Happy Holidays!
I hope this letter finds you well, and your family enjoying this holiday season. I am writing today about our annual Christmas collection for a family dealing with a cancer diagnosis.
Any many of the people reading this can remember, we began doing this in memory of Kristin Schubbe, who was diagnosed at age 24 while pregnant. She gave birth to a healthy son, but was unable to work. She needed help with getting to the doctor, caring for her baby, and so on. The medical bills mounted. She was determined and faced it head on, but when the cancer spread it became harder for her to keep her spirits up. As determined as she was and as hard as she had been fighting, it was wearing her down mentally and emotionally.
That’s where people stepped in to help. A nurse from the hospital organized a collection. They were thoughtful, carefully prying for information about where they shopped, what they liked. Kristin had no idea. She just thought that they were “bringing by a few bags of groceries.” They showed up and unloaded until her living room was full. I’ll never forget the look on her face. She just stood there, staring, even long after they left. It can’t be overstated how much this raised her spirits. It was like a complete reset back to faith and determination. The thing is though, as I alluded to above, is that it wasn’t about the stuff. She was most impacted by the cards, the letters, the personal words of encouragement, all from strangers. It made Kristin realize that, come what may, she wasn’t alone, and there was reason to have faith. She celebrated Christmas that year like she wasn’t sick at all. That is a gift beyond words, beyond dollars—because it was the last one she had, and it would have otherwise been spent in despair. Instead she and her son had their only Christmas together as if it were the first of many. She sat down that night to write a thank you letter to God, and I really encourage you read (or read again) about what have the chance to do for somebody here.
Thanks to everybody's contributions, our family and friends have carried this on in Kristin's honor for 17 years now and helped over 21 families in that time.
This year we are collecting donations for Jauane, her two daughters, and her mother. In 2019, at age 29, Jauane was diagnosed with breast cancer after getting a routine mammogram. It runs in her family--by age 35 her mother and both aunts had been diagnosed with the same illness. During her bout with cancer she had to have a double mastectomy.
This past August, Jauane found another lump. Tests have confirmed that her cancer is back. At the time this was written, she was getting a second opinion, but will likely be undergoing both chemotherapy and radiation. Prior to the reoccurrence, Jauane was teaching special education in Chicago. She has now had to go on leave to take care of herself and her family. Her mother has moved in to assist as well.
It's hard to imagine, especially at her age with such young children, what this woman must be going through. In talking with her, she sounded worried but resolute about the future. She's just worried about surviving more than anything, and being able to be there for her girls. She provided some wish-list items for the girls, but it was pulling teeth to get her to suggest anything for herself--other than items with which to show gratitude for her mother and everything that she has done.
There are lots of charities and ways to give this year. We hope you will consider donating to Jauane and her family. We have some short wish-lists below, and as always are happy to accept anything you'd like to donate.
To donate, there are a couple options:
1. Purchases items from the wish lists and send our way. If you need a pickup, let me know.
2. You can also donate via PayPal/Zelle at davekush15@gmail.com (let us know if there's something specific you'd like us to purchase or if we should pass the cash along directly).
3. You can buy something from this Amazon wish list. These are items we picked based on the lists below. Definitely not restricted to this list or these particular items.
4. Gift cards, checks, etc are also welcome. Please do not mail gift cards or cash. We can pickup.
Please let me know if you have any questions or if some assistance is needed. I can be reached via davekush15@gmail.com or call/text at 708-296-5664.
Thank you for your generosity!
Dave
Wish Lists
Justice (7) female
size 8 in clothes and 2 in shoes
-hoverboard
-skateboard
-a Chucky doll
-race cars
Kynnedi (3) female
size 5 clothes, 2 in shoes
-a Chucky doll
-a baby doll
-motorcycle
-dollhouse
-play kitchen set
Jauane (32)
-size adult small
-Matching family pajamas, including a set for her mom (adult large)
-a plaque of appreciation for her mom's help
- Boots (size 8-- This was one of the only specific item I could get from her.)Mom (adult large)
-Coat
-Robe
-Boots (size 9)
Restaurants
-Applebees
-TJI Fridays
-Chilis
Shopping
-Fashionova
-Food For Less
-Walmart
-Pete's
