Mother concerned about child's health as home goes into foreclosure

SUGAR HILL, Ga. — A Gwinnett County mother says despite her family's best efforts, they will soon lose their Sugar Hill home to foreclosure.

Lindsey Farnsworth believes that could jeopardize her daughter's health.

They said they emailed Channel 2 Action News to share their story as a last resort.

At age 3, Darby Farnsworth has beaten cancer twice. Soon after she began fighting for her life in 2010, her family began fighting for their home.

"It was a tough, tough road," mom Lindsey Farnsworth told Channel 2's Kerry Kavanaugh.

Leukemia treatments required extended hospital stays. Farnsworth lost her job.

"Between co-pays, prescriptions and that sort of thing and then cutting our income in half of course, we just couldn't keep up," Farnsworth said.

She said she immediately contacted her mortgage lender, Bank of America. They told her she couldn't do anything until they fell behind.

Two months later, the family could no longer come up with the $1,600 monthly mortgage payment.

At that point Lindsey said Bank of America had them applying for several programs, but it wasn't until four or five months later the bank said they didn't qualify for the programs they applied for because of the type of mortgage they have.

The bank told the Farnsworths it was too late to apply for anything else.

The family negotiated a six-month break during which they would send a reduced payment. Farnsworth claims that backfired as well.

"In the fourth month, we paid and we got a letter back saying there weren't accepting incomplete payments. If you don't have the full funds, don't send them," Farnsworth said.

The family said they hired an attorney and spent months in limbo until late April.

A foreclosure notice said their home will be on the auction block June 5.

"I think we're resigned to the fact that we will leave eventually, but we just need a little bit more time," Farnsworth said.

Farnsworth's doctors want Darby to finish healing in a safe and familiar place. She received a core blood transplant in January and could need an additional six months to continue recovery. A move, they said, could jeopardize her immune system.

Channel 2 Action News reached out to Bank of America. Spokeswoman Jumana Bauwens emailed a statement saying, "We are researching Mrs. Farnsworth's concerns that she submitted a fourth payment as our initial review did not find a payment was sent during this time frame suggested.

"We have made a number of attempts to review the Farnsworths for an affordable modification on their FHA loan. Unfortunately, an affordable long-term solution was not attainable.

"We have asked one of our associates to reach out to Mrs. Farnsworth to begin the review process again since the last time they sought assistance was in 2010. Foreclosure is always our last resort.

Background

• In 2010, we reviewed the Farnsworth for a modification but they did not qualify;

• Next, we reviewed them for temporary assistance for six months and we were able to offer them relief on their mortgage payments;

• In 2011, we attempted to reach out to them and offer assistance but they did not respond to our calls.

Channel 2 Action News will let you know when a Bank of America associate reconvenes with the Farnsworths.

WSBTV