My Friend Cathy Stickels
Donation protected
On December 2nd, my very dear friend Cathy Stickels was diagnosed with Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) a type of blood cancer. For those of you who know Cathy, you know that she is a remarkable person. She is compassionate, loving, and unbelievably strong and always puts her family and friends before herself. Cathy is married to Tim, and together, they have two daughters, Ricki (Kurt) Strasser and Brandi (Greg) Goodrich, all of Georgia, and many amazing grandchildren and a great grandchild.
Cathy is currently going through the necessary steps so she can have a bone marrow transplant at the Rogel Cancer Center at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. To prepare for her surgery, she will receive chemotherapy to kill the diseased cells, then have the new bone marrow transplanted into her blood. She will remain in the hospital for about 4 weeks immediately following the procedure.
Because of this, she will have a seriously compromised immune system and will be unable to work for 1 year following the transplant. We expect that she will be able to qualify for medical disability; however there is a 6 month waiting period.
This is actually the second type of cancer that Cathy has had to face. In 2014, she was diagnosed with ovarian & uterine cancer. She had surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments. She continued to work throughout all of those treatments. She has been cancer-free for 6 years. Unfortunately, this cancer is different.
This GoFundMe was created to help alleviate the tremendous financial stress that is inevitable in situations like this. Cathy and Tim will need help with basic utilities like electric and heating costs, along with a house payment, car payment, health insurance and medical bills. Two incomes will unexpectedly shrink down to one. Cathy’s husband, Tim, is self-employed in the construction industry. 2020 was a brutal year for the construction trades due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the shutdown of certain industries. Because of this, Tim’s income has been reduced significantly and his industry will be going into their slow season.
Did I mention that Cathy and I met when I joined the team at Alliance Home Health Care Services? We both work out of the Allegan office for our company, headquartered in Holland, Michigan. Our staff go into client’s homes and provide care so they can stay safe in their homes throughout their later years or through a difficult situation, such as post-surgery needs. Cathy was hired in 2011 and has always been a dedicated, caring employee. Even through the struggles of 2020 and the uncontrollable situations our health care workers and staff have faced, Cathy has continued to show great strength and leadership in supporting the staff endlessly.
If you stand in your own home and look around you, that’s what Cathy will need help with: heat, electricity, food, and a roof over her head, among other necessities of daily living.
I am not too proud to beg for my friend, Cathy. Please give whatever you possibly can. I KNOW this is a difficult time of the year for many. Cathy, Tim and the family will be forever grateful for any amount you can give; even $5 from you will add up. Please share this GoFundMe on your own Facebook page so we can reach as many people as possible.
I thank you for reading my friend, Cathy’s, story. Even if you are unable to donate, I know they would appreciate your prayers for a successful surgery and a speedy and complete recovery in the months to come.
Cathy is currently going through the necessary steps so she can have a bone marrow transplant at the Rogel Cancer Center at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. To prepare for her surgery, she will receive chemotherapy to kill the diseased cells, then have the new bone marrow transplanted into her blood. She will remain in the hospital for about 4 weeks immediately following the procedure.
Because of this, she will have a seriously compromised immune system and will be unable to work for 1 year following the transplant. We expect that she will be able to qualify for medical disability; however there is a 6 month waiting period.
This is actually the second type of cancer that Cathy has had to face. In 2014, she was diagnosed with ovarian & uterine cancer. She had surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatments. She continued to work throughout all of those treatments. She has been cancer-free for 6 years. Unfortunately, this cancer is different.
This GoFundMe was created to help alleviate the tremendous financial stress that is inevitable in situations like this. Cathy and Tim will need help with basic utilities like electric and heating costs, along with a house payment, car payment, health insurance and medical bills. Two incomes will unexpectedly shrink down to one. Cathy’s husband, Tim, is self-employed in the construction industry. 2020 was a brutal year for the construction trades due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the shutdown of certain industries. Because of this, Tim’s income has been reduced significantly and his industry will be going into their slow season.
Did I mention that Cathy and I met when I joined the team at Alliance Home Health Care Services? We both work out of the Allegan office for our company, headquartered in Holland, Michigan. Our staff go into client’s homes and provide care so they can stay safe in their homes throughout their later years or through a difficult situation, such as post-surgery needs. Cathy was hired in 2011 and has always been a dedicated, caring employee. Even through the struggles of 2020 and the uncontrollable situations our health care workers and staff have faced, Cathy has continued to show great strength and leadership in supporting the staff endlessly.
If you stand in your own home and look around you, that’s what Cathy will need help with: heat, electricity, food, and a roof over her head, among other necessities of daily living.
I am not too proud to beg for my friend, Cathy. Please give whatever you possibly can. I KNOW this is a difficult time of the year for many. Cathy, Tim and the family will be forever grateful for any amount you can give; even $5 from you will add up. Please share this GoFundMe on your own Facebook page so we can reach as many people as possible.
I thank you for reading my friend, Cathy’s, story. Even if you are unable to donate, I know they would appreciate your prayers for a successful surgery and a speedy and complete recovery in the months to come.
Fundraising team (2)
Teresa Setter Creech
Organizer
Allegan, MI
Brandi Goodrich
Team member