I remember asking Mary Nylen, a good friend of mine to join our Foundation4Love Board of Directors. It was December of 2017 and my husband and I were super excited that Mary and her husband Justin aka JD FINALLY moved back to the east coast after living out in Utah.
Mary was super excited to be part of this nonprofit. She wanted to start being part of the community since their move back and she felt like this was the perfect way.
Little did she know that just 6 weeks later JD would be diagnosed with a Glioblastoma, a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer at the age of 33.
The next year was a whirlwind for both Mary and JD. Receiving most of his treatment in Boston and in the hospital, Mary would bring comfort to her husband by getting a fresh cup of coffee and of course accompanying that cup of coffee with a pastry. Being in Boston, Mary would venture out and try different coffee shops and every morning they would lay in JD's hospital bed together drinking their coffee, being present together, but also knowing that their time together was limited - it was moments like these that the simplest times together ended up being some of the most cherished memories.
On March 12th, 2019 JD passed away in the comfort of his own home with Mary by his side. Mary's idea of JDs Java came to her as she was caring for JD. She wanted to keep his legacy alive somehow and through JD's Java her thought was with Foundation4love we could provide FREE coffee and pastries to cancer patients on the inpatient Oncology unit at Maine Medical Center.
So that's what we did.
Today was our FIRST JDs Java. Each month we will be partnering with a local coffee shop and be visiting the Gibson Pavilion, providing free pastries and coffee to patients, families and staff. This is a simple act of kindness which we hope will bring a smile to ones face (or hopefully lots of faces).
a BIG SHOUT OUT to Arabica coffee shop for being our first partner in JD's Java!
If you would like to volunteer or know a coffee shop that would like to work with us please email us a info@foundation4love.org. Thank you in advance!
Love,
Leah and Sarah
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