Through our work with Randi Cairns, the founder of Home Front Hearts which provides advocacy on behalf of, as well as awareness of, the needs of military families, we just learned about a young soldier (a 3rd generation military person–even Mom has served!) who was returned to the States from his second tour of duty in Iraq. Found to be suffering from an aggressive brain tumor (Randi tells us this is not so rare among more and more soldiers serving in that region) "Dave" has recently undergone surgery and radiation and is now in the midst of a difficult chemotherapy regimen which will hopefully put his cancer in remission.

What happens to Dave’s family while all of this is going on? He is being treated at a military hospital thousands of miles from home and his illness is not considered an injury so he is dealt with differently than those who have sustained injuries. In this soldier’s case, his Mom has left her home and her job to be at his side, and while she did receive some military benefits (as a "non-medical attendant") those have now ended. She is behind in her rent, her car payment and has nothing left in her savings.

Randi shared the following exchange with Dave’s Mom:

… I also have rent due and a car payment. If you have any funds, those are my needs. If you don’t have any means to help me, then I certainly understand. I know that God will somehow make sure our needs are provided for. After all, he sends people my way just like you! Just when I don’t think I can make it … it happens. No matter what Randi, I’ll never lose my faith and that is important. I’ve quickly learned to put things in their proper perspective. God, family and all the rest! :)"

The Good People Fund has stepped in and paid the overdue rent and next car payment. After all, isn’t it the least we can do on behalf of a soldier and his family?