Sam Brown, Binghamton, NY

2013 Binghamton ZooneyFest Recipient

Sam Brown, with cancer diagnoses, was employed but has been out of work for 12 weeks and has lost his benefits.

Sam had been working at his place of employment for over 7 years and was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and is now going through chemo and radiation. They just started and will not give him a prognosis until the treatment completes. Needless to say, he has lost 21 pounds in the last 2 weeks and it does not look good for him. He supports his wife and her daughter from a prior marriage.

Sam has been terminated by his employer because he has been out 12 weeks on disability and cannot return to work, but he could get his job back should he become healthy. Sam is day-to-day on paying for living expenses, utilities and rent. It has been difficult for Sam and his family to ask for help as they have always been used to getting through on their own and extending themselves to others, especially the children in their lives, to be a source of strength.