Lydia's Cancer Treatment

My name is Andrew, and I'm writing this on behalf of my sister Lydia. If you know my sister, you already know. If not, let me fill you in.

Lydia has always loved fiercely. Friends, family, or a stranger in need, it didn’t matter to her. She would drop what she was doing to lend a hand or start a fundraiser. Lydia loved fundraisers. It's hard to remember precisely how many bake sales she recruited the family to help her with, but standing in the hot sun behind a table of baked goods is seared into my childhood memories. She never batted an eyelid about spending hours baking and hours more convincing perfect strangers why they needed to go home with a box of her cookies. The money raised helped many worthy causes and funded many more trips around the globe to serve those in need. It was and continues to be who she is to her core.

Over the past several years, her life has been a bit different, as she spends her days as a stay-at-home mom with their three young children and assisting in their local church. Please don’t feel bad for her; raising children has been her persistent desire since practically before she could walk. We have some rather embarrassing home videos to prove it.

Many of you don’t know that Lydia recently received a diagnosis of colorectal cancer. She had been dealing with some related health issues for the past few years, but the cancer diagnosis is new. As you can imagine, this has been an interruption to her family’s day-to-day life, and that interruption is about to become far more significant.

Lydia and her husband Mark have been going through the healthcare system in England. However, the treatments there have prompted them to seek care outside the UK. The cancer treatment hospital of choice will require them to spend several weeks out of the country and away from their children. Mark will travel alongside Lydia for the duration, but their children must stay at home due to prohibitive travel costs. Mark is self-employed and will need to take a substantial amount of time off work; additionally, they will need to cover expenses for travel, lodging, and bills at home that continue to accrue. Health insurance is not an option to cover any of the costs of her treatments.

I ask that you take moments during the day to pray for Lydia and her family; for peace, healing, and the strength to walk through the treatments ahead. If you would like to assist with their financial needs, any donation would be greatly appreciated. All funds received will go directly to Lydia's medical and travel expenses.

On behalf of Lydia, Mark, and both extended families, we appreciate the outpouring of love and support you have shown and continue to show us.