Age: 39 • Stage 4 Hodgkins Lymphoma

Jeremy Kennish has been battling Stage 4 Hodgkins Lymphoma since January of 2011. In that time he has had countless types of chemotherapy, two bone marrow transplants and is currently receiving immunotherapy which is starting to fail.

His ability to stay upbeat throughout all of this has remained a constant inspiration to his wife Liz, their children and many people around them.

Due to his illness and inability to work throughout all of it, he and his wife have had to declare bankruptcy and have had to sell their home to keep their insurance premiums paid.

Their two kids who are now 13 and 14 don't remember a life where their papa wasn't sick. The kids are the light that keeps them moving forward every day.

Liz has been blogging about their story throughout the years. If you would like to read their stories you can find them at ImpassionedLiving.blogspot.com

Merle will be 55 this year and has four adopted children. Over the years she has fostered over 30 babies in her home. She no longer fosters two legged babies but fosters the four legged kind.

She has fostered over 50 dogs the past 3 years. Many were hospice dogs that she has given so much love to at the end of their journey assuring them they were loved as they crossed the rainbow bridge.

Merle was diagnosed with -3, stage 3 breast cancer and started chemo a couple of months ago.

She is constantly fatigued and sick, but she is determined to keep going - she is not ready to say goodbye to her kids.

Being diagnosed with breast cancer has knocked her down. Being a caregiver all her life has made it hard for her to ask for help.

In addition to fighting cancer, Merle was given notice by her landlord that the property she has rented for years is being sold.