Elaine Wilkes Morrison Fundraiser

“She loves to laugh, she loves to dance, she loves to sing, and she works HARD.”

When I called Elaine’s friends to ask about her, so that I could write a message that not only spoke of what Elaine is currently battling but talked about the impact that Elaine has in the lives around hers, one word kept coming back: laugh. Every single person that I spoke to told anecdotes and shared moments where Elaine made them smile, on the brightest of days and in the midst of the darkest. Second to laughter was, caretaker. Elaine has been a caretaker for her entire life. Not just for her small section of the world, but for anyone that was in a tough place. Elaine embraces the world with laughter and the open, unjudging arms of a caretaker.

As many of you know Elaine has been facing a steep and stark health battle these days. The official diagnosis is Stage 4 lung cancer that has metastasized to her liver. Elaine is facing this as she has most things in life, with tenacity and a determination that only a life of taking care of others can produce.

Elaine spent her working life in the restaurant business. One of the larger downsides has always been the lack of healthcare, benefits, and the many late nights spent away from your loved ones. If you worked with Elaine than you know that you were family. If this were the 90’s there would be a tip jar in every restaurant in Smithfield, especially Adrian’s Oasis & Charlie’s.

The biggest concern, right now, is the exorbitant cost of copays. Each of the chemo treatments comes with a $1,888.00 copay. Following chemo there will be weekly radiation and immune therapy treatments, which come with a $310.00 copay per treatment.

Although we are not in the 90’s anymore, we can put out the digital tip jar and lend a hand to someone that always has a smile and both arms wide open for us, when the burdens become too big.

Any bit and every bit helps. This account is linked directly to Elaine’s.