Hope for the Holidays 2021 No family should have to choose between their health and their home — especially when the holiday season draws us to the warmth of our loved ones and the comforts of a home. And yet when cancer enters the family, patients and caregivers are unable to afford essential bills like housing payments, childcare, and groceries on top of the many costs of cancer. For those diagnosed during the pandemic when personal financial devastation hit many, the weight of these money decisions is even heavier. We're coming together to ensure cancer patients and families can stay in their homes and enjoy their holiday season. Please join us by making a donation today.
Make a gift today at www.familyreach.org/holidays
Meet Kevin, 17, DE Kevin is a 17-year-old cancer hero from Delaware. In January 2020, he was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and is currently in active treatment. Kevin's mother is the sole provider for their family, though she has had to take a leave of absence from her job to care for Kevin. This has caused the family to lose most of their household income. Kevin's family lives day to day with financial stressors and this Hope for the Holidays gift will allow them to enjoy the holiday season.
Meet Kimberly, Age 48 , NY Kimberly is a 48-year-old cancer hero from New York. After a year-long battle with COVID-19, Kimberly was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer. Kimberly has a long treatment plan ahead of her including chemotherapy, followed by surgery and likely additional chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Kimberly lives at home with her 4 children. She has two 11-year-old children, her 20-year-old daughter, and her 3-year-old granddaughter. Kimberly is the sole provider for their family and she cannot work due to her cancer treatments. Paying her bills is her main priority to keep her family afloat. Your support through Hope for the Holidays will give the whole family another reason to smile this holiday season.
Meet Michael, 41, RI Michael is a 41-year-old cancer hero from Rhode Island. In December 2020, Michael was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. Michael underwent a bone marrow transplant in February 2021and he continues going to his frequent follow-up clinic visits. When Michael was first diagnosed, he had his own apartment, and he was a manager at a hair salon. Due to his complicated medical situation, Michael had to stop working, and he had to give up his apartment. Michael also had to move back home with his parents along with his 6-year-old daughter, Frankie. If it were not for his parents, Michael would be homeless, and would not have been able to get his life-saving bone marrow transplant. Your support during Hope for the Holidays will give families like Michael’s the chance to spend time together during the holiday season without having to only be thinking about their financial burdens.
Meet Susana, 45, CO Susana is a 45-year-old cancer hero from Colorado. In March 2016, Susana was diagnosed with stage IV rectal cancer. She relapsed in April 2020 and is currently in palliative care. Susana lives at home with her four loving children — ages 7, 9,19, and 21. Susana is the sole provider for their family and she has not been able to work due to her diagnosis, which has left the family with very little income. Your donation this holiday season will be the financial support families need to keep their spirits high during the holidays.
Meet Angelic, 39, OH Angelic is a 39-year-old cancer hero from Ohio. She was first diagnosed with breast cancer 6 years ago and then stage I ovarian cancer this past June. Angelic lives with her husband and 3 children — ages 16, 14, and 8. The children were much younger when Angelic was first diagnosed with breast cancer, so they were less aware of the impact it caused. Now old enough to understand the effects of her treatment, the entire family is facing emotional distress. What's more, the financial toll of Angelic's diagnosis is leaving the family feeling like they may never catch up. Angelic works part-time when she can to help cover the cost of her deductible for their insurance. The family lives day to day with financial stressors from Angelic's cancer diagnosis and this Hope for the Holidays gift will allow them to enjoy the holiday season.
Meet Christopher, 50, VA Christopher is a 50-year-old cancer hero from Virginia diagnosed with stage IV brain cancer in July 2020. Christopher, unfortunately, passed away in October of this year, leaving behind his wife of 13 years and their 8-year-old son. During Christopher's cancer treatments, the family's only source of income was from his workman's compensation. Christopher's wife, Aimee, is now the sole provider of the family and has to create a new income plan for herself and her son. Your support through the Hope for the Holidays campaign will enable Aimee and her son to celebrate the holidays and experience the joys of the season at a time when they need it most.
