After being diagnosed with mouth cancer earlier this winter, Dale Blosser was in a real bind. In order for his radiation and infusion treatments to begin, he needed to find a new dentist to remove many of his teeth. The problem, he said, was that most were not accepting new patients due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
York County Woman Battling Breast Cancer Aided by Vickie’s Angel Foundation
Lauren Lenhert-Geyer said she was an emotional wreck last summer when she learned that she had breast cancer. The news arrived for the 34-year-old York County woman after what was initially believed to be a cyst was detected during an annual visit to the doctor. She decided to go for further testing, including a biopsy, that confirmed the news that shook her.
“I could tell I was in shock. I didn’t expect to hear that news. I called my mom right away and as soon as she answered, I balled,” Lauren said.
Dillsburg Couple Continue to Give to "First-Class Organization"
It was about seven years ago that Jim and Yvonne Richter learned that their daughter, Michelle, was diagnosed with lung cancer. The news arrived after Michelle was admitted to the hospital for what she thought was a strong case of the flu. It also came roughly three years after she had a cancerous kidney removed in an earlier trip to the hospital.
The cancer returned, spread to other parts of her body and eventually took Michelle’s life. She was 47 years old when she died in November 2013.
York County Couple Grateful for Help From Vickie's Angels
It’s been nearly five years since Greg Bortner was faced with one of the hardest decisions of his life. After doctors found a cancerous tumor on his trachea, the tube commonly known as the windpipe, he was presented with options for treatment.
His doctors told him he could pursue a surgery that would only remove part of his trachea, leaving intact the larynx, which holds the vocal cords. But that option left a greater possibility that cancer could still be present after the surgery. Recognizing that reality, Greg chose a more invasive operation that has made it very difficult for him to speak.
‘I never have been blessed more in my life,’
Walter Woods has been on a roller coaster ride of emotions over the last six months.
In May, the 73-year-old retired truck driver and Army veteran learned from his doctors that he had Stage 4 prostate cancer. The diagnosis has required him to undergo chemotherapy and take as many as 15 medications, many of which have caused sickness and left him feeling weak.
Vickie’s Angels Help Schuylkill County Nurse
As a registered nurse with more than 40 years of experience, Sabine Hough has made a career of helping others. She was also the sole provider for her family as she worked at a nursing home and rehabilitation facility in Pottsville.
Sabine, 58, says she planned to work until she was 70 years old. But her plans hit a roadblock in March 2020 when she was diagnosed with bladder cancer.
“I tried to work through my chemo, but I could only do it for six weeks before I got too sick,” Sabine said.
Being forced to stop working meant that Sabine, of New Ringgold, Schuylkill County, eventually lost her insurance coverage. She also learned that she would need surgery as part of her treatment. In August, Sabine underwent an operation to remove her bladder.
During her treatment, Sabine’s oncologist referred her to a social worker who connected her with Vickie’s Angel Foundation. The foundation covered her mortgage payments in the summer months as she prepared for her surgery and recovered.
“Vickie’s Angels are wonderful. They save me every month,” Sabine said. “I don’t know where I would have been without them for the last couple of months.”
Sabine said that an initial cat scan following her surgery was negative for any metastasis, giving her hope for the future. She has another cat scan scheduled for November. In the meantime, she has set a goal for herself of one day returning to work in some capacity.
“I hope I don’t have to go through any more chemo,” she said. “I’m going to try and work maybe four hours here and four hours there.”
About Us: Vickie's Angel Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit with a mission of helping families fighting cancer who cannot pay their bills because of going through cancer treatment. The foundation’s goal is to take away the financial worry from the family, providing a temporary bridge that allows them to focus entirely on beating this disease. Since 2003, Vickie’s Angel Foundation has raised over $3.2 million and helped more than 2,000 families. Importantly, 100% of all online donations, and monies received at our walk; along with 100% of net proceeds from sponsored events, go directly to those in need.
The Importance of Family
Never one to resist hard work, Robert Kohl had been a truck driver and a welder by trade. After retiring, he worked another ten years delivering product for Nolts Auto Parts in Lancaster before a cancer diagnosis sidelined him.
Like so many, Robert was having some problems but didn’t go to the doctor as soon as he should have. When he did it was weeks, many tests and a lot of poking and prodding later when he finally learned of the bladder cancer. Surgery was followed by 24 radiation treatments only to learn a month later that the cancer had spread.
Project Water Heater
For three months Lydia Otero had been heating hot water to wash her hair and bathe. Most times, it took her hours just to wash her hair. Referred to us by a Wellspan social worker, Lydia applied for support and when our evaluation committee heard of her broken hot water heater, Vickies Angel Foundation was determined to set things right.
Celebrating a Little Bit of Hope
The whining is ramping up.
You’ve heard it, right?
“My sister got her stimulus check, but I didn’t.”
“Why can people fish but I can’t play golf?”
“Why can’t small shops open and let in 10 people at a time?”
I understand. It’s getting old being cramped up all day long.
So, let me tell you about the Fessenden family. After hearing their story, maybe you’ll feel a bit better about your situation.
I “met” Johanna Fessenden sometime in the past year. It wasn’t really a meeting, but a long phone call. Occasionally I write short articles for Vickie’s Angels, a charity that helps people with cancer pay their bills.
Never Postpone Your Health
Cynthia Traini sticks with things. She’s lived in the same house in Harrisburg since 1989 and held the same job delivering Papa John’s pizzas for almost 18 years. Pizza delivery is quite a physical job, she said. In and out of the store, in and out of the car, up stairs, down stairs, carrying hot heavy boxes in all kinds of weather. She’s fallen. She’s been bitten by dogs. But she kept at it long enough to watch her customers’ kids grow up.
A couple of years ago, she had a mammogram. Something the doctor saw resulted in the suggestion of a biopsy. “I got scared, so I postponed it,” she said.