Fundraiser for Stryker_11A's widow and his sons: She has terminal cancer.

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Fundraiser for Stryker_11A's widow and his sons: She has terminal cancer. (Page 1 of 5)

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:06:08 PM EDT

This has been cleared with Striker.

Many of you who were around 2012 ETA 2011 and prior probably remember Stryker_11A (real name Pat Smith). He died in a motorcycle accident in November 2012 ETA 2011, IIRC. (I can't believe it's been that long)

His wife was just diagnosed with terminal cancer at the age of 47.

Pat didn't have much in the way of family. Neither does his wife, Mariah.

Pat and Mariah had two sons, both very young when Pat died.

Pat was a character, in a good way. Mariah never really recovered from the shock of Pat's death.

After Pat died, Mariah took the boys back to Canada (she is Canadian).

They are now going to be orphans.

See link below. Text is cut and paste from the gofundme site.

I believe Julie Connoly is Maria's doctor.

If you can't contribute because finances won't allow, remember them in your prayers.

Primus

Link: https://www.gofundme.com/mariahandfamily?ssid=778152795&pos=2
Text:

Two beautiful kids originally lost their veteran father in a motor vehicle accident. Their mother, Mariah, is now terminal with cancer. We need any help available.
My name is Julie and I'm hoping that anyone with the means to give, can find it in your heart to help these 2 young brothers.
Mariah?s Battle with Cancer
Mariah is a beautiful mother. She is 47 years old. She developed a huge deep venous thrombosis, presenting as arm pain in early October 2016. It spanned three large veins in her left shoulder area, including her axillary, subclavian and jugular. It was found to be Cancer.
Upon further imaging, it has been found that she has extensive tumours in her lungs and mediastinum, surrounding her heart. Moreover, her liver is full of metastatic tumours. The primary source of the cancer is unknown but it appears to be from the lung. She is a lifetime non-smoker and previously she was a respiratory therapist.
Without treatment she may have as little as 4-6 months to live. With treatment, she may have as much as one year.
The Father
The boy?s father passed away due to a motor vehicle accident on his way to work ( http://articles.philly.com/2011-11-02/news/30350575_1_iraq-war-beiji-first-battalion ).
The Plan
With no current guardian for the children, Mariah has to make huge decisions about their future. She is focusing her remaining time on her sons and is not working. She is living with the funds from her late husband's insurance which is depleting.
Any funds would be used for funeral arrangements, legal fees for guardianship, care, and a protected trust for the children?s future.
Please do what you can to help Mariah and her family. Any contribution will be very much appreciated.
Please help by sharing!
Julie Connolly

ETA Pat's Obituary from 2012 2011

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:11:50 PM EDT

[#1]

Good Lord!

In for $25 for now. Will consider more pending a review of my current budget.

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:14:21 PM EDT

[#2]

Horrible. Prayers inbound.

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:16:11 PM EDT

[#3]

Quote History

Quoted:
Good Lord!

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Fuck cancer

The family will be in my prayers

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:17:42 PM EDT

[#4]

Those poor kids. Do they have any family or are they going into the system?

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:20:31 PM EDT

[#5]

Quote History

Quoted:

Those poor kids. Do they have any family or are they going into the system?

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My understanding is very little in the way of family and the one available adult is not suitable guardian material.

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:21:06 PM EDT

[#6]

Jesus.

I've had some shit going on lately and this puts it into perspective.

That poor family and those poor children.

Praying.

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:26:55 PM EDT

[#7]

Serious question. Is the site safe to donate to? I haven't used it before.

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:27:32 PM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:

My understanding is very little in the way of family and the one available adult is not suitable guardian material.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
Those poor kids. Do they have any family or are they going into the system?

My understanding is very little in the way of family and the one available adult is not suitable guardian material.

Oh for fucks sake. I remember when their dad died, this is a complete shit sandwich. I'll throw cash at the fund when I get paid, but is there anything else we can do. Those boys have been through enough.

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:27:59 PM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:
Serious question. Is the site safe to donate to? I haven't used it before.

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Yes gofundme is legit.

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:28:07 PM EDT

[#10]

Quote History

Quoted:
Serious question. Is the site safe to donate to? I haven't used it before.

View Quote

I've never had a problem with gofundme, it's a very common and well established charitable giving site.

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:28:16 PM EDT

[#11]

This needs a sticky or pinned to the top of the page.

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:29:51 PM EDT

[#12]

Wow.

Will assess finances tonight and hopefully be able to hit for $87.

Prayers for our extended Arf family.

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:30:05 PM EDT

[#13]

I lost mom and dad when I was 19, this hits home pretty hard. Prayers out.

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:33:18 PM EDT

[#14]

What a shit sandwich to be dealt.

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:33:49 PM EDT

[#15]

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Quoted:
I lost mom and dad when I was 19, this hits home pretty hard. Prayers out.

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My mom was 47 when she lost her battle with cancer. I was 21 and I still miss her and wish she could have been around for guidance. And these kids are so much younger. My heart aches for them.

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:34:18 PM EDT

[#16]

General location in Canada? Is there a contact for her or the woman starting the gofundme?

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:36:28 PM EDT

[#17]

I'm in for $50, easiest thing I've done all day. That really sucks.

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:38:14 PM EDT

[#18]

I can spare $50 this pay period.

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:38:45 PM EDT

[#19]

Quote History

Quoted:
Serious question. Is the site safe to donate to? I haven't used it before.

View Quote

gofundme is legit.

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:40:16 PM EDT

[#20]

If one of you will adopt the children, I can donate some money to help with adoption costs.

