love heals: Valerie Coffey (1979-2025)

A mother & son duo like no other.

On November 17, 2022, Valerie received a Stage 4 colon and liver cancer diagnosis. Before her life drastically changed, she loved nothing more than being hard at work. Valerie was well-loved (and good) at her store supervisor position for different local stores such as Super Dollar, F&L, and Gabe's. She was working at Gabe's when she first found out about her diagnosis

Since then, she has needed to undergo biweekly chemotherapy treatments due to the aggressive nature of her cancer and is no longer able to work at the job she loves. Not only has Valerie fought tirelessly to be placed on the list for a new liver, but she needed to have her colon entirely removed over the span of the last two years. By the time she received approval for a transplant, 90% of her liver had been destroyed by the cancer threatening to take over her body. Now, after her name is submitted, it becomes a long and strenuous waiting game. 

There are two outcomes in this waiting game; Valerie will be able to get a new liver, or she will continue with biweekly chemo until she passes (this is how we pray for her, how we fight for her when she does not have the strength to fight for herself). 

Unfortunately, during this limbo period of looking for a new liver, disability only covers 3 of her 5 monthly bills. This has left Valerie scrambling and uncertain on how she will stay afloat, forcing her to sell her household items to keep up with the bills that seem to be almost never ending. 

Our goal was to cover those 2 outstanding bills for an entire year, giving Valerie some peace of mind during her fight for life.

Together, with all of the community and support that was shown, we were able to reach 100% of that goal! With $1,200 in groceries and home supplies, 5 months of phone coverage, and 12 months of insurance, we were able to give Valerie some relief in this time of stress and uncertainty shes facing.

Sadly, Valerie's cancer battle ended on April 22nd, 2025. We were able to gift the family the remainder of her funds to help alleviate funeral expenses.

Though her story didn't get the ending we hoped, we were so grateful to get to be a small part of it.