Material goods can be taken to the Community Clearinghouse, 2100 N. Nimitz Highway, near Pu'uhale Road. For large-item pickup and additional information, call 440-3804.

For months, she kept it a secret from the kids.

During the day, while her younger children were at school, the 45-year-old mother disappeared to doctor's appointments. She explained away her coughing and weight loss, and pretended nothing was wrong.

Finally, when the woman needed surgery, her husband gave the kids the news: Their mother had lung cancer. It could prove terminal.

"I didn't want nobody to know," said the mother, who asked not to be identified in this story. "I didn't want to tell them."

Even though the woman is now feeling better, life in the seven-member household is a constant struggle. The family gets by on $600 a month, residing in a three-bedroom public housing apartment on Kaiwiula Street.

Recently, the mother got a worrisome report from her doctor. She has another spot on her lungs, which may need to be removed. The father in the family also has his own medical problems. He hasn't been able to work because of a spinal curvature and degenerated disc.

In the past, the 46-year-old has worked only hard-labor jobs. Because he is no longer able to do those, he is trying to go back to school. He said he would love a desk job.

Though the two are always worried about finances, they find time to give back to their community. They volunteer in community action groups and with their church. And they ask the kids, ranging in age from 5 to 15, to do the same. "I like helping," said the mother.

For Christmas, she asks for educational toys for her children. She also said her two boys, ages 15 and 11, need a bunk bed with mattresses. Right now, they sleep on quilts on the floor.

And her teens would greatly enjoy a computer for their homework.

The family also invites any clothing donations. The youngest daughter, 5, wears a size 6 in girls. Her 7-year-old sister wears a size 7 in girls. The oldest girl, 13, wears a size 10.

The 11-year-old son wears a size 12, while the 15-year-old son wears size 38 in pants and XXL adult shirts.

Lastly, the father asked for a small gift for his wife.

He said his wife rarely treats herself to anything and is always putting the kids first.

"My wife, she's my backbone," he said. And it would be nice just once, he added, for her to have something under the Christmas tree.

Reach Mary Vorsino at mvorsino@honoluluadvertiser.com.