Dear friends, family, community partners, and all others who read this:
Marcel and Jolana Woodruff have sacrificed selflessly and tirelessly for the community of Fresno for many, many years, and now it's our turn to take on some sacrifices for them.
As a family, they are facing the unimaginable in the form of a rare, genetic cancer.
Zaire, their 16 year old daughter, has Stage 4 cancer.
Marcel has two large abdominal tumors, yet to be biopsied.
Judah, their 18 year old son, is a carrier of the same gene and we are awaiting his test results.
Jolana and Jaziah (age 11) are carrying the full weight of knowing their entire family is in need of care, of prayer, of God's miraculous healing, and of support in a way that none of them have ever needed or known before.
This year has been a year of pain, of radical acceptance, of hospital stays, of surgeries, of days off and doctors visits, of maxed out sick time, of unpaid FMLA leave exhaustion, of high emotional, spiritual, and physical demand, and truthfully, we are just now standing at the beginning. But we are also standing in HOPE and in FAITH.
Marcel is having a major surgery this week. He will most likely be unable to continue working at his full capacity for some time. Zaire started chemotherapy in November.
While caring for her husband and daughter, and advocating for our father (who had a stroke in November), Jolana has been unable to work her full schedule and will be unable to work full-time, if at all, as treatments for her family progress.
Insurance premiums and co-pays need to be paid. Gas for commuting to out-of-town doctors, hospitals, and specialists must be paid. Food must be purchased. Childcare. Medicine. And even still, life goes on.
The mortgage, car payments, utility bills, and expenses of daily living don't stop just because your whole family is battling cancer.
This message is an invitation to step up, to get involved, and to carry a couple that has carried many of us through our own hard times.
Please join me, Purposed II Praise Schools of Dance, BreakBox Thought Collective, and numerous other friends and family, in our effort to FULLY REPLACING a year's worth of income plus medical expenses for the Woodruff family so that they can focus on healing and recovering without the threat of financial destitution.
Donations using this link can be made MONTHLY or as one-time gifts.
100% of donations go DIRECTLY to the Woodruff family, and NO FEES are taken by spotfund.
Please rally around the Woodruffs, and let's celebrate the miracles we are expecting, TOGETHER.
With a Heart Full of Expectation, Love and Compassion,
Janelle Chavonne Evans
(Jolana's Big Sister)
