Help the Bender/Lyson Family

Imagine your life today—blessed with the joy, happiness, love and good health of your family.  Imagine waking tomorrow to find that all of this has changed.  A year after you and your husband welcome your precious child into this world, you are diagnosed with ovarian cancer and before your son is three, your husband dies unexpectedly of a heart attack leaving you to raise your son alone.  Unable to work in the years that follow because of your illness, you live with grace and tenacity battling the cancer each time it returns only to find that it has taken its toll and medical treatments are no longer an option.  Your days are filled with ensuring that your nine-year old son is taken care of when you are gone.

Unfortunately, this is not an imaginary story.  This is the real story of my dear friend, Susannah.  We know her as funny, kind, loving, beautiful, intelligent and tenacious.  She is a daughter, sister, friend and mother to Dylan.  She was Erik’s wife.  And she now needs our help.

Susannah and Dylan are no longer able to live independently; it is unimaginable for Dylan to have to care for his mother.  Allenby, Susannah’s brother, has asked them to live with his family so Susannah can be cared for and Dylan can be with his cousins.

 Any donation received will go toward supporting Susannah and Dylan.

Thank you for your generosity.  And on behalf of Susannah and Erik, thank you for your love and kindness in making sure that their beloved son, Dylan, has a safe, secure, and brighter tomorrow.

Terri Kemp Zielenski