Friends of Mehringer family plan special benefit
BY MARY LANCASTER
Greg Mehringer gathered up his little daughter on Saturday and reluctantly left his wife Jessica's side at Massachusetts General Hospital where she is undergoing testing for an as yet unknown type of cancer.

"I love my wife and I love my daughter. I said that before, but now I find I'm saying it much more. My daughter and Jessica are the only things I care for," said Greg Mehringer, right, of daughter Janie and wife Jessica, who has been diagnosed with cancer.

The decision to bring four-year-old Janie back to their Nantucket home to be cared for by relatives and friends was mutual between the couple, who want her life to be as normal as possible until Jessica is diagnosed and treated. In the meantime, the Mehringer's livelihoods - he is a contractor and property manager and she has run children's programs for the Community Network for Children and had her own small childcare group - have been put on hold indefinitely.

To assist them, Debba Pitcock and others are holding a benefit at the Rose & Crown to raise funds to cover the family's expenses for the next six months.

"It's important to me because Greg and Jessica are such a huge part of my life," said Pitcock, who met Greg in 1990 and Jessica in 1993. "Greg and Jessica have been such a big part of the lives of the people organizing this fundraiser - she has been such a huge part of childraising that it's overwhelming. This is a big part of what Nantucket is about; to help someone in need. When you have both your incomes taken away, it's devastating."

Greg Mehringer explained that about a month-and-a-half ago his wife

discovered a lump in her abdomen. After consulting with island doctors George Butterworth and Tim Lepore, Jessica underwent a scan that showed the presence of a large tumor. Just over two weeks ago, the family went to Boston where Jessica, 35, was admitted to Mass. General Hospital and Greg and Janie rented a hotel room nearby. Though numbers of tests have been run since then, doctors have not been able to determine the origin of the growth.

Because the tumor is so large, on Nov. 21 physicians started Jessica on chemotherapy to shrink it so that it can be removed. It is hoped that the operation can take place by the end of the year or early into the new year, because treatment of the cancer hinges on the tumor surgery.

"They're having a hard time reading what it is because it's such a rare tumor," said Greg, who met his wife in 1991 and married her 12 years ago. "It's kind of been a whirlwind. One minute you're up and the next you're down. Some of the doctors think it may be a type of ovarian cancer but other doctors say something else. The gynecologist/oncologist said that in 35 years he had never seen a tumor like this.

"Our daughter is a trooper," he continued. "She has been our cornerstone. She's the only thing we think about. We have a network of friends on Nantucket who have stepped up for us and helped us so greatly. You don't take anything for granted anymore. I love my wife and I love my daughter. I said that before, but now I find I'm saying it much more. My daughter and Jessica are the only things I care for."

Greg returned to Boston on Sunday, when his wife was released as an out-patient. They will remain there a few more days and then commute from Nantucket for chemo treatments until the cancer type is determined.

Pitcock said the benefit, starting at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 9, will include a live auction, raffles and donation opportunities, such as a table where people may make contributions towards the family's utility bills. Word of mouth about the benefit has already brought in several auction items including a week at Gary and Grainne Winn's condo in Telluride and three nights at the Vineyard's Harborview Hotel donated by Alan and Nicole Worden, which comes with round-trip charter airfare from Herb Cabral.

Marine Home Center is donating a flat screen television; photographer Claudia Kronenberg is offering a portrait sitting; there is a children's wall mural by Jean Cauley; a painting by Katie Trinkle Legge; donated time and labor for installation of an outdoor shower from Patrick Moran; a children's birthday party for up to a dozen guests from Cosmic Creations; a day of landscaping from Chris Canty; a home dinner for six catered and delivered by Kim Reed of a Taste of Nantucket; and two nights at the White Elephant, among other selections.

Pitcock said the goal is to raise enough to help the Mehringers with rent, food, insurance, prescriptions, car and travel expenses and Janie's day care costs. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased at the door the night of the event or in advance at the Rose and Crown. For information on donating items contact Melinda Vallett at melinda@maurypeople. com or Tracy Canty or Georgina Sharman at their names, care of comcast.net.

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