Meet Jeremiah, 56, MS Jeremiah is a 56-year-old cancer hero from Mississippi diagnosed with stage II rectal cancer in December 2020. Jeremiah is currently in active treatment which includes a colostomy. This has caused Jeremiah to be very limited with his work. The cost of treatment is not covered by his insurance, nor does it cover the cost of his colostomy supplies. In addition, Jeremiah has to travel over 50 miles for his clinic appointments adding to his out-of-pocket expenses. Jeremiah lives with his three daughters and is the sole provider for his family. His diagnosis, coupled with his out-of-pocket expenses has caused Jeremiah to fall behind on his household bills. Jeremiah's family lives day to day with financial stressors and this Hope for the Holidays gift will allow them to enjoy the holiday season.
Meet Christian, 15, VA Christian is a 15-year-old cancer hero from Virginia diagnosed with metastatic proximal-type epithelioid sarcoma. Christian has been hospitalized multiple times due to treatment and travels over 60 miles to the care center. Christian lives at home with his loving parents and two siblings. His father works full time, however, Christian's mother has had to take a leave of absence from her job in order to take care of him. This has caused Christian's family to lose over half of their household income. Your support through the Hope for the Holidays campaign will enable Christian and his family to celebrate the holidays and experience the joys of the season at a time when they need it most.
Meet Alexis, 23, NC Alexis is a 23-year-old cancer hero from North Carolina. In January 2020, Alexis was diagnosed with acute lymphoid leukemia and he is currently in active treatment. Alexis lives with his girlfriend and three children. Prior to diagnosis, Alexis was working full-time in construction, however, due to the physical demands of his occupation, he has not been able to work during treatment. Alexis' girlfriend works fulltime and is now the sole provider for their family. Your Hope for the Holidays donation will give families like Alexis’ the chance to enjoy their time together and have a stress free holiday season during this financially and emotionally difficult time.
Meet Xiomara, 39, CT Xiomara is a 39-year-old cancer hero from Connecticut diagnosed with stage II breast cancer this past June. Xiomara lives with her loving husband and her two sons. Xiomara has not been able to work at all due to her cancer treatments and her husband works seasonally so the winter months are difficult for the family. Because Xiomara has not been able to work, the family has lost most of their household income. Your support through Hope for the Holidays will give the whole family another reason to smile this holiday season.
Meet Monai, 16, NC Monai is a 16-year-old cancer hero from North Carolina. In June 2020, Monai was diagnosed with stage II rhabdomyosarcoma and she is currently in active treatment. Monai lives with her loving mother and 3 younger siblings. Monai's mother is unable to work due to having to care for Monai and her siblings leaving them with very little income. Your Hope for the Holiday support means Monai and her siblings will have gifts to open and joyous memories to share.
Meet Hacel, 4, MD 4-year-old Hacel was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in October 2020, and relapsed in September of this year. Hacel and her mother rent a single room in a multi-family home. Her mother is the sole provider for their family and was working full-time prior to diagnosis. Due to Hacel's treatment schedule, her mother has not been able to work for the last 6 months. Hacel was recently admitted for end-of-life care, so her mother is desperate to spend as much time as possible with her. Your support through the Hope for the Holidays campaign will enable Hacel and her mother to celebrate the holidays and experience the joys of the season at a time when they need it most.
Meet Andrew, 23, SC Andrew is a 23-year-old cancer hero from South Carolina diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in April 2013. He, unfortunately, relapsed in July of this year and is currently in active treatment. Andrew lives with his girlfriend and their daughter and they are temporarily living with family until they can find a place of their own. Andrew is the sole provider for the family, but it has been very hard for him to work due to his cancer treatments. Andrew is currently using his savings to pay the bills, but that will soon be depleted. The family lives day to day with financial stressors and this Hope for the Holidays gift will allow them to enjoy the holiday season.
