Facing a week of tests in Since Christopher
Williams’ diagnosis of primary central nervous system lymphoma limited
the movement of his left side and robbed him of his energy to continue
work at Nucor, where he drove the train by remote control.Birmingham, the Elkmont couple struggled to find a solution. “Every little boy’s dream job,” Williams’ wife, Lana Williams, said — finances were strained.
They couldn’t afford a hotel in Birmingham, and they couldn’t travel the two hours daily to and from UAB Hospital, further depleting Christopher Williams’ energy, the energy he needed as he prepared to undergo a stem cell treatment, vital after chemotherapy created toxicity in his liver.
Enter Hope Lodge. Financed by the American Cancer
Society, Hope Lodge provides patients a free place to stay. Every cent
of the $1,000-a-night place, which includes lodging, food and laundry,
is raised through Relay for Life events.
“I have no clue what we would have done if there was no Hope Lodge,” Lana Williams said. “It was such a wonderful blessing. Not only did we have a place to stay, we connected with other families going through cancer who knew exactly what we were going through. I still talk to some of them every day.”
“We had heard about Relay for Life and we have driven through Athens and seen the event going on, but we really had no idea what it was all about. Until you go through it personally, you have no clue how much Relay for Life does,” Lana Williams said.
“I have no clue what we would have done if there was no Hope Lodge,” Lana Williams said. “It was such a wonderful blessing. Not only did we have a place to stay, we connected with other families going through cancer who knew exactly what we were going through. I still talk to some of them every day.”
“We had heard about Relay for Life and we have driven through Athens and seen the event going on, but we really had no idea what it was all about. Until you go through it personally, you have no clue how much Relay for Life does,” Lana Williams said.
On Friday night, Christopher and Lana Williams will participate in the Decatur-Morgan County Relay for Life at Ingalls Harbor as members of the Nucor Steel Decatur team. They, along with hundreds of participants representing more than 60 teams, will walk to pay for Hope Lodge stays, wigs, rides to treatment, the 24-hour help line, scholarships to young cancer survivors and research, in hopes of one day curing the disease. The Relay for Life of Limestone County-Athens, featuring 25 teams, also will take place Friday.
To read complete Decatur Daily article:
Hope Through Relay
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