After Christmas 2023, seven-year-old Lincoln from Lapeer began a yearlong cancer journey that would culminate in his recent diagnosis of brain cancer. His first diagnosis, glioma of the spine, meant Lincoln would endure two surgeries to remove a 10” tumor over the summer.

During the six weeks that he was hospitalized, his parents both took off work to care for him and his three siblings.  They both had full-time jobs and had enjoyed the purchase of a new home just prior to Lincoln’s symptoms appearing.  When Lincoln was declared tumor-free in August, the family hoped to move past his illness, and his parents returned to work.

However, cancer had other plans. In October, an MRI showed a tumor in Lincoln’s brain. He required chemo treatments and surgery, so his parents are now trying to juggle work with being by his side through it all.  Fortunately, mom works at a company that has taken the Working with Cancer Pledge to support employees living with cancer, allowing her to be with her son for many of his appointments. Dad has had to cut back to working part-time.

They are worried about finances and are at least a month behind on most everything – mortgage, car and utilities. Grocery bills have become an additional stress. New Day Foundation for Families, based in Rochester Hills, is helping Lincoln’s family to stay in their home this winter, keep the heat on and put food on the table. The family also participated in New Day’s Hope for the Holidays Program, with the whole family will receiving gifts from a generous donor!

New Day Foundation for Families is a cancer support organization that provides financial and emotional resources to Michigan families facing cancer. Based in Rochester Hills, New Day pays critical living expenses (direct to creditors), offers referrals to professional counselors and provides grocery support to help patients maintain medical compliance and improve quality of life.

New Day is committed to helping families alleviate financial toxicity, a harmful side effect that creates significant barriers to treatment and healing. Regardless of socio-economic status, financial toxicity can lead to crippling debt, bankruptcy and disruption to medical treatment, resulting in poor quality of life and reduced chance of overall survival.