ARLINGTON — Laurie Cadwallader has served the Arlington community as a registered nurse at Cascade Valley Hospital for 32 years, but members of the community are looking to give back to her in the wake of her cancer diagnosis.

The Arlington Free Methodist Church at 730 E. Highland Dr. will host a spaghetti feed to raise funds for Cadwallader on Friday, Oct. 25, from 5-8 p.m. at a cost of $6 for adults and $3 for children 12 years and younger.

“Most of Laurie’s career has been spent taking care of surgical patients, although she worked for two years in labor and delivery, and most recently as an RN house supervisor,” said Suzanne Yost, who’s helping to organize the spaghetti feed on Cadwallader’s behalf. “Her colleagues have described her as a very good clinical nurse who has been very supportive of those she worked with. They could always count on her to help and pitch in when needed. Now that Laurie has been receiving care, she has been described as a model patient. They certainly can’t say that of everyone.”

Cadwallader has lived in the Arlington community her entire adult life, and both her children and grandchildren have been educated by the Arlington School District. She’s been supportive of the sports programs that her kids and grandkids have been involved in, and chaperoned many of their field trips.

“Laurie is 57 years old and single — too young for Medicare, Social Security or even any retirement monies without a penalty,” Yost said. “She’s had to tap into that fund, and it has diminished significantly. She has no other source of income, and has had to retire from her position at the hospital due to her health. She is struggling to complete the paperwork for Social Security Disability, although some of us will help her with that soon. As I’ve talked with her, I’ve been struck with the hope that she still has, in the face of her declining health and progressive illness.”

According to Yost, Cadwallader hopes to get back to helping others soon, since she considers it an honor and a pleasure to have taken care of so many members of the community.

“Her illness has been a burden physically, emotionally and financially, to the point that she’s had to move in with her son, but what she feels worst about is that she can no longer help others,” Yost said.

For more information, call Yost at 425-345-5729 or Laurie Houle at 360-336-6840.