Cindy and Larry Hendrix find they are new residents of Fountain Hills in a rather abrupt and unexpected way, but they’re also finding the community has a calming nature that helps their circumstances.

In just a few short weeks the Hendrixes have endured a devastating cancer diagnosis for Larry, thus being uprooted from their home in Georgia to a completely new environment where they know no one.

At home in Bonaire, Ga. in mid-September Larry experienced severe abdominal pain. The ER physician tentatively diagnosed liver cancer.

“The doctor told Larry he had cancer without my being there,” Cindy said. “It was the most difficult call I have ever received.”

Larry and Cindy made the 270-mile, four-hour drive to the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., where the diagnosis was confirmed, but the prognosis was not good.

Doctors told Cindy and Larry that the Mayo facility in Scottsdale was conducting a clinical study on medication to treat the type of cancer Larry has. It was not available in Jacksonville. Larry qualified for the study since he is in otherwise good health.

With the help of frequent flyer miles from a friend, Cindy and Larry were in Phoenix in just three days.

“It feels like we were dropped here by parachute,” Cindy said. “We don’t know anyone.”

When they arrived they found that the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge in Phoenix had no space available.

They went to a hotel and the next day were told by the general manager that the rate promised them by a night manager would not be adequate and they would need to pay more – more than they could afford.

“This was all just adding to the stress on Larry,” Cindy said.

Things took a better turn when, with the help of a Mayo Clinic social worker, they found a condominium at Lakeside Village in Fountain Hills that is available until January and has a manageable cost.

Larry has begun his treatments at Mayo and they say they find the environment in Fountain Hills serene. He can sit on the condo patio that overlooks the Veterans Memorial and Fountain Park. He even had a visit from a bobcat one morning as he was sitting there.

Cindy finds serendipity in their finding the condo barely more than 100 feet from the Veterans Memorial.

They are both veterans: Larry, U.S. Army; and Cindy, Air Force. Larry is also a civilian employee at Robins Air Force Base near their home in Georgia.

“I find it very brave, what Larry is doing, taking this medication,” Cindy said. “It has the potential to help thousands in the future.”

Cindy is very focused on Larry’s health.

“I just want him to get well,” she said. “I want this treatment to work. I don’t like to think about what else might happen.”

While they feel fortunate to have found Fountain Hills – perhaps thinking they could see themselves staying here when this is over – they are still alone and in need of support.

They have an account for Larry on his website at www.larryhendrix2014.webs.com.

There are maybe dozens of people who visit the Mayo Clinic every year who make Fountain Hills their temporary home.

In spite of their fast and overwhelmingly difficult journey from Georgia, Cindy and Larry are happy to be here.

“I feel like this is where we need to be,” Cindy said.