Meet Juan, 19, IA Juan is a 19-year-old cancer hero from Iowa. In December 2019, Juan was diagnosed with stage IV Hodgkin Lymphoma and he, unfortunately, relapsed this past May. Juan will be traveling 120 miles from his home in the near future for a bone marrow transplant. Juan lives at home with his loving mother and younger sister. When Juan was first diagnosed back in 2019, he successfully completed treatment and graduated from high school in May 2020. He immediately began working full-time to assist his mother, who works full-time at a restaurant. When Juan's cancer relapsed in May 2021, he stopped working due to his treatment schedule and side effects of treatment and the family lost over half of their household income. Your support through Hope for the Holidays will give the whole family another reason to smile this holiday season.
Meet Aaliyah, 16, WI Aaliyah is a 16-year-old cancer hero from Wisconsin diagnosed with stage IV Ewing's sarcoma in October 2020. She, unfortunately, relapsed this past September and is currently in active treatment. Aaliyah lives with her mother, younger brother, and maternal grandparents. Aaliyah's mother is unable to work as she is caring for Aaliyah, who cannot attend school. This loss of income forced Aaliyah and her family to move in with her grandparents so they would not end up homeless. This family could really use assistance during this trying time. Your donation this holiday season will be the financial support families need to keep their spirits high during the holiday season.
Meet Lochlan, 44, NE Lochlan is a 44-year-old cancer hero from Nebraska diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. Lochlan lives with his wife and their 13-year-old daughter. Lochlan's mother needs daily assistance with her physical needs and lives with Lochlan and his family. Both Lochlan and his wife work, however, there has been a significant loss of income since his cancer diagnosis. The family lives paycheck to paycheck with no savings to fall back on. Your donation this holiday season will be the financial support families need to keep their spirits high during the holidays.
Meet Jeremy, 24, ND Jeremy is a 24-year-old cancer hero from North Dakota. In February of this year, Jeremy was diagnosed with mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma and relapsed in August. Jeremy lives with his significant other along with their young daughter. Jeremy has been unable to work due to his cancer treatments. Fortunately his significant other is able to work, but the loss of income has been a major stressor for the family. The family lives day to day with financial stressors and this Hope for the Holidays gift will allow them to enjoy the holiday season.
Meet Albert, 42, MA Albert is a 42-year-old cancer hero from Massachusetts. In May 2016, Albert was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer. He, unfortunately, relapsed in October 2018 and is currently in active treatment. Albert lives with his loving wife and three children — ages 17, 16, and 5. Albert has not been able to work due to his cancer diagnosis and his wife has only been working part-time. This has cut the family's household income in half leaving them without any savings to fall back on. Albert's oldest son was also diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma two years ago and is luckily now in remission. His diagnosis put an additional strain on the family, both emotionally and financially. Your donation this holiday season will be the financial support families need to keep their spirits high during the holiday season.
Meet Jenny, 38, MO Jenny is a 38-year-old cancer hero from Missouri who lives with her loving husband and three children who are 14- 13-, and 4-years-old. Jenny was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer in April 2021. She has had several surgeries and complications that resulted in multiple hospitalizations. Jenny and her family live approximately 60 miles round trip from her treatment facility and hospital which has created additional expenses for her family. Jenny is not able to work due to her cancer treatments leaving her husband as the sole income provider. Jenny’s family lives day to day with financial stressors and this Hope for the Holidays gift will allow them to enjoy the holiday season.
Meet Nell-Jallen, 18, MA Nell-Jallen is an 18-year-old cancer hero from Massachusetts. In July of this year, Nell-Jallen was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and he is currently in active treatment. Nell-Jallen currently lives in a shelter with his loving parents, his 18-year-old twin brother, and his 7-year-old sister. Both of Nell-Jallen's parents are unable to work resulting in a loss of most of their household income. The family lives day to day with financial stressors and this Hope for the Holidays gift will allow them to enjoy the holiday season.
