Document text
LIGHT ONE CANDLE Family needs mechanic, shoes EDITOR'S NOTE : This is one in a series of stories about people who need help during the holiday season. The past six years have meant one new knee after another for this single mom of five. Now she's on her last one. The 37-year-old Talent woman has had 40 surgeries to either replace her artificial knee or to cut away infected areas in her leg after she was diagnosed with a rare cancer in her left knee. She's been on crutches for the past five years, while caring for her five boys ages 12, 11, 10, 8, and 7. There are only 120 such cancer cases in the United States, said Paige Green, a friend of the woman and the wife of the pastor at Ashland Christian Fellowship Church, where she worships. In the summer a bone scan showed no trace of cancer in her leg. But in November, another tumor was found. She must now undergo radiation treatments five days a week for six weeks to shrink the tumor. In January, she heads off to Portland's Oregon Health Sciences University to see if the tumor can be removed. If not, doctors may have to amputate because she can have no more artificial knees. "She makes it miraculously," Green said of the former registered nurse from California, who was diagnosed while working full time in Santa Barbara. She moved up here to be close to her family, elderly parents and three sisters. Despite the past six years of hardships, the woman has remained positive, flexible and downright inspiring, Green said. She said of the woman's five sons, "They're terrific guys. They're charming, energetic and happy, and their mom keeps them active in sports.'' The family lives on about $1,600 a month from public assistance. The woman's family and the church have been helping her and her sons with meals and housekeeping, Green said. The family has two big needs right now, Green said: a good mechanic or ombudsman, and athletic shoes for the boys. The woman drives a 1995 Plymouth Voyager that she has had to take to the mechanic 20 times since May. She needs a mechanic who can fix her car for good; someone who can help her negotiate with the dealer that's been trying to fix her car; or maybe another car, Green said. All of the boys need athletic shoes. Their sizes are 9, 7, 5 1/2, 3 1/2 and 3. To help the Talent family, call the Ashland Christian Fellowship office, 482-8539, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA