One year ago as the holiday season started, Randall Weekes experienced such intense stomach pain that he went to the Cox South ER. Tests revealed lesions in his spine and pelvis. A follow-up colonoscopy indicated large B-Cell lymphoma. Randall told us, “The first thing that came to my mind was, “How on earth will I be able to keep earning a living? We didn’t  know how we would pay doctor bills or insurance copays. It was more than tight, coming out financially in the red every month.”

Randall was cautioned about working during treatment, because of lymphoma and chemotherapy causing him to be extremely immunocompromised. Plus, there were still great probabilities for contracting COVID-19. “So not only was I facing the difficult days of cancer treatment, but I also had little hope of ever being able to provide a living again. Even if returning to work became possible, it would have to be cut back quite a bit from the effects of my illness,” says Randall.  That is when a case worker shared with Randall the opportunity to receive a grant from the CoxHealth Foundation. “I applied and received a gift. Just at the time that others are giving, I was given to! My wife and I are so grateful for this financial help able to climb out from under this financial burden. We feel like someone wrapped their arms around us and told us it would be ok. It is going to be ok.”  It is thanks to donors to the CoxHealth Foundation’s 31 Patient Service Funds that we can SERVE our patients with gifts that put the focus back on getting well. This Giving Tuesday, Randall is giving back himself with gratitude for a new lease on life. To support more patients like Randall this Giving Tuesday, click this link:  https://www.coxhealthfoundation.com/to-give/donate-now/