When your family receives a Light of Hope Family Grant from us, you instantly become part of the BHH family. We don’t care about how much money you make, whether you are a man, woman, or child, or what type of cancer you have. Joining our BHH family means that we’re right there with you on the front lines while you are battling cancer.

We are honored to introduce you to our very first family blogger, Joanne.

Joanne O’Rourke stumbled across the BHH website one day while doing research on the internet after being diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer.  When she contacted us, we told her that she qualified for the Cis B. Golder Quality of Life Grant, which is a joint effort between our organization and Living Beyond Breast Cancer.

This is Joanne’s story

I had been referred to many cancer foundations for support and financial help, but honestly, the realization of the urgency was just not there with other organizations I had connected with.  It all seemed so difficult; there were so many forms to fill out and then being told that “we can’t guarantee you the help unless you earn a certain amount of money.

I was beginning to lose hope of getting the help I needed when I stumbled across the BHH website.

When you have children to take care of, and the unexpected medical bills are coming in, your pay is all relative.  As a single mother, it was already difficult to make ends meet.  Then the cancer struck, and it felt like my whole world was falling apart.  Bringing Hope Home is amazing!!!  It was not just a hand out.  Amy Forkin made me feel loved like a family member the first time we spoke.  There was never any doubt in my mind once Amy and I spoke that I was not going to get help.  I could barely catch my breath with the bills and just to have the help with two essential bills relieved so so much stress.  I can’t thank her and the organization enough.

To be a victim of cancer is an out of body experience. You know that cancer is all around you, but you never think it will one day be you.

Once you hear the news, you become numb and helpless.  Stress of any kind is not good for any of us, but when you have cancer, you need to stay healthy on all levels.  I want others to know that there is help out there.  The world is filled with so much bad, but I am here to say loud and clear, that there are wonderful people that were sent from heaven to help us, the folks that were unfortunate to be struck with this horrible disease.  My eyes fill up with tears to know that complete strangers reached out to me to make sure my family was okay.

I will never ever forget you all.  God bless!!!!

Pictured is the the beautiful Joanne this past Christmas with her gifts that were donated to the 2012 BHH Gift Drive.  To meet some of the other families we have helped, check out our Stories of Hope section of our website and be on the lookout for our next Family Blogger!