About a month and a half ago, our family received news we never expected. My grandpa, Frank Hoffman, was diagnosed with breast cancer. As he went through additional testing, we learned that he is facing much more than we originally knew. The cancer has spread to his bones, including his leg, hips, and spine, and he has also been diagnosed with prostate cancer. Grandpa currently lives with my parents, Dan and Ellen, who have been right by his side through all of this—helping care for him, taking him to appointments, navigating everything that comes with this diagnosis, and most importantly, simply being there with him. If you know my grandpa, you know what kind of man he is. He is the kind of person who would give you the shirt off his back without thinking twice. If you had a problem with a vehicle, needed help with a home project, or honestly just had something that needed figuring out, Grandpa was ready to jump in and help. He is incredibly smart, can fix just about anything, and has more stories than you could ever imagine. He loves telling stories about his childhood, his children growing up, and all of the life he has lived—and I could listen to him tell them over and over again. My parents are very much the same way. They are always willing to show up for the people they love, but none of the three of them are very good at being the ones asking for help. So, I’m doing the asking for them. ❤️ I would love to surprise my parents and Grandpa by filling their home with meals over the coming weeks. My hope is to take one small thing off their plates so they don’t have to worry about planning, grocery shopping, or figuring out what to make for dinner. Instead, that time can be spent resting, breathing, sitting together, and simply enjoying one another. If you are able to provide a meal, it would mean more to me—and to our family—than I could ever properly put into words. Homemade, takeout, something simple… it truly does not matter. Every meal is one less thing they have to think about. And if you happen to deliver your meal yourself, I have one little request: if Grandpa is feeling up to it, stay for a few minutes. Sit down with him. Ask him a question and listen to one of his stories. Ask him about his childhood or what my mom and her siblings were like growing up. Trust me, once you get him started, he’ll take it from there. ❤️ Those conversations and that time together are just as meaningful as the meal itself. I would also love to keep this as much of a surprise as possible for Grandpa, my mom, and my dad, so please help me keep it quiet for now. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for loving my family, thinking of them, praying for them, and helping me give a little bit of that love and care back to three people who have spent so much of their lives giving it to everyone else. It truly means more than you know. With so much love and gratitude, Cassiemarie Cain ❤️
Because Grandpa is immunocompromised, if you or anyone in your household is feeling sick or has recently been sick, we kindly ask that you please skip the visit. You’re still welcome to drop a meal off at the door—we just want to be extra careful about keeping Grandpa healthy and safe. As far as food goes, there aren’t too many restrictions! My dad does have diverticulitis, so red sauces and red meat can sometimes bother him. He also doesn’t eat fish, isn’t a fan of chunky tomatoes, and no spicy foods, please! Otherwise, he’s a pretty basic meat-and-potatoes kind of guy, so simple meals are always a safe bet! ❤️