Having one household member dealing with a disabling back injury is already a huge burden on a family. Now imagine that a month into this ordeal, the only other wage earner is diagnosed with cancer. While this situation may seem highly improbable, Raimondas and Ligita today are faced with these exact circumstances.
Ligita is a dear friend, a mother to her fifteen-year-old son, a wife to a wonderful man Raimondas and so much more. She is a member of the American-Lithuanian diaspora living in the Bay Area and an active member in the Venture Christian Church. It was only twenty years ago when the couple won green cards in a lottery and migrated to the United States to achieve the coveted American dream. Like many first-generation immigrants, Ligita and Raimondas moved to America alone and have no extended network of family support. Those that have been fortunate enough to befriend the family know of their hard work and honesty, and have all been blessed by their friendship. They have never hesitated to lend their skills or time to others, and have turned every day into an adventure. Ligita was planning a trip for herself and her son to visit family in her hometown of Biržai, Lithuania, when her world came crashing down.
For those of us who know Ligita, we still grapple with the horrific diagnosis she has recently received from her doctor. She was diagnosed with Stage IV metastatic stomach cancer. She is only forty years old. It is the diagnosis that nobody wants to ever hear, at any age.
Ligita is devastated, families across the Atlantic are distraught, and those who know her are in disbelief. Ligita is preparing for a difficult road ahead; rounds of chemotherapy, radiation, and possible surgery.
Had this “just” been the back injury of Raimondas or Ligita’s cancer, the family would have been able to persevere and come through for one another as they always have. However, they have now lost all forms of income. They still must pay rent, monthly bills, and everyday expenses while living here in the Bay Area. Ligita and her family need help and support more than ever.
This is where you can help. We are doing this fundraising on behalf of Ligita and her family to help alleviate the financial burden of medical expenses. Please donate to Ligita’s cause for however much you can to help and support Ligita and her family in this time of need. Any donation will help to ensure that this family is taken care of and can focus on Ligita and her medical condition.
Please, do not hesitate to pass this fundraising link and story around through email and all forms of social media. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.
Thank you so much,
Ligita and Raimondas’ friends
