Kathy has always cared for others. Her career began as a director of a day care center where she worked for many years until the owner of the facility decided to sell the business, leaving Kathy on her own and uninsurable. Kathy became self-employed, using her skills to create a daycare center in her home and continues to do so today.

In 1997, Kathy was diagnosed with oral cancer. She underwent surgery and endured eight weeks of radiation and was cancer free until one year later, her cancer reappeared causing her to undergo a second surgery to remove a tumor in her jaw. She suffered through six weeks of chemotherapy that made her so sick the doctors made her stop. Radiation was once again administered twice a day for another eight weeks. Kathy was declared cancer free until five years later when abnormal cells began to appear again in her mouth. To this day, she still requires expensive treatments and medicines to keep the cancer at bay.

Stoically surviving two bouts of cancer and numerous on-going painful and expensive treatments Kathy continued doing daycare from her home. While the world around her is still asleep, Kathy is up at 3:30 am for her daily hour of prayer followed by lengthy dosing of costly medicines.

It takes her over an hour to eat a tiny breakfast. Then, she prepares for the little ones to arrive and spends the day lovingly attending to their every need. The money she earns caring for children is insufficient to cover both her living and medical expenses.

Because of her health history, Kathy is unable to qualify for health insurance and has been doing her best to pay her medical bills. She has no insurance and has been turned down by Social Security Disability 2 times. She is currently on a list for a hearing to appeal the decision - and that could take up to a year.

Many wonderful people: family, friends, neighbors and the parents of her “kids” have rallied around her. They have supported her with three benefits to help relieve some of the initial medical expenses. Unfortunately, today there are more invasive and expensive treatments needed to repair the radiation damage to her head and neck.

The cancer took most of her tongue and part of her neck resulting in a severe speech impediment and deformity of her neck and throat. The radiation has caused her to loose several teeth and her jaw bone continues to severely deteriorate. The opening in her esophagus is so small she can only eat pea-sized portions of soft foods. Sadly, she can no longer enjoy most of the recipes in this book. Sales from this book will help defray some of the cost of the ongoing treatments she is facing.

It is with deep gratitude and love that Kathy shares her recipes with you.

This cookbook is the brainchild of Kathy’s dear friend, Renate, who has tirelessly supported and encouraged her over the years. She convinced Kathy to share her precious recipe collection to help offset the ongoing expense of her care. Renate now shares with us one of her favorites.

Recipe for Kathy
By Renate Galgano

Ingredients:

1 cup of Understanding
1 heaping cup of Trust
2 cups of Laughter
3 Tablespoons of Joy
3 cups of Love
Dash of Memories

Preheat Heart to 325 degrees. In the largest bowl you can find, combine Understanding, Trust and Joy. Then pour in the Laughter and add all of your Love. Bake in your heart for a lifetime or until Golden. Garnish with memories and enjoy.