Meet Karmen, 11, SC Just months after 11-year-old Karmen had a leg amputation and started chemotherapy to treat her osteosarcoma, her 15-year-old sister was also diagnosed with cancer. While their mom stays home to care for them, their dad supports them as he continues to work fulltime as a truck driver so that the family still has some income. Your Hope for the Holidays donation will give families like Karmen’s the chance to enjoy their time together and have a stress-free holiday season during this financially and emotionally difficult time.
Meet Silas, 5, UT Silas was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in August 2020 and is currently in active treatment. Silas lives with his loving mother and six siblings. Silas' aunt passed away this past August leaving her children with Silas' mother. Silas' mother is the sole provider for their family and she has not been able to work due to COVID-19. Since Silas' diagnosis, the family has lost most of their household income and they have had to use their savings to pay their household bills. Your Hope for the Holidays support means Silas and his family will have gifts to open and joyous memories to share.
Meet Colton, 1, MA When Baby Colton was diagnosed with stage IV neuroblastoma, his mom stopped working to care for him and his older sister. While his dad is still working, losing half of their income has made it difficult for the family to afford the out-of-pocket costs of Colton's care and their daily living expenses. Colton's family lives day-to-day with financial stressors and this Hope for the Holidays gift will allow them to enjoy the holiday season.
Meet Jazzcity, 3, MA Jazzcity was diagnosed with stage II brain cancer this past July. She lives with her adoptive mother and her 6 siblings. Jazzcity's mother is unable to work while she is in treatment, so their family now has very little income. Jazzcity and her family have to travel over 90 miles for her proton radiation treatments. After commuting for the first week, they decided to move into temporary housing closer to the care center, which has incurred additional costs. Your Hope for the Holidays support means Jazzcity and her siblings will have gifts to open and joyous memories to share.
Meet Delcy, 40, MT In April of this year, Delcy was diagnosed with stage IV gastric cancer and she is currently in treatment. Delcy lives with her 2 children, ages 6 and 13. She is the sole provider for her family and has been unable to work since she started treatment. Delcy's sister moved in with her to provide support and caregiving. Even with help from friends with her household bills, Delcy is still very behind and struggling to pay her living expenses. Your support during Hope for the Holidays will help Delcy’s family make memories together and relieve some of the stress associated with the many costs of cancer.
Meet Melaine, 2, MA After being diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in September, little Melaine has been in inpatient care for treatment. Her mom, Mariela, is currently on unpaid leave from work so that she can be at Melaine’s side in the hospital. Mariela is the sole provider for this family of two, and they live with Melaine’s grandmother, aunt, and uncle. As Mariela dips into her savings to cover her monthly expenses, the financial hardship of Melaine’s diagnosis is adding to the emotional stress. Hope for the Holidays will provide some relief to families like Melaine’s so they can celebrate together without worrying about the many challenges of a cancer diagnosis.
Meet Lucas, 3, MA Since Lucas was diagnosed with brain cancer in August 2020, his mom has been taking time off to care for him and make sure he gets to the hospital for treatment. Lucas’ dad is still working, but the family has lost half of their household income and they don’t have any savings to fall back on. As a result, the family is struggling to pay their household bills on top of the medical bills that are not covered by insurance. Your support during Hope for the Holidays will give families like Lucas’ the chance to spend time together during the holiday season without worrying about the financial burdens of cancer.
Meet Tre, 20, MD Tre was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia in February 2013. Unfortunately, he relapsed in January of this year and is currently receiving palliative and hospice care. His support system includes his loving mother and brother. His mom stopped working to be Tre’s primary caregiver, which has caused the family to lose most of their household income and they have had to use their savings to pay their household bills. Your generosity will enable Tre and his family to celebrate the holidays and experience the joys of the season at a time when they need it most.
Meet Nelson, 8, MA Nelson was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma in August 2021 and is about to start his radiation treatments. He lives with his loving parents and two siblings. Nelson's mother is the family's sole provider while his father cares for Nelson and homeschools the two children. Since Nelson's diagnosis, the family has lost over half of their household income and they have had to use their savings to pay for their household bills. Your Hope for the Holidays support means families like Nelson’s will have gifts to open and joyous memories to share.
