Mother in Financial/Medical Crisis
Donation protected
Dear friends, dear Universe,
This is the most difficult letter I've ever had to write in my life.
As many of you know, my mom underwent surgery on July 8th for removal of a tumor that had been growing inside her spinal cord for some time. Despite it being 2" long and having begun to corkscrew her spinal cord, it was only recently that my mother's preponderance for tripping and stumbling was diagnosed with something more than old age.
Her surgery went well, but it has left her with impaired mobilization on the right side of her body and decreased sensory perception on the left side. While my mother is still recovering and making progress everyday, she is only able to walk short distances with a walker/cane before she has to lay down, for the pain of being upright is often too much for her.
It has been painful to see her immobilized in this way, because she was such a vibrant and active woman prior to the surgery. My mom is an adjunct English professor at two state colleges in Massachusetts. She also teaches creative writing at various homeless shelters in the Greater Boston area; it has been her great pride to found the Glass House Shelter Project, a grassroots organization that is the first in the nation to bring college-level courses into homeless shelters. In my mind, she is always moving. In addition to teaching, she is the mother of four children, a painter, a gardener, and a writer.
As the Fall semester draws near, my mom finds herself under difficult circumstances. Although she has been nominated by her students for excellence in teaching this will be her sixth year as an adjunct professor- without benefits (including no sick pay, no insurance coverage and no job security). She is obligated to pay $500 a month for health insurance in order to receive the physical therapy she needs to recover from surgery, as well as $300 to the Massachusetts Teacher Association yearly for the priviledge of teaching at a pay rate that is dwarfed by the salaries of full-time professors (meanwhile administrative salaries at universities continue to skyrocket).
For a long time now she has sought full time employment through online job search engines, but the politics of her situation (age, gender) have made success elusive. She is destitute despite her working so very hard for so very long.
Lastly, my parents are divorced and my father is unable to provide alimony or child support to my mother. She has applied for unemployment and has been denied because of her contractual agreements with the university (as is often the case with adjuncts). She cannot claim disability because her full recovery is still in process and as such what neurological miracles might happen in the next year are uncertain.
I know that she has deep shame about asking for money, but I also know that it takes courage to ask for help. As a result of the circumstances I have just outlined, she has no means to support herself this year. If you are able, please help, if not, we are nonetheless grateful for your friendship and your having taken the time to read this letter.
This is the most difficult letter I've ever had to write in my life.
As many of you know, my mom underwent surgery on July 8th for removal of a tumor that had been growing inside her spinal cord for some time. Despite it being 2" long and having begun to corkscrew her spinal cord, it was only recently that my mother's preponderance for tripping and stumbling was diagnosed with something more than old age.
Her surgery went well, but it has left her with impaired mobilization on the right side of her body and decreased sensory perception on the left side. While my mother is still recovering and making progress everyday, she is only able to walk short distances with a walker/cane before she has to lay down, for the pain of being upright is often too much for her.
It has been painful to see her immobilized in this way, because she was such a vibrant and active woman prior to the surgery. My mom is an adjunct English professor at two state colleges in Massachusetts. She also teaches creative writing at various homeless shelters in the Greater Boston area; it has been her great pride to found the Glass House Shelter Project, a grassroots organization that is the first in the nation to bring college-level courses into homeless shelters. In my mind, she is always moving. In addition to teaching, she is the mother of four children, a painter, a gardener, and a writer.
As the Fall semester draws near, my mom finds herself under difficult circumstances. Although she has been nominated by her students for excellence in teaching this will be her sixth year as an adjunct professor- without benefits (including no sick pay, no insurance coverage and no job security). She is obligated to pay $500 a month for health insurance in order to receive the physical therapy she needs to recover from surgery, as well as $300 to the Massachusetts Teacher Association yearly for the priviledge of teaching at a pay rate that is dwarfed by the salaries of full-time professors (meanwhile administrative salaries at universities continue to skyrocket).
For a long time now she has sought full time employment through online job search engines, but the politics of her situation (age, gender) have made success elusive. She is destitute despite her working so very hard for so very long.
Lastly, my parents are divorced and my father is unable to provide alimony or child support to my mother. She has applied for unemployment and has been denied because of her contractual agreements with the university (as is often the case with adjuncts). She cannot claim disability because her full recovery is still in process and as such what neurological miracles might happen in the next year are uncertain.
I know that she has deep shame about asking for money, but I also know that it takes courage to ask for help. As a result of the circumstances I have just outlined, she has no means to support herself this year. If you are able, please help, if not, we are nonetheless grateful for your friendship and your having taken the time to read this letter.
Organizer and beneficiary
Kirsten Leach
Organizer
Beverly, MA
Julie Batten
Beneficiary
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