Rather than making a donation, you could purchase one (or more) of these fine candles from Trinity Candla Factory. This way you can actually, get something in your hands to help you remember. As an affiliate, we receive a small portion of your purchase price, which we can add to the funds needed to ensure continued support for Jim's mortgage and utility payments.

Many of you know that our father, Jim, has been battling stage 4 Bladder cancer since he was diagnosed in January. Emotionally, physically, and fiscally this has probably been the most trying time of his life.The chemo and radiation he will begin this next week has a higher chance of success than the surgery option, and we are hopeful that it will succeed in destroying the infected tissues from the area where the tumor is present.

The story of my dad is similar to a sad country song -- every time it ended and seemed as though things would turn around somehow, someone hits repeat. This is a man who raised 4 children, 3 of whom he brought up while a single parent. He worked 7 days a week through wind, rain, sun and snow to make sure bills were paid and he could take care of his family. When my parents split he did all he could to give us the stability of a happy home; he always had time for his kids and made sure we knew we were number one. So many of my friends can account for his kindness towards others; sometimes sheltering them when they had nowhere else to go; sometimes paying for school trips, school clothes, and providing transportation, all with no thought of reciprocation. He gives without thinking about himself. This is a guy, if he were anyone else, should probably be bitter and hateful towards the world; but he isn't. Even now he is helping people as best he can, even though he can't and shouldn't. Now he has a reason to be selfish -- to think me, me, me. Yet he doesn't.

When I was in the car accident, and the man who found me asked me who to call, I thought, "Oh God I hope Dad doesn't find out! " All I could think about was breathing and how stressed out my cancer stricken father would be. My sisters and I have been paying a large portion of my dad's bills since he began treatment in January. Since the accident, and losing my job because of it, my portion has fallen to my older sister. Dad has been working, though it's a detriment to his health -- he is ridiculously stubborn and refuses to not be doing something. Unfortunately, the work he does ties directly into the bills we pay for him. During Chemo he will not be able to work, and there will not be enough money coming from myself and Eva to cover his bills. We have come to the wall and are forced to look over it and accept that we need to ask friends and family for some help to get through the next 6 weeks.

Things we will need help with will be

• Mortgage
• Gas
• Power

These are the primary issues we will run into.

If you can help, please contact myself at 360-509-6275, or my sisters, Eva and Lura, at 360-930-5493. Or

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Thanks! And Love to Everybody.

Emma Ferguson