Meet Avyn, 7, NY After finding out that he had rhabdomyosarcoma in April, Avyn has braved surgeries, radiation, chemotherapy treatments, frequent hospitalizations, and routine clinic appointments. Unfortunately, this intense treatment plan isn’t the only challenge 7-year-old Avyn and his family faced this year. When a hurricane swept through New York earlier this year, the flash flooding ruined their belongings and damaged the apartment until it became too unsafe to live in. Avyn is now living at his grandmother’s house with his mom and three siblings until they can find a new home. For families like these, your Hope for the Holidays support will be a source of hope, comfort, and celebration during a time when they need it most.
Meet Caeden, 2, CO Caeden is currently in active treatment for stage IV kidney cancer, and he lives with his loving mother and three siblings. Caeden's mother was the family's sole provider, but she had to quit her job to care for Caeden and take him to his treatment appointments. As a result, the family has lost most of their household income and they're struggling to keep up with housing payments. Hope for the Holidays support will be a gift of incredible relief for families like these.
Meet Melanie , 14, NM Melanie was diagnosed with stage III Hodgkin’s lymphoma this past October. She lives with her older brother and mother, who recently stopped working to care for her daughter. Since Melanie’s mom is the family’s sole provider, they lost their income without any savings to fall back on. Adding to the financial and emotional stress, their car recently stopped working and it was their only way of getting Melanie to her appointments. Your Hope for the Holidays support will enable Melanie and her family to celebrate the holidays and experience the joys of the season at a time when they need it most.
Meet Alfredo, 12, CA This past September, Alfredo was diagnosed with stage II rhabdomyosarcoma and is currently in active treatment. Alfredo lives with his loving parents and two siblings. Alfredo's father is the family's sole provider, as his mother left her job when Alfredo began having symptoms to care for him and his siblings, as well as stay at the hospital with Alfredo when he's inpatient. Since Alfredo's diagnosis, the family has lost over half of their household income and they have had to rely on their savings to pay for their bills. The family lives with day-to-day financial stressors and this Hope for the Holidays gift will allow them to enjoy the holiday season.
Meet Renee, 37, CA In March 2019, Renee was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer after a history of facing acute myeloid leukemia. In early 2022, Renee will undergo a preventive mastectomy and reconstructive surgery. Renee lives with her 8-year-old daughter and she is the sole provider for their family. Renee had to stop working upon her diagnosis which has severely limited the family's income. Renee had planned to return to work as a preschool teacher in 2020 but the COVID-19 pandemic and her immunocompromised status prevented her from returning to her job. Renee has used all of her limited savings, borrowed from family and friends, and used credit cards to stay afloat over the past couple of years. Your support during Hope for the Holidays will give families like Renee’s the chance to spend time together during the holiday season without worrying about the many challenges of a cancer diagnosis.
Meet Jeriah, 13, TX Jeriah lives with his grandparents and brother in Texas. His family was first introduced to cancer when his sister was diagnosed a few years ago and, sadly, passed away. In December 2019, Jeriah was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and is currently going through treatment. Last month, the family faced another health scare when they all tested positive for COVID-19. In a heartbreaking turn of events, Jeriah’s grandfather passed away and now his grandmother is the sole provider and caregiver. While she works when she can and cares for her grandchildren tirelessly, she's overwhelmed by the emotional and financial weight of losing her husband and dealing with her grandson's cancer diagnosis. As Jeriah’s family tries to wrap their heads around what the holidays will look like for them this year, Hope for the Holidays support will be a source of joy at a time when they need it most.
Meet Branson, 17, NY In July of this year, Branson was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and he is currently in the most intensive stage of chemotherapy. Branson lives with his loving father and uncle. Branson's father is the sole provider of the family, but he is not able to work full-time hours due to the demands of Branson's chemotherapy treatment. The family has lost most of their household income and they do not have any savings to fall back on. The family lives with day-to-day financial stressors and this Hope for the Holidays gift will allow them to enjoy a stress-free holiday season.
