To All of Our Supporters,
Listed below is an update on some families we have been helping since our last report in April.
Because there are so many excellent pediatric oncology specialists in our area, families sometimes make the decision to move here to be able to access the best care for their child. Such was the case for 16-year-old Lincy who was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in 2020. After receiving chemotherapy near their former home, Lincy and her dad moved to Central Pennsylvania to live with dad’s mother so the teenager could continue with chemotherapy and hopefully, receive limb salvage surgery at PSH. Finances are tight for the family so the Foundation is covering their rent for quite a few months and has provided gas gift cards to help with the numerous trips to the hospital.
We’re still getting requests for families impacted doubly by the effects of Covid on the economy and the devastating diagnosis of cancer. Ronald’s family owned a small restaurant that was unable to reopen, as planned, during the pandemic. The four-year-old has been being treated for high-risk neuroblastoma at CHOP that requires treatment in the form of radiation, surgery, stem cell transplants and immunotherapy. Due to the extensive nature of treatment with frequent emergency trips to the hospital, neither parent is able to seek other employment because one parent cares for Ronald while the other parent is at home with his sister who is in a virtual school situation. The Foundation is helping with rent for the family while they seek SSI assistance until at least one parent can go back to work.
Stella hadn’t yet celebrated her second birthday when she was diagnosed in February with B-cell leukemia. Both of her parents have had to reduce their employment hours to care for her and her four-year-old brother. The family’s home was damaged by a water leak just prior to little Stella’s diagnosis and mom and dad were in the process of trying to deal with the financial implications of that situation when their lives were turned upside down by the need for two and a half years of treatment for their daughter. While the family didn’t want to ask for assistance, the social worker at Nemours urged them to accept help from the Foundation in the form of mortgage assistance until one of them can get back to full time employment.
Fifteen-year-old Josean is currently being treated for Lymphoma. He lives with his mother, brother, and grandmother. Mom is a single parent and the sole income provider for the family but had to leaver her job to care for her son. While mom is a hard worker and didn’t want to ask for help, once again, the family’s social worker urged her to accept assistance in the form of mortgage payments from the Foundation.
Nick and his single mother had been dealt a difficult hand by being evicted from their home several months before his diagnosis of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Mom had been working full time and they had sought residency in an inexpensive motel when they got the diagnosis in February. While Nick’s older siblings tried to financially assist as much as possible, the stress of Nick’s treatment and their living situation became too much for mom. She requested, and was given an unpaid leave from her job, with the promise of being rehired when she was able to return. In the meantime, the family’s social worker knew it was important to find a healthier living situation for Nick and his mom. The Foundation has helped with assistance in purchasing an appliance and some household items for a new apartment, along with rental payments.
Thanks to those of you who have continued to support the Foundation with your donations, well wishes and prayers for the families we’re privileged to assist. We hope to see some of you at the Golf Classic next week and at the Cadillac Dinner on September 24. We couldn’t accomplish any of what we’re asked to do without your continued support so, as always, we humbly express our gratitude to each one of you!
Most sincerely,
The Board and Volunteers of the Jeff Musser Foundation