In Times of Need, Northeast Pennsylvania comes to the aid of its own. In our regular column, we provide a platform for area residents facing a variety of obstacles to create awareness and connect them with much-needed help
Who: Finley Fuller of Taylor has filled a number of roles in her family since she born on Nov. 7, 2017. She’s a daddy’s girl to Gary Fuller; the official giver of sass to her mom, Jolene Flesher; mother hen to her twin, Rowan, and their little sister Rielly, 5 months; and she idolizes her older sister Aria, 4. The silly trickster loves “Muppet Babies,” “The Little Rascals” and the book “Giraffes Can’t Dance” and is rarely caught in a bad mood despite some serious health problems. Finley was diagnosed with a cerebral cavernous malformation in her cerebellum and is headed to Boston Children’s Hospital on Saturday, Aug. 24, ahead of pre-op testing, which will include a sedated MRI, under the care of Dr. Edward R. Smith and staff. Finley’s parents will meet with the surgical team in the days that follow before their daughter undergoes an operation on Aug. 28. Finley will be required to stay in the hospital for at least five days after her procedure, and her parents have agreed to donate her malformation for medical research.
What/when/where: A GoFundMe.com campaign is active and accepting donations, and checks payable to Gary Fuller can be sent to Funds for Finley, P.O. Box 3753, Scranton, PA 18505.
Why: Proceeds will be used to cover lodging, travel and food expenses for the family while they are in Boston for Finley’s surgery and subsequent follow-up appointments. The money also will be used to pay medical bills not covered by insurance. Any remaining funds will be donated by the family to Angioma Alliance to continue medical research on malformations similar to Finley’s.
In their own words: “Community support would mean peace of mind while we are with Finley at the hospital and while our other children are close by in a safe environment, so that we don’t have to worry about medical bills piling up or travel expenses. We can focus solely on Finley, her recovery and our family.” — Jolene Flesher and Gary Fuller, parents
Submitted Photo
Kelly Moran Davis
Update: With a huge community turnout and more than 100 donated baskets raffled off, Kelly’s Krusade — a benefit held Sunday for lymphoma patient Kelly Moran Davis — was a big success. A recent PET scan revealed that though her mediastinal mass remains present at 2 cm, Davis showed no signs of active cancer, she shared. As she awaits news of radiation treatment, donations for her still can be made payable to Kelly’s Krusade and mailed to or dropped off at Honesdale National Bank, 202 Betty St., Eynon, PA 18403, or any other Honesdale bank branch.
Patrice Wilding is a 13-year employee of the Lifestyles Dept. at The Times-Tribune, where she worked her way up from a clerk to a web video producer to a full-time reporter, writer and copy editor. An Olyphant native, she graduated from Mid Valley Secondary Center and earned a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies with concentration in media arts, political science and communications from Wesley College, Dover, Delaware. She lives in Clarks Summit with her husband, Justin, and their son, Johnny. Contact: pwilding@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5369; @pwildingTT
