Support Jim Lucas in His Heart Battle

Dear friends and colleagues,

I'm reaching out tonight on behalf of one of the dearest people in the world to me, my friend and business partner, Kathy Lucas. To know Kathy is to know an amazing mom, stepmom, wife, attorney, parenting coordinator, and friend. Kathy is married to Jim Lucas, who is an amazing Dad to Bruce, Molly, my goddaughter Reka, and Stepdad to Preston, in addition to a steadfast husband to Kathy, friend to many, and respected real estate appraiser. Jim is an avid cyclist (he thinks 5 miles is a short bike ride), overall athlete, fabulous chef (if you have ever had his homemade hamburger buns you know what I mean!), and really kind of a renaissance man. He has had his own business for many years that allowed him to be a present single dad to Bruce and Molly while providing for them financially.

Unfortunately, life has thrown Jim a real curveball. Jim was diagnosed with advanced congestive heart failure just a few weeks ago. This really shocked everyone since he's so young and he's so active and seems so a healthy.

Before Jim and Kathy had a chance to even process this bad news, Jim’s health deteriorated further. Last Wednesday night, just a week ago now, Jim’s heart - his big, loving heart - actually stopped and he had to be rushed to the hospital and brought back from the brink. His care team has inserted an internal defibrillator and they are awaiting the results of a biopsy to confirm the next step is unfortunately to go on the list for a transplanted heart.

This has come out of nowhere and everyone in the family is obviously reeling, as are all of us who knows and love Jim and Kathy and their children. I am finding it so hard to not be able to leap in and do something to fix things, but I can't gin up some creative motion to solve this issue like I can for my clients. But what I can do is share the facts and see if anyone else would like to help support Jim and Kathy through this.

Since his diagnosis Jim has obviously been unable to work and bring in income. Kathy is also self-employed and her income also largely depends on her ability to work, which has been limited especially this last week. While we all have contingency plans in place and health insurance, no one expects something as big and scary as congestive heart failure to hit your spouse when you still have a nine-year-old at home. We do not know what the future holds but we do know a lot of medical bills and ancillary expenses coupled with reduced income are headed the family's way.

I am asking anyone who knows Kathy or Jim to contribute to keeping the family afloat during this difficult time. No amount is too small as power is in numbers. I am also asking anyone who sees this to send their prayers, good wishes, and healing thoughts to Jim and his family.

Hold your loved ones close,

Catherine Bailey