Holiday Partners helps Rock Hill woman diagnosed with brain tumor, aneurysm
Natarsha has provided for her children by herself since she was 16. But her family’s life changed this fall, when she passed out at work and was diagnosed with a brain tumor and an aneurysm.
“We’ve lost our home; we’ve lost our car,” said Natarsha, 44, who asked to be identified by her first name only. “We lost everything because I was sick. I had to have 24-hour care to take care of me.”
Still, the Rock Hill woman knows she’s lucky to be alive for her 12-year-old son and a 7-year-old granddaughter who lives with them. She also has four older children.
“I could have died,” said Natarsha, who had surgery in October at Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte. “The doctor didn’t expect me to live when he was doing the surgery.”
She is still in treatment and has been unable to return to her job as an assembly worker. But she is happy to be able to provide Christmas gifts for her son and granddaughter through the United Way of York County’s Holiday Partners.
Holiday Partners is a collaborative effort between The Herald’s Empty Stocking Fund and WRHI’s Toys for Happiness that provides toys to brighten the holidays of children across York County.
Donations of cash and toys are needed quickly, said program coordinator Jeanie Dubrouillet, because volunteers begin choosing and packing gifts for families on Dec. 7 and will continue through Dec. 17.
“I greatly appreciate anyone who is able to help my children because I can’t help them right now,” Natarsha said. “And I feel bad, because we have never had to live like that.”
Natarsha is completing 30 radiation treatments to prevent the benign brain tumor from returning. She moved in with relatives, but space is limited, so she sleeps in a chair, while her son sleeps on the floor. Her granddaughter is staying with other family members, she said.
“I have always worked, and I’ve always provided for all of my children,” she said. “They’ve always had their own home and their own room. My life is different. It just changed overnight.”
Holiday Partners serves families with children from birth to age 14. Families who qualify by income can register to receive help at Rock Hill and York locations. Dec. 4 is the last day to sign up for assistance.
The program is supported by cash donations from The Herald’s Empty Stocking Fund and new toys donated to WRHI’s Toys for Happiness. The program also gets donations from businesses and the community.
Natarsha is grateful that other people care enough to help her son and granddaughter at Christmas.
“It means a lot, because they are helping them to at least have something for Christmas, and (helping me) let them know I did love them enough to go through this kind of program.”
Jennifer Becknell: 803-329-4077
Want to help?
Give
▪ Donate to The Herald’s Empty Stocking Fund by mailing donations to or dropping them off at The Herald, 132 W. Main St., Rock Hill, SC 29730. Checks should be made to Empty Stocking Fund, c/o UWYC. For more information on how to contribute, call 803-329-4052.
▪ Donate to Toys For Happiness by dropping off new, unwrapped toys in collection boxes at locations around York County. Local sites include WRHI/Interstate 107 radio stations, 142 N. Confederate Ave., Rock Hill; and the United Way of York County, 226 Northpark Drive, Suite 100, Rock Hill. For information on how to get a donation box placed, call WRHI’s Corree Carelock at 803-324-1340.
Volunteer
Volunteers help the Holiday Partners drive by organizing the toy shop, prepping bags for packing and helping with distribution. For information on how you can help, email HolidayPartnersUW@gmail.com.
Need help?
Dec. 4 is the last day families who need assistance can sign up to receive toys for their children through the program. Here’s where you need to go:
Rock Hill – Family Resource Center, Parent Smart, 410 E. Black St., 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; 803-980-2079. Bilingual assistance available.
York – Family Resource Center, Parenting Partnerships, 37 Pinckney St., 8:30 a.m. to noon; 803-684-1504.
What you need to know to sign up
▪ York County residents only.
▪ Applicant must be a parent or legal guardian.
▪ For children birth to 14 years old.
What you must bring with you
▪ Your photo ID.
▪ Proof of income.
▪ Your DSS family print-out; or your Social Security card, and a Social Security card and birth certificate for each eligible child.
To ensure that there are enough toys available to meet growing needs throughout York County, please sign up at only one location and with no other assistance program.
Information: unitedwayofyc.org or 803-980-TOYS (8697).
This story was originally published November 25, 2015 at 1:53 PM with the headline "Holiday Partners helps Rock Hill woman diagnosed with brain tumor, aneurysm."