This Christmas season, Shields of Hope along with the community will be helping to support and provide gifts for families battling cancer this holiday season. These are the stories of the families being helped.
Ottawa County Families
Shields of Hope will be supporting 6 families in Ottawa County this year!
Family #1 – Young Spring Lake parents raising their 2 and 4 year-old boys. Mother of the family was diagnosed with Triple Negative Breast Cancer in October 2017. This wonderful family is always working to help the community and now they could use some of that support!
Family #2 – This family is 1 of 3 families in Jamestown Township that we are honored to help. The family consists of mom, dad and 4 children ages 7, 11, 15 & 18. Their 11 y/o son was diagnosed with Leukemia in summer 2017 and this family has faced cancer diagnosis numerous times in the past years. They support and volunteer in the community and are true public servants to everyone around them.
Family #3 – Our second Jamestown family is comprised of mom, dad and 3 children ages 5, 7 and 11. Their 7 year-old son was diagnosed with brain cancer in early 2017. The community and family have rallied around the family but they could use some extra love, hope and encouragement this holiday season.
Family #4 – From Allendale, this family of 5 is made up of mom, dad and 3 children ages 13, 15 and 17. Mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 Pancreatic cancer in early 2017. The family is coming to terms that this is most likely their last Christmas together and would like to make some lasting memories together.
Family #5 – Our third Jamestown family is comprised of mom, dad and 4 children ages 3, 8, 16 and 17. This family has faced numerous tragedies including a house fire in the recent years. Their 3 year-old son was diagnosed with B Cell ALL earlier this year and has been fighting hard ever since!
Family #6 – The final Ottawa County family lives in Zeeland Township and is made up of mom, dad and 4 children (10 year-old twins, and a 13 and 14 year-old). For the last three years one of the 10 year-olds fought Leukemia and in August 2017 he finished treatment! The family is working hard to get back to a sense of normalcy and is active in the community.
Allegan County Families
Shields of Hope will be supporting 2 families in Allegan County this year!
Family #1 – Our first Allegan County family is from Shelbyville. The family consists of parents, both Army Veterans, and two children ages 15 and 17. Dad was diagnosed with Multi-Myeloma and is awaiting a Stem Cell Transplant. Currently the family is preparing to move to a smaller house due to financial challenges that are a result of the cancer diagnosis.
Family #2 – Our second Allegan family is from Wayland. This family of 7 consists of mom, dad, and 5 children ages 5, 7, 9, 11, and 15. Their 5 year-old daughter was diagnosed with Leukemia in 2015 and relapsed in November 2016. Due to the treatments the father has missed quite a bit of work. His coworkers have rallied around him to cover his shifts but there is still a financial struggle they are facing.
Kent County Families
Shields of Hope will be supporting 3 families in Kent County this year!
Family #1 – The father of our first Kent County family recently gained his angel wings after battling Esophageal Cancer. He leaves behind his loving wife and their 10 year-old son. They fought together as a family and are in need of some extra love and support during their first holiday season without their loving father.
Family #2 – Our second Kent County family lives in Kentwood. The family is made of mom, dad and 2 children ages 6 and 7. Their father was diagnosed with Brain Cancer and is now unable to work to help provide basic needs for the family. The family actively works to give back and hosts fundraisers for others in need and never questions why they were chosen to be on this journey.
Family #3 – Our third Kent County family lives in Grand Rapids. A single mom to a 10 year-old boy is battling Colon Cancer. She was diagnosed in May 2017 and is in need of support and extra encouragement during the holidays.
Muskegon County Families
Shields of Hope will be supporting 1 family in Muskegon County this year!
Family #1 – This Muskegon family of 7 is comprised of mom, dad and children ages 9, 10, 13, 16 and 17. Mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer in spring 2017. Due to the mother’s illness only the father is working at this time. Between treatments, running a household, and raising 5 children any extra support would be greatly appreciated during this difficult time.
If you would like to help out any of these families in need, please stop in any Auto Body Xperts location to grab a gift tag off the giving tree to help a family in need this holiday season.
