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photo by craven Mary Banks and her grandsons (clockwise from right) Antonio, Carlos, Fernando and David, are making it now thanks to help from readers a year ago. 'Candle' recipient's could still use help Editor's note : For the past two Christmas seasons, Rogue Valley residents have generously responded to the Mail Tribune's "Light One Candle" series, with cash, food, clothes, furniture and even cars. To kick off this season's series, two families who were helped last year by donations from readers share how the valley's generosity gave them the hope to keep going. By Susan Jay Mary Banks has her hands full -- full of love and challenges. She's a great-grandmother. But last Christmas she became the primary guardian of her four grandsons. Banks' 35-year-old daughter, Diana Medrano, died from an aggressive cancer on Dec. 17, 1997. Her wish was that her boys would live with their grandmother. Their father visits them, and tries to help when he can. But Banks was living in a one-bedroom apartment, and had no money for a first- and last-month move-in deposit. Their story ran in the Mail Tribune's "Light One Candle" series on Christmas Eve, and donations of cash, food and toys poured in. "It was just totally amazing how the community pitched in and helped," Banks said. "It was a lifesaver for me. I was so frustrated not knowing what I was going to do." Readers donated $5,000 that the family used for rent and deposits. Their first new home was in Phoenix, but it proved to be too expensive, so they moved to a less-expensive three-bedroom home with a big yard in West Medford. They now try to make ends meet on the boys' Social Security death benefits of $649 a month, food stamps and Banks' housekeeping job. Banks is trying to scrap up a small down payment, $1,000 to $2,000 to put on a new manufactured home. She would like to move next to her granddaughter in a mobile home park, where they could help each other out. Before the "Light One Candle" story a year ago, Banks said she had only a couple of Christmas gifts under the tree. After the story, there were more than enough for the boys. They received basketballs, games and a little bit of everything. "They were really happy about it, especially the basketballs. They like their sports," she said. Banks said David, age 18, Fernando, 10, Antonio, 8 and Carlos, 7, are doing great. "They're handling all this much better than I did. My daughter and I were very close," Banks said. She said they often talk about Diana. "We talk about her all the time. It doesn't upset them. We just talk about the things they use to do." For the boys, adjusting to living with their grandmother meant learning how to clean the house and finish chores. Now they help with the dusting, vacuuming and dishes. Banks said that, at age 60, taking care of her four grandsons has been "challenging," to say the least. But she knows she's doing what her daughter wanted and what's best for the children. "It was her wish for her mother to have them and like I say I'm very attached to my grandkids." But the biggest reason that keeps her going, "is the idea that they're my boys now." Anyone interested helping toward Banks' down payment on a manufactured home can call Sue Koury, at Washington Elementary School, 776-8860. Last Christmas, toddler Jory Petty could not walk or talk, after a near fatal drowning accident. Today he still doesn't move on his own, but he knows when his mom is talking about the things he likes. "He smiles at us if we talk about Super Soakers," said Heidi Petty, his mother. "He'll smile if you talk about school. He's really doing well under the circumstances, well enough to start preschool." Last summer, Jory was playing in the Applegate River at Cantrall Buckley Park when he slipped off some rocks and nearly drowned. At Christmastime 1997 he had just come out of a coma and was breathing and eating through tubes. Today, said his 30-uear-old mom, "he's no vegetable." The 1997 "Light One Candle" series featured Jory and his family, who were fighting a losing battle keeping up with their overdue bills. Petty had to quit her job to travel back and forth to Portland to see Jory in the hospital, and then care for him when he returned home. The family didn't have enough money for clothes and other necessities for their other three children, after the additional expenses involved with Jory's care. The response to the newspaper story was overwhelming, Petty said. "The big thing was everybody chipped in and paid our electric bill, which was over $1,000, and our phone bill," she said. To her amazement, Petty said, "The valley chipped in and made it the best Christmas possible under the circumstances." Her other kids, she said, received "an indescribable heap of presents. So this "Light One Candle" was a godsend for us. Last winter we were getting swallowed up in bills." Today, she is working, has a little help with nursing care for Jory, and says Jory is more alert and aware than anyone expected. He tries to make noises, and he laughs and smiles. His seizures are more under control, down from 30 to five an hour. When the seizures do come, Petty said, "He starts bursting out laughing. It shorts out in the pleasure part of his brain." This Christmas, however, will also be difficult, Petty, 30, said. Jory is improving, her kids have jackets and shoes and she is working. But the accident has taken a toll on the family. She and her husband have separated. "This has ripped us apart," she said. They haven't given up hope on being together, but "it's really hard to hang on and deal with marriage and the job and taking care of Jory and the other kids," she said. She doesn't expect to have much left over after expenses this Christmas to give the children presents. But she has been teaching them that the holiday is not about receiving gifts, but about having their brother, having their health and a warm home. Anyone interested in helping the Pettys with a few toys can call Diane Pirrello at 776-7238. Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1998, Medford, Oregon USA