Who The Raymond Wentz foundation Has Helped - Recipient Stories

Frank
Last year, The Raymond Wentz Foundation was pleased to become a partner in Frank’s Fight against Multiple Myeloma (bone marrow cancer) and kidney failure. A Vietnam Veteran, who had suffered the loss of his wife and his home before being diagnosed, Frank said, “You have no idea how much this gift means to me.” TheRaymond Wentz Foundation grant helped Frank pay his mortgage on “Frank’s House” that was renovated for him by Sandra Murray (pictured here) and The Nurture Foundation.  Sandra and her company Contagious Media are creating a documentary of Frank’s Fight; his fears, his challenges, his chemotherapy sessions, his dialysis and even his joys, like this one on this special day.  

Mary Johnson and Omar Johnson
Mary Johnson, a 58-year-old, proud mother of four, grandmother of six, and great grandmother of two has a brain tumor. Omar, her 21-year-old son, has acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Before their diagnoses, Mary worked as a substance abuse counselor and Omar was finishing his first semester at T.H. Pickens Barber School after already obtaining his nursing assistant certification like his mother and in his spare time rapped in the group Moi ‘Yo’ Yoi.

In 2007 both Omar and Mary received grants from The Raymond Wentz Foundation to provide financial relief from daily living bills.
Mary said, “I thank God for Jeanette [Cancer Resource Navigator at University of Colorado Hospital] who helped us find The Raymond Wentz Foundation and other resources. God said that he shall supply all our needs…so He is continually doing that. The Lord has strengthened us in this and our family has grown closer and we are continually in prayer.”

Omar, who was finishing his fifth straight day of chemotherapy said, “Live life to the fullest because you never know when it can be taken away.” Omar and Mary both said that the grants they received from The Raymond Wentz Foundation were a great help.

jane- the cost of two illnesses

The Raymond Wentz Foundation helps patients like Jane.  After being the caregiver for her husband who passed away from cancer she found herself battling the disease as well, diagnosed with rectal cancer.  Not only is Jane dealing with the costs of her husband’s illness she is now facing new costs for her treatment totaling at least $200,000 (even with health insurance).  She said that the Raymond Wentz Foundation's financial gift helped not only with her bills but also in her psychological cancer journey giving her a positive and proactive view to her challenge.