If you live, work, or shop in Madison Valley, you’ve probably seen him. He is unassuming, polite and hardworking. He’s our building manager, and he has Stage 4 lymphoma.

Alfred Edwards has been taking care of our building on the corner or East Madison Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Way East for four years.

I remember what it was like before he came: it was unkempt at best. From the minute he arrived, he has been working diligently; cleaning toilets, washing the stairwells, leaf blowing — anything that needed to be done, he did it.

He continues to walk female employees from the building to their cars at night, get spit on by homeless people sleeping in the garage and takes care of everything — all without a complaint. In fact, he always has a kind word and expresses his gratitude for the job that he has been given.

Alfred is the primary provider for his girlfriend and their family of four children. He takes care of three buildings a day for our landlord. His life hasn’t been easy. When asked about his cancer diagnosis, he responded, “I’ve been shot, I’ve been hung, I’ve been stabbed — I’ll get through it.”

We really admire his dedication to his job and his work ethic. During a two-week snowstorm, he walked to Madison Valley to work after parking his car at Interstate 5 every day.

His girlfriend, Michelle, is also having health problems, compounding their financial situation because she is unable to work. Suffering from a torn right shoulder, torn meniscus in her left knee and a dislocated hip, she was scheduled for surgery the week of Sept. 24. A second surgery is scheduled in six months.

Alfred doesn’t qualify for Medicare and must exhaust his personal savings before he can receive assistance. His medical-care costs are estimated at $300,000.

He is still working while going through chemotherapy treatments. He has had to take a few days off when the side effects of his cancer treatments made working impossible.

The good news is that he has been given an excellent prognosis for a full recovery.

Here’s an opportunity to make a difference for a real person and a real family. This person has greatly impacted my life and many others every day in tiny, but important, ways.

It’s an opportunity for a community to come together and support one of our own. It could be any of us teetering on the edge in life and needing a hand to regain our balance.

We can all learn something from Alfred about thankfulness, gratitude and a positive attitude.

To help Alfred, drop monetary donations and nonperishable food items at Glow Natural Health Center, 2719 E. Madison Street, Suite 203.

Glow will also host a silent auction on Dec. 5 to benefit Alfred. Donations for the event are accepted through Nov. 30; call Glow (206-568-7545) to make arrangements.

LINDSEY LAWSON is co-owner and an acupuncturist at Glow Natural Health Center in Madison Valley.