THE ROOM was all too familiar: chairs that pulled out for sleeping, fold-up cots, and vinyl-covered couches piled with last night’s pillows. In the corner, half-open suitcases and overnight bags bulged with necessities. It was a space shaped by the bond of family and a love cancer could not diminish. For 13 of the 24 months she battled brain cancer, it was Laura Grace Beck’s world.
She understood the weight and expense of traveling for treatment. Huntsville Hospital and M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston be- came her home away from home.
Hearing that someone wanted to spare his family the expense of seeking an opinion and possible treatment from M. D. Anderson sparked an idea.
Her mother, Susan Beck, shared her reaction. “Mama, I’m going to start a fund for people like that.”
And she did — but she didn’t live to see it.
Immediately after Laura’s death, Laura’s nurse at Huntsville Hospital extended her hand and embraced the family.
“Here, put this in The Grace Fund,” she said, giving a name to the dream Laura never got to see realized.
Her obituary requested donations, stating, “By your grace, we will ensure that our ‘Grace’ continues to touch lives.” For 15 years, she has done exactly that. Donations lend financial assistance to local patients who travel for serious medical care.
One by one, the Beck family connected with those in need.
Laura’s sister, Lindsay Davis, said, “After the inception of The Grace Fund, we began to actively listen for people undergoing medical journeys away from home. Actively listening for people in need of assistance slowly shifts your focus from sorrow to the hope of helping others. You realize that helping others in a similar situation is a way to honor your loved one.”
Susan added, “Helping others through The Grace Fund humbles us as much today as it did 15 years ago. Receiving medical care away from home is isolating and expensive. Donations defray costs, but more importantly, we hope recipients feel their community’s love.”
The Beck family initially directed The Grace Fund through local churches but now partners with the Fabulous Fifties Foundation, expanding its reach. So far, the fund has assisted 52 families with travel, lodging, and food for extended stays at facilities in Milwaukee, Seattle, New York, MD Anderson, St. Jude, and UAB Hospital.
With continued support from friends, family, and the community, more will find hope through Laura Grace’s dream.
“Laura’s spirit lives on with each person The Grace Fund helps. She loved people, and she loved to help! Many times, Laura was so generous with her help that she would volunteer her family to help as well,” Susan recalled fondly.
The family is still helping Laura help people today.
Susan said, “God’s grace is the unmerited favor that He shows us each day. Gifts from The Grace Fund are a tangible way to show its recipients the unmerited favor of God during one of the lowest times in their life.”
And because of Laura’s vision, that grace keeps reaching those who need it most. GN
Donations to The Grace Fund may be sent to the Fabulous Fifties Foundation at The Grace Fund, P.O. Box 934, Fayetteville, TN 37334.
