Client 57: Cars & Cancer

As the New Year gets rolling, so will Adrian!

Jackie, one of our board members, handing over the keys to Adrian.

Last week on Jan 9th, we had our first car donation of 2026 and wow, it is good to be back doing what we love! Meet Adrian. A mother. A hard worker. A friend. A member of our community. And someone who was in need of a hand-up in the midst of the fight of her life.

Beginning in late 2024 Adrian’s world slowly began to turn upside down. Already a single mother, she lost her car due to expensive mechanical issues forcing her to become dependent on ride-shares and lengthy public transportation options just to get to work and her daughter to school. As mental and financial pressures mounted, she eventually lost her apartment in early 2025. Without a place to stay and no car, Adrian turned to My Health My Resources of Tarrant County (the organization that eventually nominated her to OnRamp DFW) for temporary housing and mental health care.

Despite all of this, Adrian continued working hard at her job as a full time security guard, as well as raising her teenage daughter — only to be met later in the year with a breast cancer diagnosis.

Adrian with Tamia, her Advocate from MHMR

When we think about the hardships some of our clients go through, normal day-to-day activities stick out: going to work, the grocery store, school, church, etc. But think for a moment about having to get to a chemotherapy session with no car. The anxiety on the way there and the queasiness & physical exhaustion on the body afterwards. Add to that having to take off work every two weeks while trying to navigate unreliable transportation options and you have the reality that Adrian found herself in by mid-2025.

When Tamia, Adrian’s advocate from MHMR spoke about her, two words kept coming up: determined and hopeful. Adrian continues to wake up each day, love her family well, fight for her health, go to work, and seek out new opportunities to move forward in life.

Another beautiful donated car

Despite the cold January morning, we met in front of the Garland Tax Office to celebrate Adrian, pray over her, and hand over the keys to her beautiful red Toyota Corolla, a vehicle that was donated to us by a generous local family. This car will not only allow her to finish up her chemotherapy, but will allow her and her daughter to stay safe and warm as they travel around this winter as well as move on from their housing at MHMR. As we handed over the keys, Adrian was radiant. She spoke of how this year is filled with so much more hope than last year already.

Adrian, we are praying for you. That this car would serve you well and that you would feel the love and grace of Jesus. That He is for you and that He is with you. We are too.

Story and pictures shared with the clients permission.