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:41:15 PM EDT

[#21]

Tag this for pay day

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:41:23 PM EDT

[#22]

That's awful

Fuck cancer

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:41:49 PM EDT

[#23]

Donated and posted to Facebook.

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:41:56 PM EDT

[#24]

In for some spare money. That's very sad.

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:43:31 PM EDT

[#25]

OP, I'd suggest putting the title in bold letters, and seeing if staff can put one of those color bar things to make it more visible. Don't get it tacked, because it will get overlooked, a bold titled thread with a red bar though will get noticed.

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:44:00 PM EDT

[#26]

Sub

I'll be sending 25 tonight

More later maybe

Thank you primus bringing this to,people's attention.

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:45:14 PM EDT

[#27]

What a tragic story. Just sent a small donation. If I get a good check tomorrow, I will send more.

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:46:40 PM EDT

[#28]

Very sad news. I remember Stryker's passing.

I'll do what I can.

My prayers are with Mariah and her boys.

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:47:24 PM EDT

[#29]

I hope this does NOT get tacked. Most people just browse without noticing. If it just keep being bumped, it'll get much more views.

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:48:09 PM EDT

[#30]

Prayers sent. I am a bit crunched due to my upcoming wedding but can kick in what I can.

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:52:37 PM EDT

[#31]

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:53:22 PM EDT

[#32]

That really sucked the wind out of my lungs. I gave some, but man, I don't even.

I'm going to cry it out after I put my babies to bed tonight.

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:56:56 PM EDT

[#33]

Man that is a truly tragic situation.

Posted: 10/23/2016 6:59:03 PM EDT

[#34]

Quote History

Quoted:
If one of you will adopt the children, I can donate some money to help with adoption costs.

View Quote

Primus, Medicfrost, I'll step up and offer to foster them.

Look for an incoming message from me.

Posted: 10/23/2016 7:00:19 PM EDT

[#35]

Dang

Words alone can't express how bad I feel for her and her kids.
I come from a decent size family and it's things like this that really make you grateful for them.

Definitely need to sticky it. Need to find my wallet when I get home.

Posted: 10/23/2016 7:00:26 PM EDT

[#36]

Quote History

Quoted:

Primus, Medicfrost, I'll step up and offer to foster them.

Look for an incoming message from me.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
If one of you will adopt the children, I can donate some money to help with adoption costs.

Primus, Medicfrost, I'll step up and offer to foster them.

Look for an incoming message from me.

wow

that you are awesome

I hope this works out

Posted: 10/23/2016 7:00:58 PM EDT

[#37]

I sent a little bit.

Stryker_11A unknowingly did a service for one of my guys while I was deployed to Afghanistan. Styker_11A picked his KIA brother up from a different unit and transported him back to a FOB in Iraq. It didn't affect me personally other we sent our guy home from Afghanistan to tend his brother, but I still remember Stryker_11A memorializing him here.

Posted: 10/23/2016 7:03:02 PM EDT

[#38]

Will the Gofundme go for fostering costs?

Posted: 10/23/2016 7:06:18 PM EDT

[#39]

I'll send money and prayers. My wife had cancer. Cancer SUCKS.

Posted: 10/23/2016 7:06:39 PM EDT

[#40]

Just out of curiosity, how old are the boys?

Posted: 10/23/2016 7:06:56 PM EDT

[#41]

Damn. Prayers going out for the family and a donation will follow when the retirement checks hit this and next week.

Posted: 10/23/2016 7:07:59 PM EDT

[#42]

Quote History

Quoted:

Just out of curiosity, how old are the boys?

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Off the top of my head, like 8 and 10.

I think the oldest was 6 when he died.

I'm not mentioning them by name because they're minors.

Posted: 10/23/2016 7:08:39 PM EDT

[#43]

I hope there is family to step in and take the kids. That is a horrible situaiton.

Posted: 10/23/2016 7:08:49 PM EDT

[#44]

Heads up folks! GoFundMe converts your donation to Canadian $'s so a $10 donation becomes only about $7.5 U.S.

Posted: 10/23/2016 7:10:34 PM EDT

[#45]

Oh dear Lord. One of the saddest things I've ever read.

Posted: 10/23/2016 7:10:37 PM EDT

[#46]

Quote History

Quoted:
Damn. Prayers going out for the family and a donation will follow when the retirement checks hit this and next week.

View Quote

Early teens I would think.

Posted: 10/23/2016 7:13:15 PM EDT

[#47]

Quote History

Quoted:

Primus, Medicfrost, I'll step up and offer to foster them.

Look for an incoming message from me.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
If one of you will adopt the children, I can donate some money to help with adoption costs.

Primus, Medicfrost, I'll step up and offer to foster them.

Look for an incoming message from me.

You will never pay for a drink when you're with any Arfcommers!

Posted: 10/23/2016 7:14:05 PM EDT

[#48]

Quote History

Quoted:
Heads up folks! GoFundMe converts your donation to Canadian $'s so a $10 donation becomes only about $7.5 U.S.

View Quote

I saw that when I donated and kicked the amount I gave up to make the difference. Good idea to post it.

Posted: 10/23/2016 7:14:05 PM EDT

[#49]

Quote History

Quoted:

Will the Gofundme go for fostering costs?

View Quote

I'm not calling the shots there, but whatever is raised I'm assuming will be triaged.

Mariah is dying and was working right up until she had the diagnosis, as I understand it. I think that's the immediate near term. I have no idea how Canada handles that sort of thing.

I'm loathe to speculate, all I know is that it's not going to be used for frivolous stuff.

This just happened last week.