Ripple of Kindness Fund for Nursing
Donation protected
Hello Everyone,
I have faced perhaps the most difficult time in my life this year. I have worked tirelessly for 7 years in college to achieve my goal in becoming an RN. I continued, and maintained a President's List status during the course of the grueling prerequisite years, through the birth of my two children, and despite the difficult diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. I would let nothing stop me, because there was even more at stake than just myself and my goals. I needed to continue for future patients, for my children, my devoted husband, and myself. So, it became my mission to keep going, as to help those who are trying to manage and cope with a difficult diagnosis - not only make daily differences as a healer, but to also be an advocate for my patients who are going through pain, fear, and grief; even if the need is as small as being a shoulder to wipe tears and lean upon.
I was honored to finally become accepted into the Nursing Program in fall of 2013. Despite the anticipated stress of nursing curricula, I did very well and advanced into the winter term. However towards the latter half of the quarter I became ill with an exacerbation related to MS due to a number of stressors. As a result, I didn’t pass one of my classes by a tiny percentage. I was given the news that I had to step back and return the following winter to retake my class and continue on. I was in unbelievable grief, but went through the stages, and finally found optimism again in returning this winter.
Fast forwarding to this moment, I have discovered a series of financially crippling pieces of news that seem insurmountable at this point in time. I was told that Medicaid will no longer cover my prescription costs for MS treatment, so I must look into other avenues that might help pay for the $4000/month expense (I will hopefully find a way to pay for this through other resources though). A grant taken back from me last week, which I was subsequently billed for by the university. The billing office will let me make payments, but I will receive a $100 late fee each month. I do not qualify for a loan, as I have no collateral. I was told by my school that FASFA over-awarded me in financial aid, and my funds are gone until I transfer to my bachelor’s degree program in nursing. However, the Catch 22 is that I need to finish my associate’s before I can advance to my bachelor's – which I cannot afford out of pocket for the remainder of my education in my current program. Finally, my husband received a pay/hourly cut due to hard times everywhere, but he is in the process of acquiring a second job to pay the bills so I can focus on school and graduate.
I have put together my scholarship applications, essays, and volunteer time. However, I will not find out if I’ll be awarded a scholarship until Mid-March of 2015. If I cannot pay for winter quarter, pay off my grant that was taken back, and afford to meet basic living expenses for our family, I will not be able to continue through winter quarter anyway – therefore making my return to nursing this year a total bust. I continue to utilize and research any type of assistance I qualify for, but in the meanwhile, much of the difficulties for my family and myself are fraught with uncertainty.
Asking for charity is not at all comfortable for me, as I believe it’s better to earn anything by my own means rather than ask for handouts. However, desperate times call for desperate measures, and I would be incredibly grateful for any amount that can be donated, or any spare time taken to share my page. Thank you so very much for reading my story, that alone means the world to me!
I have faced perhaps the most difficult time in my life this year. I have worked tirelessly for 7 years in college to achieve my goal in becoming an RN. I continued, and maintained a President's List status during the course of the grueling prerequisite years, through the birth of my two children, and despite the difficult diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. I would let nothing stop me, because there was even more at stake than just myself and my goals. I needed to continue for future patients, for my children, my devoted husband, and myself. So, it became my mission to keep going, as to help those who are trying to manage and cope with a difficult diagnosis - not only make daily differences as a healer, but to also be an advocate for my patients who are going through pain, fear, and grief; even if the need is as small as being a shoulder to wipe tears and lean upon.
I was honored to finally become accepted into the Nursing Program in fall of 2013. Despite the anticipated stress of nursing curricula, I did very well and advanced into the winter term. However towards the latter half of the quarter I became ill with an exacerbation related to MS due to a number of stressors. As a result, I didn’t pass one of my classes by a tiny percentage. I was given the news that I had to step back and return the following winter to retake my class and continue on. I was in unbelievable grief, but went through the stages, and finally found optimism again in returning this winter.
Fast forwarding to this moment, I have discovered a series of financially crippling pieces of news that seem insurmountable at this point in time. I was told that Medicaid will no longer cover my prescription costs for MS treatment, so I must look into other avenues that might help pay for the $4000/month expense (I will hopefully find a way to pay for this through other resources though). A grant taken back from me last week, which I was subsequently billed for by the university. The billing office will let me make payments, but I will receive a $100 late fee each month. I do not qualify for a loan, as I have no collateral. I was told by my school that FASFA over-awarded me in financial aid, and my funds are gone until I transfer to my bachelor’s degree program in nursing. However, the Catch 22 is that I need to finish my associate’s before I can advance to my bachelor's – which I cannot afford out of pocket for the remainder of my education in my current program. Finally, my husband received a pay/hourly cut due to hard times everywhere, but he is in the process of acquiring a second job to pay the bills so I can focus on school and graduate.
I have put together my scholarship applications, essays, and volunteer time. However, I will not find out if I’ll be awarded a scholarship until Mid-March of 2015. If I cannot pay for winter quarter, pay off my grant that was taken back, and afford to meet basic living expenses for our family, I will not be able to continue through winter quarter anyway – therefore making my return to nursing this year a total bust. I continue to utilize and research any type of assistance I qualify for, but in the meanwhile, much of the difficulties for my family and myself are fraught with uncertainty.
Asking for charity is not at all comfortable for me, as I believe it’s better to earn anything by my own means rather than ask for handouts. However, desperate times call for desperate measures, and I would be incredibly grateful for any amount that can be donated, or any spare time taken to share my page. Thank you so very much for reading my story, that alone means the world to me!
Organizer
Jennifer Sacks
Organizer
Portland, OR
