To The Editor:
Bad things happen to good people all the time. Judy Quackenbush is a prime example. [private]She’s spent a good portion of her life caring for others. For 10 years she worked with special needs students at HFCS. She and her husband Everett welcomed her mother into their home and for 10 years Judy cared for her and was with her when she died there of cancer. Not too long ago Judy was caring for two elderly men during the day, taking them on outings and spending quality time with them. She and Everett are both active in the Town of Hoosick Lions Club. She’s worked at the HACA Food Closet, is a Relay for Life team member and, over the years, she has donated 93 pints of blood to the American Red Cross.
Her goal was to reach 100 donated pints. That will never happen. Last July Judy developed some health problems that culminated with an ambulance ride to Bennington, followed immediately by another ambulance ride to Albany Medical Center. On August 3 she was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. She spent the next 30 days in Albany Med receiving chemotherapy every day and suffering the side affects such treatment often entails. Since then she has returned to the hospital every six weeks, for a week at a time, where she receives consolidation chemotherapy every day she is there. The end of this month will be her fifth round of treatments. In between sessions friends or family drive her to Troy weekly for blood tests that often entail follow up trips to Albany for platelet replacement or blood transfusions to build her battered blood cells up once again.
Any family that has suffered a catastrophic illness knows that insurance is helpful, but expenses often far exceed the coverage. So, on top of her illness, which is isolating because she is so vulnerable to catching any bug, Judy sits at home and watches the back bills and medical expenses mount. Unbeknownst to the Quackenbushes, a fellow Lion member set up a Go Fund Me page for Judy. The official site is www.gofundme.com/helping-judy-q. Judy is fortunate. She has a very supportive family and many supportive friends. However, she could use some help from the community she loves and has called home for so many years. Financial help most definitely. Moral support as well. As many folks know, it’s easy to get down when you feel poorly and spend too much time alone. Just a note of encouragement or a card to cheer her up would be greatly appreciated. Her address is 318 Bovie Hill Road, Hoosick Falls, NY 12090.
Sincerely,
Bea Peterson [/private]