TOWN OF TONAWANDA, NY- Individuals and businesses are finding ways to help the Town of Tonawanda family whose strength, bravery and faith has tugged at heartstrings.
A woman from Orchard Park, who was on vacation in Florida, called WGRZ reporter Melissa Holmes last week to say she saw the Vaillancourt's story and wanted to do something to help. Hours later she bought them a brand new van.
The website 26Shirts.com, which sells a different Buffalo themed t-shirt every two weeks, moved the Vaillancourts to the top of its waiting list, so every $8 from shirts sold in the next 14 days will go to the family.
Those are just two of the countless acts of kindness for the family facing immense struggles. Kim and Phil Vaillancourt's story has moved people around the country. The couple has two biological children and they had been fostering 3 sisters for the last few years. The girls all had a difficult childhood, and the middle sister, Josie, has no arms and no legs.
Two days before Christmas, Kim and Phil officially adopted the girls. On Christmas morning, Kim went to the hospital complaining of headaches and nausea, and two days later she was diagnosed with Grade 4 Glioblastoma, an incurable brain cancer. She had emergency surgery to remove two brain tumors, and she chose to postpone chemotherapy and radiation to protect the health of her unborn baby.
While Kim's last three bi-monthly MRIs have showed the cancer has not returned, doctors believe it will come back, and now the family is preparing for a life possibly without Kim.
The Vaillancourts are simply asking for prayers, but people have given that and more. The Go Fund Me site, set up by a family friend, is now over $125,000.
People like the anonymous donor of the van, big enough to fit their soon-to-be family of 8, say they were touched, and inspired to help.
"I wanted to make sure they were in something where they don't have to worry about that anymore. It's done. It's finished and they can concentrate in the more important things in their life," said the donor. "When somebody meets the problems they've had with her cancer, I think there is nothing else to do in this world but to reach out and help in any way you can. And that's what really moved me. "
The woman who says she has an adopted child and adopted grandchildren of her own, also says she plans to help pay for Josie's prostheses as she grow.
"I was just in shock. We were just so surprised that someone was so generous to do such a act of kindness It's just a true blessing from God for us," said Phil.
26Shirts.com founder Del Reid said he had numerous requests from the public to feature the Vaillancourts as a beneficiary. He hopes the sale of the "We Want Scott" t-shirt - referencing the fans' chant for Buffalo Bills kicker Scott Norwood upon returning from Super Bowl XXV- will provide an added boost to their bank account, and more importantly, their spirits.