Rhoda Williams, who recently turned 40, is from Lake Babine Nation but lives in Prince George with her family. Williams has four children ages 12, 15, 17 and 19.
In 2010, Williams was diagnosed with primary biliary cirrhosis, a kind of cirrhosis caused by damage to the bile ducts in the liver. Since the start of the year, Williams has been in and out of hospitals, which has put a strain on her family.
She is now at the Vancouver General Hospital waiting for a liver transplant. Three of her children are in Vancouver with her while one of her sons is in Burns Lake.
“She’s much better when she has her family nearby,” said her sister Gloria Berg.
However, William’s family has been struggling to afford staying in Vancouver. In fact, the family has been “couchsurfing,” according to Berg.
“They [the family] have been staying with different people because they cannot afford to stay at a hotel.”
Berg is now trying to raise money to ensure that Williams’ family can be close to their mother during these difficult times.
“They are a young family still and they need their mom,” said Berg. “She just needs enough money for her family to stay comfortably at the hotel next to the hospital; that’s the only thing keeping her spirit up; she just needs her family there.”
Williams is being monitored by a group of specialists in Vancouver, and she has to remain in the hospital until they can find her a liver donor.
Williams’ cousin, Wendy Brown, is doing her part to make sure William’s family stays united. She recently ran from Francois Lake to Burns Lake in an effort to raise money. Brown is planning another run on June 7. Williams' family is also looking for a liver donor.
Berg said her sister deserves all the support she can get because she has always been there for other people when they needed it.
Anyone interested in helping out Rhoda Williams can call Gloria Berg at 250-696-3122.