MAking a Difference
Caregiver Stories & Gifts
We believe that caregivers deserve the chance to “recharge, refresh, and renew,” and the support structure CaringOn developed allows caregivers to accept this special gesture free of worry, stress and financial cost. Through donations from individuals and corporations, CaringOn is able to provide the necessary support and services needed so the caregiver has peace of mind while they enjoy their gift, step away and take care of themselves. This time/respite provides the caregiver with time to refresh, renew, recharge and come back rejuvenated and with a new energy. Below are a handful of the stories from our caregiver gifts.
Honoring the Life of Jennifer Polt
CaringOn is sad to announce the passing of Jennifer Polt, who nominated her husband Rich and her sons Samuel and Ethan for two caregiver gifts from CaringOn to thank them for taking care of her ...
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From Amanda to Tom Raymond
Amanda Raymond, a breast cancer survivor, wanted to thank her husband Tom for taking care of their 13-year-old daughter while she was receiving treatment three hours away. She turned to CaringOn to arrange great seats ...
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From Janine Kupko to Jeff Kupko
Janine Kupko, a young mother of three autistic children aged four to eleven, was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer and is undergoing intensive treatment. She nominated her husband Jeff for a ...
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From Jennifer to Rich Polt and sons
Jennifer Polt, a CaringOn alumni, who gave a gift to her husband Rich and her two sons in 2019 after she was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, nominated them again when her health took a ...
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From Tom Collins to Debra Hill
In March 2025, Debra Hill moved her sick brother Tom Collins from Iowa to Maryland to carefor him. Once living with Debra, Tom was diagnosed with cancer of the tongue. Deb drove him to cancer ...
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From Margo Skenandore to Calissa Powless
Margo Skenandore wanted to thank her daughter Calissa Powless and her boyfriend and Calissa’s father James for taking such good care of her after her mastectomy and chemotherapy for breast cancer. Calissa took time off from ...
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From Sherry Higginbotham to Curtis Grieveson
Sherry Higginbotham has been undergoing treatment at Hopkins for stage 4 brain cancer. She is an optometrist and cannot work because of surgery and chemo and radiation. Along with her mother, her husband Curtis Grieveson ...
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From Kelly Wadle to Melinda Davis
Kelly Wadle nominated her aunt Melinda Davis, a single Mom, for a CaringOn gift. Melinda was the sole caregiver for her sister Nicole Davis throughout her entire life. Nicole had cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, and ...
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Amy Ly to Kayon Hall
Amy Ly, a social worker at Medstar Washington Hospital, nominated Kayon Hall for a CaringOn gift. Kayon is a young woman living and working in Ohio who heard that her estranged father in DC was ...
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From Mark McKenzie to Laura McKenzie
Sina Cook (a CaringOn alumni) helped Mark McKenzie give a gift to his wife, Laura, in consideration of her care after he was shot in the chest by two teenage boys in the backyard of ...
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Johnnette Jasper to Florence Arinaitwe
Johnnette Jasper, a social worker at MedStar Washington Hospital, nominated Florence Arinaitwe for a CaringOn gift in recognition of her dedication to caring for her brother, Chris. Chris, a 52-year-old husband and father of young ...
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From Jessica Oswinkle to Amber Howard
Jessica Oswinkle, a 37 year old single Mom with an 11 year old daughter, works at University of Maryland as a radiology technician. She was diagnosed with a brain tumor in December 2024. Her sister ...
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Scott Riebel to Vickie Riebel
For the last several years, Scott, a decorated Vietnam vet, with his wife Vickie, a special ed teacher, at his side, has courageously fought stage 3 pancreatic cancer, stage 3 liver disease and hepatic encephalopathy. ...
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From Tanya Brown to David Medley
Tanya Brown is a pre-school teacher, mother and grandmother who is currently tackling her second bout with breast cancer, which has spread to her lungs and her bones. She wanted to thank her boyfriend, David ...
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From Mary Zorbach to Karen Varelli
Mary wrote: “Karen Varelli’s husband Steve was diagnosed with ALS a year ago. Karen has been an amazing wife to her husband as well as a wonderful mother to her 3 adult children. ALS only ...
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