Illness-stricken Carpentersville family in need of help

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Billie Jo Lenart and her mother Melia Cardelli are shown at their home in Carpentersville on Friday. | Andrew A. Nelles~For Sun-Times Media

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Updated: January 20, 2012 8:11AM

CARPENTERSVILLE — For one Carpentersville family, Christmas will likely be celebrated in spirit only this year.

There will be no presents under Melia Cardelli’s tree — although, material things aren’t necessarily on her mind right now.

Unlike for so many, the economy isn’t to blame for her troubles.

Fate has been less than kind to Melia, who faces significant illness, as do the two adult children living with her.

Melia, who lost her husband suddenly last year to a massive heart attack, suffers from heart and lung disease with COPD and emphysema, and had a triple bypass in 2009.

Her son, Adam, 34, has had a lifelong learning disability and neurofibromatosis, a condition that causes tumors throughout the nervous system. Most recently, an optic glioma tumor has blinded Adam in the right eye, and he is gradually losing sight in his left.

The only working member of the family was Melia’s 37 year-old daughter, Billie Jo.

However, Billie Jo was diagnosed in October with breast cancer and recently had a double mastectomy. Currently undergoing chemotherapy and radiation, she is on medical leave from her restaurant job.

Cardelli said she doesn’t know what to do to make ends meet on top of trying to be there for her children, and doesn’t want to lose her home in the process. Buying Christmas gifts is the furthest thing from her mind, she said.

“I don’t even expect anything. Everything has been put on hold,” Melia said about the holidays. “The medical expenses are piling up. Adam’s Social Security covers the rent, but there is no money for utilities.”

Friend rallies

It has been said that everyone has their own personal angel.

That angel isn’t always a spiritual being, many believe. Rather, it could be someone right around the corner who appears at a time of crisis.

Enter Clark Taylor. The Peoria resident said when he learned about Cardelli’s situation, he had to do something to help.

But Taylor isn’t a stranger to the family. He was friends with Melia and her siblings at Elgin High School in the late 1960s, and even dated her a while.

She went on to marry someone else, as did Taylor. Melia and her husband once gave Taylor a place to stay when he was in need himself years ago.

Recently connecting on Facebook, Taylor learned of Melia’s plight.

He has since contacted newspapers and TV stations in both Peoria and Chicago trying to call attention to the dire situation.

“When I was down on my luck as a teenager, she and her husband put me up in their home,” Taylor said. “When I heard of her heartbreaking situation, I told her I’d do anything I could to help.”

Taylor also learned that Billy Jo has three children — ages 18, 16 and 14 — presently residing with their father because of her illness.

One positive is that Melia’s two other children not living with her, Shawn and Jessica, have provided much emotional support for the family.

Still, Melia, who also suffers from major depression, said she feels hopeless.

“We’ve tried everything … the Catholic church, United Way, Salvation Army … they all say that funds are dried up,” she said. “We don’t know what to do.”

But Taylor is determined to make a difference.

“This has weighed heavily on my heart,” he said. “I so badly want to try and help this family. After all, it’s Christmas.”

An account has been opened at U.S. Bank under the name Billie Jo Lenart Breast Cancer Fund for anyone wishing to donate to the family’s cause.

Check or cash donations can be made at any U.S. Bank location, including 704 W. Main St., West Dundee.