To All of Our Supporters,
Listed below is an update on some families we have been helping since our last report.
Addy was eighteen months old when she was diagnosed with acute megakaryoblastic leukemia. Her treatment plan involves extensive inpatient chemotherapy and may include a bone marrow transplant in the future. Addy lives with her mother, grandparents and two siblings and is fortunate to have a strong family support system. But, because of her daughter’s treatment schedule, mom is unable to work at this time. Her greatest financial need is assistance with her auto loan and insurance, so the Foundation has paid those two expenses for an extended period of time and continues to do so.
Two years ago, Emily was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia at the age of seven. Her course of treatment has been a complicated one with numerous hospitalizations related to the side-effects of her high dose chemotherapy. When a treatment plan covers an extensive period of time, FMLA may no longer be available and time off from work, without pay, can really stretch a family’s resources. The Foundation was contacted by the family’s social worker to help with rental payments for the family of three.
Jacob was diagnosed, at the age of eight in 2015, with Ewing’s Sarcoma of the scapula. The Foundation was contacted for assistance for his family three years later, in 2018, for assistance following Jacob’s first relapse. In the years since that first relapse, the Foundation has assisted with various household expenses following additional relapses and progression of the disease to additional sites. Sadly, Jacob lost his battle with cancer this year and the Foundation helped to pay bills for final expenses.
As noted with Jacob’s family above, there are times the Foundation is asked to support a family for an extended period of time and there are also times we’re asked for help during a short period of transition. Sixteen-year-old Yusaf was recently diagnosed with Leukemia. At the time of diagnosis, mom was working as a Lyft driver. Numerous hospitalizations and a rigorous treatment schedule for her son made it difficult to work enough hours to pay the bills. Mom also found the only time she was able to work as a driver was late at night, an unsafe situation in the best of circumstances. The Foundation was asked to help with rent for mom and her son while she secured another job that would accommodate Yusaf’s treatment schedule and be safer and offer a more secure income.
We hope these periodic updates help to illustrate how much need exists for families who struggle with the financial issues associated with a pediatric cancer diagnosis. Because of your continued generosity, we continue to be able to carry out the mission that has become so important to all of us. Thank you to all of our supporters who were able to join us for our annual Cadillac Dinner. It was good to see many of you again and it was wonderful to celebrate the recovery of a little boy whose family was supported by the Foundation. On November 18, we’ll again be a part of ExtraGive, Lancaster Country’s community-wide celebration of giving.
We humbly thank you for your continued support!
The Board and Volunteers of the Jeff Musser Foundation