Help Adina and Family Through Stage Four Cancer

As the mother of two small children, Adina was stunned by the worst news one can imagine: "It's stage four colon cancer."

Adina is my former student who earned her doctorate and now teaches full-time in our history department, runs our university's Eagle Scholars program, advises students, and serves on several committees. She juggles all of this while parenting two beautifully active kids with her husband, Sam. The Kelley family is also joyfully involved at Resurrection Anglican, in Robbinsdale, MN, and both Sam and Adina teach at Christian schools.

But Adina was feeling increasingly, overwhelmingly tired. Of course, she attributed it to her busy schedule. But when she finally dragged herself to urgent care, doctors swiftly moved her through to more intensive testing until she heard those terrifying words. Although Adina is a huge fan of the TV show, Survivor, she didn't think she would need to try to survive a life-threatening diagnosis at the age of 38.

Adina and her husband, Sam, both teach at private Christian institutions, and both love their jobs. Benny and Liddy attend preschool at the school adjacent to Concordia Academy, and stability is really important right now. I don't want them to be crushed by the weight of medical bills and living expenses while Adina receives treatments. A recent surgery resulted in her being in the hospital for eight days, showing the necessity of this financial support sooner rather than later.

Sam and Adina are begrudgingly allowing me to help them by setting up this funding source. Please, along with your prayers, help me give them tangible support. Any amount will help.

With gratitude,

Melissa Mork