Struggles with illness cloud holiday season

Being a mom with a serious illness is never easy, but during the holiday season it becomes particularly challenging.

This is the second year this mother of three girls has experienced sadness and stress as Christmas approaches.

"I want nothing more than to be able to provide for my daughters on my own, but I can't work because I'm too weak by the end of the day to hold a job," she told Press Christmas for All.

She said she hoped her situation would have improved by this Christmas season, but the cancer she is battling has spread to her lymph nodes.

Her daughters, she said, are wonderful girls who work very hard to excel in school and in sports. Her youngest is 6, the other two are teens.

"I try to stay strong and not show my illness," the mom said. "I don't want their memories to be of me sick but rather of me cheering them on."

She said this time of year is particularly hard because most holiday charity efforts do not offer anything for her older daughters. She said her teens would go without gifts for Christmas, if not for Christmas for All.

"I'm so proud of my girls," she said.

Her oldest child has worked for the past year while maintaining her grades in high school. The middle girl is the athlete. She's heavily into sports, the mom said, but manages to hold a nearly 4.0 GPA.

"It's hard for me to ask for help, especially when I know that there are so many families having their own troubles during this time of year, but I'll do anything for my girls," the mom said.

With our readers' assistance, Press Christmas for All works to brighten the holidays for people like this - the jobless, homeless, those who are barely making ends meet, individuals with disabilities or illnesses. Many are alone this holiday season.

Each year, our generous readers' donations allow us to assist thousands of Kootenai County families in need. Each day until Christmas, we will share the stories of those whose holiday memories will be a little happier because of Press Christmas for All.

Donations are collected, then distributed in the form of gift cards to Kootenai County residents in need.

Press Christmas for All is a holiday charity now in its 29th year. It is managed as a nonprofit by The Hagadone Corp. Because it is run by volunteers from The Hagadone Corp. and its partners at Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, every penny raised is distributed in the form of gift cards from local retailers who also generously support the program. The cards can be used to buy food and gifts but not alcohol or tobacco products. All contributions are tax deductible.

To give, please send a check to:

Press Christmas for All, 201 Second St., Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814.

You can also call (208) 664-8176 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and donate by credit card.

Donations can be made securely online at www.christmasforallcda.com.

Recent donors include: Shawn and Sarah Swanby; Carol Stott, in memory of Ruth Capellen; Donald Bresemann; Joan Word.