Meet Serena, 6, IL Serena was diagnosed with stage IV neuroblastoma in August 2020. Her treatment plan included a stem cell transplant, which caused her to be admitted to the hospital for many months. Serena's mother tried to work from her daughter's bedside as much as she could, but she still missed a lot of working days. Her father has been working intermittently, while also helping care for Serena and her brother. Since her diagnosis, Serena's family has lost half of their household income and they have had to use their savings to pay for bills. Your Hope for the Holidays support means Serena and her brother will have gifts to open and joyous memories to share.
Meet Correy, 9, AL Correy was diagnosed with brain cancer in September 2020 and, sadly, relapsed in November 2021. As he goes through treatment again, Correy’s family has to travel over three hours to get to his care center. The many costs of cancer, including the extra transportation expenses, have caused a lot of financial stress for the family. Correy’s mother works, but the family of five now has limited income and dips into their savings to keep up with the bills. Your Hope for the Holidays gift will help Correy’s family to celebrate the holidays and experience the joys of the season at a time when they need it most.
Meet Sierra, 17, IL Sierra is currently in treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia, which included a stem cell transplant in September. Unfortunately, there were a few complications and she is now in the intensive care unit. Sierra's mother is the sole provider of the family, but she had to stop working due to the demands of Sierra's cancer treatments. This has severely limited the family's income and they have had to use their savings to pay for the bills. Your support through Hope for the Holidays will give the whole family another reason to smile this holiday season.
Meet Yadiel, 10, NJ Yadiel is currently in active treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He lives at home with his loving mother, grandmother, and sister. Yadiel's mother is the sole provider for their family, however, she has not been able to work since Yadiel's cancer diagnosis. This has left the family with very little income and they have had to use their savings to pay their household bills. Your Hope for the Holidays support means Yadiel and his sister will have gifts to open and joyous memories to share.
Meet Tanya, 55, NC Tanya was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer in October 2019. Her treatment has consisted of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatment. Tanya lives with her adult daughter, whom she is responsible for emotionally and financially. Tanya is the sole provider for their family and she has not been able to work due to her treatment and surgeries. This has caused the family to have no income to cover household expenses. Your support during Hope for the Holidays will give families like Tanya’s the chance to spend time together during the holiday season without focusing on financial worries.
Meet Celia, 46, NJ In May of this year, Celia was diagnosed with stage IV ovarian cancer that has metastasized to her liver and throughout her body. Celia lives with her loving husband and three children, ages 12, 10, and 7. Due to the intense treatment regimen, surgeries, and continuous appointments, Celia has not been able to work. Celia's husband is now the sole provider for their family and he is supporting them as much as possible. This decrease in income has made it extremely hard for Celia and her family and they are now behind on bills and struggling to afford essential food. Celia's family lives with day-to-day financial stressors and this Hope for the Holidays gift will allow them to enjoy the holiday season.
Meet Natalia, 18, FL In January 2017, Natalia was diagnosed with brain cancer and then, in May 2020, she was also diagnosed with osteosarcoma. Natalia lives with her loving parents and four siblings. Due to Natalia's intense treatment for two cancers, both of her parents are only able to work part-time. Natalia's family has found it very difficult to keep up financially on a monthly basis, especially with the large medical co-pays and various treatment-related expenses. Your Hope for the Holidays support means Natalia and her siblings will have gifts to open and joyous memories to share.
Meet Zoey, 13, FL IZoey was diagnosed with neuroblastoma in November 2016. She sadly relapsed in May 2019 and is still going through treatment. Zoey lives with her loving parents and siblings. Zoey’s mom is her primary caretaker and her dad is also unable to work, so the family's income is now severely limited. They are struggling to afford all of their monthly household expenses and are forced to choose between bills to pay. Your support during Hope for the Holidays will give families like Zoey’s the chance to spend time together during the holiday season without focusing on financial worries.
Thank you for reading!
FamilyReach.org/holidays