forever try to survive through endless toxic side effects and serious many times fatal effects from the cancers themselves, that would make
the most trauma resistant people end it. Those who survive initially are DEFINITELY NOT, I must repeat , NOT SURVIVORS,…THEY do not simply walk away as if nothing happened or it’s an acute condition. I have related enough to hopefully awaken a few readers to the gloom and doom this couple and millions of other women,children and men face as THEIR own UNIQUE, DEBILITATING, often DISABLING, MISUNDERSTOOD, IMPOVERISHED, DEPRESSIVE, IMPRISONMENT with loneliness, homelessness and the major financial losses and declining health borings loss of independence, hope, and if survival is given in mths., yrs. Or more surviving only to live IN A DAILY PERFECT STORM is not having a life ( consumed with insatiable fatigue, SERIOUSLY NEG. brain biochemical and structural transformations,I.e. multiple cognitive deficits, I.e. memory, focus, concentration, to organize,to plan, to make decisions, solve problems, to MAKE an INCOME, etc.)…no longer thriving is what most “c” patients face. This is what that couple faces, what many of us who live long enough WILL face or perhaps even earlier in life. With the utmost sincerity, if one,I.e. (psychopathic spouse ) abusive/neglectful person or a conspiring relentlessly abusive ill grp. of people traumatize a person, I.e. a battered mother from both sides of a bench for yrs. and with the loss of her children, home, retirement, assets and all she TOO is traumatized… intensely neglected STRESS WILL KILL it delivers PTSD so severe…inhumane traumas …Med. evidence based research at renown institutions as the NIH link Complex PTSD,spousal abuse & breast cancr. ***** Please give already oppressed/victimized women a chance to at least try to live their PERFECT STORM NOW and by HIS Grace alone may some see retirement with dignity.
I might have lived long enough to deliver a difference for a few I pray. Please aid those who can not do for themselves, esp. those whose families are clueless with cruel unchristian indifference. Always remember one hand up to a woman in need is truthfully two hands usually infinite hands up for a whole community. I wish I could write more positively or to say I don’t know truly what the heck I’m going on about…but I know if more of the public are aware of the plight of the ” c ” patients it WILL be in the best interest for everyone on earth. Listen and observe those already transformed by facing death for they now walk with divine clarity most unfortunately never discover.
Those who listen with support forbidding apathy will benefit unimaginably from the insight of those who live with ” Perfect Storms “.
Linda
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I pray this truly be a scam but something tells me it’s another human’s perfect storm. I wish to God I could do absolutely anything to help this couple for if anyone knows of this disease’s agonies and deep sorrows they should also know of the horrendous infinite challenges, major life loses,I.e. your health, home, assets,quality of any decent
life, loss of salary, income, your life’s savings…on avg. bankrupt at 12 mths past diagnosis,…left homeless, penniless and
often left childless when THE COMPLEX SEVERE PTSD FINALLY TAKES OUT YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM and YOU TOO WITH CANCR. Lengthy PTSD from YEARS of INHUMANE ABUSE and/ or NEGLECT OFTEN results in death, ( by cancer, homicide or suicide w/o adequate support physically, psychologically, financially, spiritually, socially, mentally, practically, LEGALLY, domestically, etc.) OR let’s be honest a torturous existence with cancr if you are trying to not only live but forever try to survive through endless toxic side effects and serious many times fatal effects from the cancers themselves, that would make
the most trauma resistant people end it. Those who survive initially are DEFINITELY NOT, I must repeat , NOT SURVIVORS,…THEY do not simply walk away as if nothing happened or it’s an acute condition. I have related enough to hopefully awaken a few readers to the gloom and doom this couple and millions of other women,children and men face as THEIR own UNIQUE, DEBILITATING, often DISABLING, MISUNDERSTOOD, IMPOVERISHED, DEPRESSIVE, IMPRISONMENT with loneliness, homelessness and the major financial losses and declining health borings loss of independence, hope, and if survival is given in mths., yrs. Or more surviving only to live IN A DAILY PERFECT STORM is not having a life ( consumed with insatiable fatigue, SERIOUSLY NEG. brain biochemical and structural transformations,I.e. multiple cognitive deficits, I.e. memory, focus, concentration, to organize,to plan, to make decisions, solve problems, to MAKE an INCOME, etc.)…no longer thriving is what most “c” patients face. This is what that couple faces, what many of us who live long enough WILL face or perhaps even earlier in life. With the utmost sincerity, if one,I.e. (psychopathic spouse ) abusive/neglectful person or a conspiring relentlessly abusive ill grp. of people traumatize a person, I.e. a battered mother from both sides of a bench for yrs. and with the loss of her children, home, retirement, assets and all she TOO is traumatized… intensely neglected STRESS WILL KILL it delivers PTSD so severe…inhumane traumas …Med. evidence based research at renown institutions as the NIH link Complex PTSD,spousal abuse & breast cancr. ***** Please give already oppressed/victimized women a chance to at least try to live their PERFECT STORM NOW and by HIS Grace alone may some see retirement with dignity.
I might have lived long enough to deliver a difference for a few I pray. Please aid those who can not do for themselves, esp. those whose families are clueless with cruel unchristian indifference. Always remember one hand up to a woman in need is truthfully two hands usually infinite hands up for a whole community. I wish I could write more positively or to say I don’t know truly what the heck I’m going on about…but I know if more of the public are aware of the plight of the ” c ” patients it WILL be in the best interest for everyone on earth. Listen and observe those already transformed by facing death for they now walk with divine clarity most unfortunately never discover.
Those who listen with support forbidding apathy will benefit unimaginably from the insight of those who live with ” Perfect Storms “.
Linda
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