In today’s High Tech Recruiting Group thread, I read about Sandra DeChant’s exceptionally noble effort to assist a cancer survivor assess their vocational strengths and assist in getting her back on her feet. I had to call Sandra and see if I could do something.

The woman – her name is SiuLan – “survived throat cancer, an abusive marriage, the loss of her sister to breast cancer and the loss of her career as an IT Project Manager. She is now seeking to rebuild her life – she is interested in becoming a researcher. SiuLan is an intelligent, caring person.”

What cut to my heart was how Sandra has gone out of her way to help SiuLin with career counseling. One area of interest is Sourcing – Internet Sourcing. You see, as a result of the cancer, she is unable to speak. Sandra has made arrangements with the State of Wisconsin to help pay for SiuLin’s AIRS training and our friends at AIRS (Chris Forman, CEO of AIRS and Laura Stoker, AIRS' Lead Training Goddess – thanks for helping out) have cut the cost of the program. I’m hoping our great community can help SiuLin find a place close by to work as an Internet Sourcer.

In speaking with Sandra, I discovered that SiuLan also needs:

• A place to live. Her only income is disability and she cannot raise enough money to get an apartment. She lives in a warehouse with no hot water and obviously doesn’t have a reliable source of heat. She did find a place to rent but is short on income to pay for it.

• She needs food. Again, disability only goes so far.

• She has a pet dog and two pet birds.

• She needs to get an Internet connection, computer and Blackberry-type device to get her training program underway – she can’t speak but is a mean typist!

• She has no transportation to get to work/training.  

• She is currently on Medicare but there are “holes” in the program and some of her medications are not covered.  

• Legal help as a result of an abusive ex husband. She is attempting to get some kind of legal settlement from their 15 year marriage.  

My friends, let’s help SiuLin! Brookfield, WI is about 90 miles from Chicago. As far as computer, internet connection, and phone, we have many great recruiters who work for companies who can provide these – I know people will step up to the plate. This is a place for us to help right now.

If you can help, either post here or contact Sandra DeChant of Insight-ITC, LLC at 262-782-7255; her email is sdechant@insight-itc.com.