In an effort to take some pressure off family and friends caring for Verna Wefald, who is battling cancer, she and her husband, j. freelance writer Steve Friedman, are accepting donations to hire a caregiver to help with basic domestic responsibilities and, eventually, physical care.
“Verna shared with her doctors that she’s felt guilty that she can’t do certain things,” said Friedman of San Rafael, adding it’s become nearly impossible for his wife to walk their 4-year-old daughter to her school across the street. “As things progress, we’ll need the caregiver for a whole range of things.”
About four years ago, Wefald, 45, found a lump in her breast. It was stage 3 cancer, meaning it had spread to the lymph nodes. She is still fighting the cancer today.
The couple also has a 12-year-old son.
“The chemotherapy is not working and the cancer is spreading aggressively,” said Friedman, who for years taught at Brandeis-Hillel’s Marin campus and Congregation Kol Shofar. “She’s hoping that the next treatment options work. If they don’t, then her time with us might only be a matter of months.”
An account has been set up at Bank of Marin, 4460 Redwood Highway, San Rafael CA 94903. Checks can be made payable to Steve Friedman or to Verna’s Caregiver Fund.