Janice Purdy, a case manager at Hospice of the Bluegrass, submitted both LexCare cases this week. In the first, a terminally ill cancer patient needs $520 to pay her rent. The patient needs to complete several rounds of chemotherapy before she can transfer to hospice care. She moved to this area from Eastern Kentucky, where she has a home that she has been unable to sell. She is here to be closer to treatment and so that her daughter can provide care and transportation. Her 50-year-old daughter is employed, but has taken an unpaid leave of absence to care for her mother. At this time the only income is from the mother's Social Security benefit.

The second case involves a married couple who need $158.44 to pay their electric bill. The husband owned a small appliance business that closed last year. The wife works part-time at Kmart. The husband has found full-time employment but has yet to receive his first paycheck. During the time of his job search, the family lived on the wife's earnings and their savings, which are now depleted. Once the utility bill is paid, the couple will again be financially stable.

You can help: Lex-Care Inc., P.O. Box 1328, Lexington, Ky. 40588. Contact Lex-Care at (859) 699-9859 or Lexcare.org.