Support Sue's Recovery from Cancer

My mother, Sue, was diagnosed with esophageal cancer about six weeks ago. Thankfully it was found early and localized. She has undergone preparatory surgery, major surgery, and two different procedures in the past two weeks while hospitalized in order to remove the cancer from her body, and to deal with unexpected post-surgery complications. We won't know for another five days as to whether or not everything is going in a good way and if she will be released from the hospital.

While she will receive financial support for the cost of the surgeries, procedures, and hospital stay, she will also need to stay out of work for 2 months to complete the recovery. She will be unable to lift anything heavy, and it will take some time to reactivate the digestive process in order to receive the full nutrition that she needs. She will also feel tired more easily. During this time, she has very limited funds to work with to pay her basic monthly bills that keep her and her pet family housed, warm, fed, and with electricity and a vehicle.

For the last 20 years she has given her life to supporting animals - mostly dogs and cats - working at the local animal shelter, regional pet kennel, fostering, cleaning up after them, grooming, volunteering at adoption events, transporting sick animals to the vet and back, setting up spay/neuter appointments, giving them medication at all times of the day and night, and staying with them as they pass over the rainbow bridge.

She has done everything possible to make sure that the thousands upon thousands of animals she has encountered have had everything that they need in order to be healthy, well, and loved - in her presence and with their families. Her relationships with these animals has been enduring, gentle, and healing. And many of the people in the community and region where she lives have benefitted from her gifts indirectly, in being given the honor to care for and have these animals as part of their home and family. Once she has healed, she will return to this work.

I am writing on her behalf, to ask for help in supporting her through these next few months. I am unable to provide this level of financial coverage that she needs beyond this month. Therefore, I am reaching into community to help buoy her financially into a place of safety, health, and well-being, by allowing the financial burden to be lifted.

I invite you to help her to receive the gift of enduring gentle support that she has so deftly provided for the animals in her care throughout the years. Any amount is deeply appreciated.