By Allison Peck
For Rick and Glenda Roasch, the past decade has been defined by doctor's appointments, surgeries, treatments and uncertainty.
The North Platte couple has faced one health challenge after another, all while trying to maintain their home and make ends meet on a fixed income. Along the way, another problem continued to grow above their heads.
Their roof was failing.
According to a nomination submitted on the couple's behalf, water entered the home during rainstorms and when winter snow melted. Replacing the roof was a need the family recognized, but after years of mounting medical expenses, it simply wasn't financially possible.
The nomination described Glenda as a woman who has spent years fighting cancer.
Her health struggles began long before her first cancer diagnosis. After undergoing back surgeries more than two decades ago, she was diagnosed with mouth and throat cancer in 2015. Surgeons removed a portion of her tongue, followed by extensive radiation treatments.
In 2022, she was diagnosed with lung cancer and underwent surgery and additional radiation. A year later, doctors discovered a tumor in her throat. Then, in 2024, she was diagnosed with both lung and throat cancer once again.
Since then, Glenda has undergone additional surgeries, including the removal of nine lymph nodes, while also enduring chemotherapy, immunotherapy and dozens of radiation treatments. She continues to receive treatment every two weeks.
Through it all, family members describe her as a fighter.
Rick has faced serious health challenges of his own. According to the nomination, he lives with a rare lung disease and has undergone surgeries to address blood blockages in his legs and neck. He is also dealing with cataracts in both eyes.
Despite the obstacles, the couple has continued to support one another while remaining devoted to their family.
Glenda is the mother of three, grandmother of seven and great-grandmother of seven. The nomination noted that many people beyond their immediate relatives consider Rick and Glenda family.
Recently, the couple learned they had been selected to receive a new roof from Grandel's Roofing and Construction after their story was submitted for consideration.
For a family that has spent years focusing on medical treatments and day-to-day challenges, the news provides more than just home repairs. It removes a major source of stress and offers some much-needed peace of mind.
After years of fighting battles both inside and outside the home, the Roaschs can finally worry a little less about what is happening above them and focus more on what matters most: their health, their family and the time they share together.