KENNEWICK, Wash. – Campbell and Company‘s Pay It Forward program was created in May of 2014 with the purpose of nominating families who need a new system, but can’t afford one according to the Campbell and Company website.
Today the Carranza family received a new system.
Kristen Carranza said they’ve been without a working H-VAC system since January.
Carranza says they’ve faced many challenges over the last few years, and they were not able to get a new one until Campbell and Company stepped up.
Carranza said, “I needed a new one but, going through everything I was going through with my husband, there was just no way I could take care of it.”
Carranza, a Kennewick resident said her husband was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2020 and went through chemotherapy and radiation and was able to beat the cancer.
Just when she thought everything was going to be okay, she said her husband was starting to feel better and went back to work, but his leg gave out on him as a side effect of the radiation.
“His main artery from his heart to his legs was 98% blocked,” said Carranza.
She said he had surgery last December to replace the artery and in April was once again starting to feel better.
According to Carranza, she said her husband would go in every three months for a follow-up for the cancer. Only to find out it came back.
“He had to have what’s called a total colectomy,” she said. “Basically, it was a pretty serious surgery where they had to remove the lower part of the colon and everything else.”
She said her husband now uses a colostomy bag and there were complications from the surgery, but is feeling better.
Carranza said H-VAC systems are expensive and it’s hard to be able to afford one. She said even with good credit, it would be hard to afford the payments.
Campbell and Company heard about the family and chose to help them out by donating a new system.
Chris Quinton is the installation manager for the Campbell and Company and said it’s something that’s really touched the hearts of the team involved to help a family who needs it.
“Basically, give them a $10,000 to $15,000 gift,” said Quinton. “It’s the greatest feeling deep in your heart when you’re able to contribute that. People who do charitable things feel that.”
Carranza said they couldn’t be more thankful.
“Knowing that I’m going to have a system that’s reliable, that isn’t going to break down,” she said. “I don’t have to worry about somebody having to come out and fix it and figuring out how I’m going to pay for that. It’s just huge.”
Quinton said they do these donations once a year for two local families and the hardest part is having to choose who to help out because a lot of families need help.
According to Quinton, they received around 40 applications. If you know of a family in need and want to nominate them for a new system, just head here.
