Solomon Griffin, Sr., husband of Carol Griffin, a second grade Pinetta Elementary School teacher, was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in December of 2011.
Two weeks after being diagnosed, Griffin was required to have a pacemaker and defibrillator and has, since then, continued taking medications.
Though those things are in place, Griffin and his family have undergone many changes to their lives, as Griffin’s heart has grown weaker and weaker over time.
In February of this year, doctors suggested that Griffin be admitted to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville until he receives a heart transplant.
Griffin hasn’t been able to work since his diagnosis and with the distance between the clinic and his family in Madison County, additional strain has been added to the Griffin family.
Carol Griffin, Solomon Griffin’s wife, is frequently driving between Madison County and Jacksonville, so atop the heavy hospital bills, there are payments for items such as gas, lodging, and food during her trips.
Carol and Solomon Griffin have five children, Solomon Griffin, Jr., age 24; Canissia Griffin, age 22; Brandon Crawford, age 21; Coddrick Griffin, age 20 and JaKayla Williams, age 14.
“We have no idea when [Solomon] might receive a heart,” said Carol Griffin. An additional challenge to finding a heart for her husband is his height; Griffin is 6’5 feet tall. “That’s something we never knew would have such a major impact on getting a heart transplant,” said Carol Griffin.
Despite the family’s concerns for their father and husband, Carol Griffin writes that they are trying to patiently wait with a positive attitude, knowing that all things will work out, regardless of the end results.
“This has truly been a challenging time for me and my family; this life-changing experience has taught our family how to be patient and humble at the same time,” said Carol Griffin. “I was once told by a fifth grader that God gives His toughest challenges to His strongest soldiers; this keeps me encouraged to endure with a positive attitude because He has chosen me and my family to deal with this challenge [in order] to help someone else deal with their challenges.”
Carol Griffin also expressed how appreciative her family is of all the love and support that they have received throughout the entire journey.
Brandie Kay, a former Madison County resident who has since moved to Green Lake, Wi., was diagnosed with colon cancer on Feb. 3 of this year.
Realizing she had cancer came as a surprise, as Kay interpreted her side effects as a stomach bug or flu. However, after two days, her husband, Christopher Martin, convinced Kay to go to the emergency room. There, it was discovered that she had a large tumor blocking her colon. Kay underwent an emergency surgical procedure to remove the tumor, but following the surgery and a biopsy, it was discovered that the cancerous cells had already moved to her lymph nodes.
Due to a rare condition called familia adrenosis polyposis (FAP), Kay had to have her colon removed; FAP is a large collection of polyps in her body and is a hereditary condition that she could pass it on to her children.
Now, Kay is on a strict regulation of chemotherapy called Folfox and every other week for three days at a time, Kay must be connected to a pump via a port in her chest.
Kay is a Madison County High School graduate and the mother of three children: Jenna, age 10; Millie, age seven and C.J., age two.
“This will be a lifelong process,” said Kay as she spoke on the two future surgeries she is expecting to have after her chemo sessions, around September of this year. “My children will be checked for FAP once they are 10 years of age,” said Kay, adding that her oldest, Jenna, had her first test during the week of May 22.
Kay herself is the daughter of Madison County residents, Jennifer Covell and Robert Covell. Her grandmother, Glendyle Littleton, is also a Madison County resident.
Her sister, Lindsay Bates, formerly Lindsay Freeman, is currently a resident of Pensacola, Fl.
In order to help these two strong families with the financial burden that they are facing, Sheila Martin, a Madison Veterinary Grooming Department employee who has been in contact with both families created a fundraiser for both the Griffin and Kay family.
For only a $1, individuals can purchase a raffle ticket that will be used as an entry to win either a handcrafted bench rocker, which was donated by Kenneth Hall and Jimmy Taylor, or one of the two cakes donated by Leslie’s Cakes.
The first ticketholder will be given the bench, and the second and third ticketholders will both get a cake.
The fundraiser proceeds will be split evenly between the Kay and Griffin family.
The drawing will be held on Friday, July 1, so individuals within Madison County that wish to assist in bringing a bit of relief to two families who are currently going through so much in their lives have plenty of time to do so.