Support and Healing: A Fundraiser for Lance's Recovery

Lance McElroy, just saying his name in New Bern, NC, evokes a hilarious story of the last time you saw him or the last story someone told you about him. He is friends with everyone and always has a joke, a meme, or story to make you laugh.

Lance loves many people, but no one more than his granddaughter, Ava. He sends pictures of her to his friends weekly to talk about her dance classes or school. He is so close with his family. From his mom and dad (Jose and Iris) to his son and daughter-in-law (Lance Jr. and Caitlyn), he speaks with them every day, and his family doesn't end there. His closest friends, acquaintances, work colleagues, and clients, to Lance, everyone is family.

You really can't tell a great story in New Bern without Lance coming up. He has been part of this community for what feels like forever. Though he was born in New York and spent his school years in Japan before returning with his family (his father being a Marine) to the States and settling in New Bern.

Lance was diagnosed with cancer nearly two years ago. This past Monday, Lance had a massive stroke. He is in ICU at ECU hospital and against all odds, he has made it through this week. He is responding to neuro exams and to the voices of his loved ones. He has a long road ahead to recover. There will be much therapy to regain the use of his right side and the ability to breathe and eat on his own again. Doctors have been impressed with his will to keep fighting and against all odds keep healing a little more every day.

His family will need help to keep his house for a while longer to retrieve his belongings from it while continuing to care for him. He will have many medical bills from all of this and his family will need to take on any current bills without his income to help with them. ANY help that you can give will really mean the world to them at this time. Lance needs prayers, positive energy for healing, and money to pay for the bills as he recovers.

Thank you so much for taking a moment to learn a little about my best friend and thank you so much for any help you can give as he fights to be reunited with his family and beloved grandchild back at home.