Operation Auntie Nancy and Family

Hi Family and Friends: This page has been started to help support my Godmother (and aunt), my uncle, and my cousins. Auntie Nancy has been a solid influence and support in my life since I fell out of the womb. Her support and love has carried through generations of family and she is truly the central force for her sisters, her husband and his extended family, her children, nieces/nephews, and grandchildren. She has been dealt an extremely tough and challenging emotional hand. Over the last several months, she has held the hand of two very ill sisters that she was extremely close to, who have passed away with the comfort of her hand and love; she is the primary caretaker of her husband, Ken, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's & Lewy Body Dementia. She has become a parent instead of a wife caring for him 24/7 along with caring for her son Geoff (my cousin) who has been just given an extremely terrifying cancer diagnosis among several other diagnoses and now needs aggressive chemo to start. Her grandson, the little guy we call Little Geoff is 7 and she has been a primary caretaker for him for years. She had no choice but to retire and spends every waking (and sleeping) moment caring for others. Auntie Nancy represents COMFORT as she was right there with us when my mom passed away in July and with other sisters who have passed, literally holding their hands as they moved on. She represents COURAGE as she moves through the loss of her sisters and is now the primary caregiver to Ken, who now has the needs of a young child. Along with his recent diagnosis and deteriorating mental state, he was in the ICU for medical complications and to treat an emergent situation with him. He remains in the hospital. She represents STRENGTH as she stays strong for Geoff, her oldest son with unthinkable diagnoses. And she represents PATIENCE and SELFLESSNESS as she cares for Little Geoff and all of his day-to-day needs. She is sassy and humble and would not ask for help. She's a baby boomer to her core, pick herself up by the bootstraps fierce advocate for "just keeping on!" It's time for us to help Auntie Nancy and take some burden off of her. She is a very private person (hence Boston Baby Boomer!) and stubborn in the best ways. I want her stress to be a least a bit lessened during this really difficult time. I created this page as a way to provide some support to her and the family. Many of her family members are far away. With me in Maine and other family members in other parts of New England. It is difficult to help her with the physical distance. We are hoping to lessen the burden of day-to-day activities like cooking, cleaning, providing child-care, etc. This is my first time using any platform like this so I'm not sure how well it works. It started with an idea of a meal train, but that is difficult to coordinate with family and friends extended out everywhere. I'm hoping this is a more tangible way to extend help, love, and support. Here are the things we believe will be helpful: *Food (gift cards, grocery cards, food delivery cards) *Walmart or Target gift cards to help with everyday expenses, needs, and clothing for Little Geoff as he continues to grow *Gas gift cards to help with the endless travel to and from appointments for Ken, Little & Big Geoff and herself *Activities for Little Geoff - to give him time maintaining a normal-ish childhood and provide him that social structure he needs *Babysitting/child care a few nights a month to allow Auntie Nancy a break *Light cleaning/tidying home help