Audio clip
Susan Geary
Katrina Eagle Dunnigan’s life changed overnight when her son JaVario Eagle was diagnosed with malignant cancer almost two years ago. She had to quit her job as a cook at Erlanger hospital and make frequent trips to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis for his treatment.
Living on only $700 a month JaVario receives from Supplemental Security Income, the family is struggling to survive, she said.
“Every month I pay my ($550) mortgage, but every month I’m $78 short,” she said.
Mrs. Dunnigan received $250 from the Times Free Press Neediest Cases Fund in October that helped her pay part of the mortgage debt she accumulated over five months. The fund supports the work of the Partnership for Families, Children and Adults.
“I was just in a hard situation, because not only do I have a son who has cancer, but my 18-year-old has seizures,” she said. “My plate is so full to where I had to resign from my job because at one time we were gone (to St. Jude for) 15 months.”
Shortly after JaVario was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer, an oral cancer that tends to spread widely, her son Troy Rayford was diagnosed with chronic seizures.
Since he doesn’t have medical insurance, Mrs. Dunnigan said, she can’t provide him the medication he needs.
Susan Geary, case manager for the 211 neediest cases service, said the Neediest Cases Fund helps anyone with an urgent need.
“I believe in this fund 100 percent, because I see who it helps,” she said.
Seventeen-year-old JaVario said his cancer has put a lot of stress on the family.
“It’s been rough. ... I’m falling behind on my school work a little bit, my momma can’t get a job, and the only income we got is my SSI check and that goes towards paying the bills,” he said. “We’ve been struggling.”
JaVario, who will travel to Memphis in February for eight weeks of treatment, hopes to finish high school and go to college. He said he wants to be a computer technician.
“We’ve never had a computer at home. We can’t afford one,” JaVario said.
“I’m going to try to get him a computer some day,” his mother replied with teary eyes.
Perla Trevizo joined the Chattanooga Times Free Press in 2007 and covers immigration/diversity issues and higher education. She holds a master’s degree in newswire journalism from Universidad Rey Juan Carlos in Madrid, Spain, and a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Texas. In 2011 she participated in the Bringing Home the World international reporting fellowship program sponsored by the International Center for Journalists, producing a series on Guatemalan immigrants for which she ...
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