Help The McCabe Family

Hello. My name is Jeff and I am fundraising for my friend and coworker of six years, Matt McCabe (far right, 38). Matt and his fiance, Deb Etzwiler (middle, 42), have been together for ten years and have four children, three still living at home; ages 16, 13, and 8. They are hoping to get married in the near future. Deb has been battling lung cancer for 18 months. This week she was given a terminal diagnosis and taken off treatment. 

The harsh truth of the matter is that they do not have long. Matt has tried to get time off from work but our company has refused to give him his vacation time and pay until his anniversary date which is in July, despite being fully aware of the situation that Matt now faces. They did offer 12 weeks FMLA but it is not paid time. Needless to say, all of us who work with him are heartbroken and very angry for him and we want to do everything that we can to help Matt and his family during what is quite possibly the most trying and difficult time that they will ever face.

Folks, I am truly at a loss for words as I don't believe "difficult", "heartbroken", and "angry" are words that properly describe what any of us are feeling right now. There have been a lot of people offering to help with food, clothes, and other assistance but what Matt needs is the means to dedicate the time needed to his family and assistance with medical expenses. Any man or woman who faces such heartwrenching adversity should be able to be with their family without the threat of losing their home or their job and we are going to do everything within our power to make that happen.

This is the part where kind and compassionate strangers come in. I am asking, I am begging anyone who would read this to give what they are financially able to give so that Matt can spend as much time as possible with Deb and their children while he still can. I wish I had some kind of encouraging way to wrap this up but unfortunately, I do not. Very hard times are over the horizon for my dear friend; my brother in arms. He will have a lot of people who have his back when that happens but he is going to need as much help as he can get. He has to be there for their children and keep his family whole. Please be a part of what keeps Matt McCabe's family taken care of and loved. Thank you for taking the time to hear my story and thank you for any help that you can give.