Ms. Porter said her son had spent six months in a juvenile-detention center last year "for being a bad kid."

Ms. Porter intends her work to be an incursion "into different levels of reality."

Ms. Porter described the agreement as a victory, saying money was never the issue.

But the cancer changed both Ms. Porter and her life as an executive.

A few hours later, a male caller told the family not to phone the police, Ms. Porter, 22, said.

Now Ms. Porter is one of only five people who live on her floor, which once had 39 rooms.

For Ms. Porter and others, that's a key to making ends meet.

"Sometimes this will be better for card members than before," Ms. Porter said.

Ms. Porter said her fear is not quite conquered.

But rather than use county money, Ms. Porter said, local residents are prepared act on their own.

Ms. Porter said her son had spent six months in a juvenile-detention center last year "for being a bad kid."

Ms. Porter intends her work to be an incursion "into different levels of reality."

Ms. Porter described the agreement as a victory, saying money was never the issue.

But the cancer changed both Ms. Porter and her life as an executive.

A few hours later, a male caller told the family not to phone the police, Ms. Porter, 22, said.

Now Ms. Porter is one of only five people who live on her floor, which once had 39 rooms.

For Ms. Porter and others, that's a key to making ends meet.

"Sometimes this will be better for card members than before," Ms. Porter said.

Ms. Porter said her fear is not quite conquered.

But rather than use county money, Ms. Porter said, local residents are prepared act on their own.