When single mother Elizabeth Diamond was diagnosed with Stage 4 brain cancer in 2014, her only concern was what would happen to her four daughters when she was gone. Fortunately, her best friend Laura Ruffino was right by her side to reassure her that her girls would always be taken care of.
“She said, ‘if anything ever happens to me, I want you to take my girls,' and I instantly said, ‘okay,'” Laura, who had known Elizabeth since childhood, told 7 Eyewitness News. “As she started to weaken, you can imagine the fears that I had for the girls and being without her.”
Tragically, those fears became reality this past April when Diamond lost her battle with cancer. Laura, her husband Rico, and their own two daughters immediately opened up their home and hearts to Elizabeth's young children. The Orchard Lake, NY couple adopted the four girls as their own, doubling the size of their family.
Now, their community in upstate New York is rallying around the family in an effort to ease the financial burden of raising six children. Rebecca Joy Lesniak, who co-founded the Buffalo Wellness Center with Elizabeth, decided to set up an online fundraiser to help support the family. Over $87,000 has been raised so far, showing how much the story of the Ruffinos and the Diamonds has resonated with kind-hearted people online. Most of the money will go towards turning the Ruffinos' garage into two bedrooms so that Elizabeth's daughters have their own space, while leftover funds will be set aside for everyday living expenses, education, and ensuring that the entire family is able to heal and move forward together as one loving unit.
Elizabeth with her four daughters.
Elizabeth's daughters, Lily, Ella, Samona, and Tara, who range in age from 5 to 12.
Elizabeth co-founded the Buffalo Wellness Center, a holistic nonprofit organization, and dedicated her life to helping others learn how to live happily and healthily.
Laura and Elizabeth grew up in Buffalo together.
Laura with her husband, Rico, and two daughters, Isabella and Grace.
The Ruffinos showing support for Elizabeth's daughters at a competition.
The new family of eight smiling together.
via [BuzzFeed]
