Help Extract Kimberly from Italy
Donation protected
Writing this has been a huge challenge for me. Being vulnerable and asking for help is not something I was taught how to do. I have been trying to write this for two weeks now. I finally finished my GoFundMe post on my blog.
It is a very long read. I tried to be detailed.
The long and short of it is this: I really need your help in one of two ways - or both. The first way is by donating to this campaign. Every $10 helps immensely! The second way is by sharing this. Every share is worth $37.
If 10 of you share this, my two pieces of overweight luggage can come with me on the flight. If 7 of you share this, the queen's flight fee is taken care of so I don't have to leave her behind.
A simpler way of seeing it is this: It's $250 to get HRH on the flight.
If 25 of you donate $10 she's on!
If 7 of you share this she's on!
If 5 of you donate $10 AND share this she's on!
Who is Kimberly?
I am 52 years old and living in Italy, near Rome, just trying to get on with my life. I was active duty navy for 7-years, got out and married the navy for almost 20 years, got divorced, met a guy, and moved to Italy (with HRH - she's from Washington state) to be with him. And to fulfill my lifelong dream of living here the right way. And to have a simpler lifestyle.
When I got out of the navy I got myself a Business degree (major in MSIS) from Oklahoma State University, and I started working as a programmer. I did this for 10 years, through several military moves before the Great Repression hit. We lived in Seattle at the time and we were transferring to Florida. Career Killer!
I got laid off in May 2008, and have not had a job since. This is another reason I went to live in Italy. My money would last a lot longer there than in the US. It turns out, it's about the same. The difference is the lifestyle.
Trying to Start a Career in Italy is No EASY FEAT
I decided I was going to start a travel agency since I love to travel. Hint: Just because you love to travel doesn't mean you love to SELL travel.
In September and October 2017 we went to Montefalco for professional photo shoots for the website I was building.
I finally started to feel like everything was going well. I knew Bellissima Journeys was going to be a success.
The Incident
Ten days later we returned to Montefalco for a party, after a hellacious immigration day (read about that at www.cakedonmakeup.com/gofundme/#immigration).
After some wine drinking, lack of water drinking, and lack of eating we headed to sleep (after I found a box of spinach to eat).
I have no memory of how it started. I detest drama. I will not fight.
But I have flashes of memory. One flash was I was on the floor and I tried to kick him. How I got on the floor I have no idea. Why I was on the floor, again I have no idea. I was 51 years old and limber is not a word I would use to describe my state of flexibility.
The only other memory I have is I saw a fist from a 60-year-old man coming at my face. It stung. A lot.
I didn't really know what happened.
Until.
I ran my tongue along my teeth and realized one was broken. At that point, I screamed bloody murder.
After a whole bunch of drama that you can read about here www.cakedonmakeup.com/gofundme/#theincident
I found myself in an ambulance crying with my mother over Skype. How absurd! My father wanted to speak to me, but apparently, I had had enough of men and refused. The broken psyche is a very sad thing indeed.
Oh my gosh, this memory is impossible. I am so tired of crying, and yet when I wrote the blog post, and now this the stream of tears remains steady.
Physical Damage
After enduring the Italian health care system all while not speaking Italian - read more about how they just stick needles in you without saying what they're going to do or why here - I found out that my left ankle was broken. They said nothing of my mouth.
When you break an ankle in Italy you don't walk out of the hospital with crutches. Yeah, try hopping around on one leg on the marble, tile, and cobblestone that is all over this country.
After visiting the dentist here I was sent to Rome to some hospital to have a 3D scan of my head done. I was starting to feel like I need to be worried about radiation. This was quite literally my 4th or 5th head x-ray in about 3 days, not to mention the x-rays on my leg, the ultrasound on my abdomen, the MRI on my brain.
Mouth & Face Damage
The 3D scan showed my maxilla something on the right side of my face was fractured. Three of my teeth will die (have died), three are broken (not all of the broken ones are the dead ones), I will need 3 root canals, and braces were put on to keep my teeth from falling out. At least that's why I think they were put on. I don't speak Italian, so my understanding is not that great.
What I did understand was that it was either braces or some horrifically painful surgery that was expensive.
Treatment
The dentist here quoted me €4,800 for the following:
* 3 root canals
* 3 tooth reconstructions
* 3 tooth whitenings
* braces installed
* permanent retainer
I can't see anywhere on the quote where there is orthodontic work to put my teeth back in their original location. My unbroken front tooth has dropped significantly and has shifted to the center of my mouth. It hurts like hell when I eat something and bang that tooth on any other tooth in my mouth.
Since I ran out of money in February that's the last time I've been to the dentist. So, I have no new prognosis.
Returning to the United States
I asked if I could fly when I was shocked to discover my leg was being wrapped with a cast. Try being in your 50s and being in a hospital in God only knows where Italy and having the doctor put a cast on you without any explanation what so ever. I had no clue. I started feeling like a prisoner.
The doctor told me I could not fly for at least 30 days. Well, a couple months later we were still worried about blood clots so I was still not able to return.
I finally got the all clear, but not I am completely out of money. The US Embassy can only help me with counseling or legal avenues, but not with the financial way to return.
Urgent Help Needed
It seems the airfare to return to the US is VERY EXPENSIVE this summer. Unless I return this month, in June. The dental care is next in line of importance, and shipping my stuff back to the US is last in line of importance (though it's still important because if that stuff doesn't come with me I'll have to rebuy it there and I don't have the money for that).
Once I get myself back to the US I can use the VA to check on my ankle. Unfortunately, unless my face was blown off in Afghanistan or Iraq, they won't look at my teeth. You would think that after almost 30 years of my life given to the US military I would get dental treatment. But, nope.
I need to find a good dentist immediately to fix my mouth - I hope it's still fixable and it hasn't been too long without treatment.
I went out last night and took video of walking around the town. The very last scene was of me in front of a tiny car. I think they are very cute, and I like them a lot. I smiled because when you're happy that's what you do, but MY ENTIRE MOUTH IS BLACK. I don't want to smile anymore.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
1. Please donate. If everyone I knew donated $10 I would be home getting treatment. I would be ever so grateful!
2. Please Share. They say that every share is worth $37.
3. Please Donate AND then share.
4. Are you a dentist in Jacksonville, FL who would donate your services?
5. Do you have Delta airlines miles you can donate? I can only fly on Delta because they are the only airline that allows dogs to fly transatlantic.
There are three areas I need help: flight home, dental expenses, and shipping my household goods (HHG) from Italy to Florida.
Flight Costs (quoted in euro because it must be paid in euros):
€1149.24 - Flight from Rome to TN
€ 200.00 - Gabbie's Fee
€ 85.00 - Cost for the 2nd suitcase
€ 170.00 - Cost for both suitcases being overweight
$ 56.80 - Wells Fargo International Currency Exchange Fee
$ 60 - GoFundMe Fee
~ $2,010 Approximate Total Cost for Flight, Gabbie, and Luggage
Dental Costs (as quoted in Italy - I expect it's more in the US):
€4,800/$5,665 - 3 tooth reconstructions, 3 root canals, 3 tooth whitenings, placing braces, permanent retainer
$175 - Go FundMe Fee
~ $5,840 Approximate Total Cost for Dental Care
Shipping HHG from Italy - FL (Must be paid in euros):
€1,740 - Partial container on a ship
€ 100 - Insurance
$ 65 - Wells Fargo International Currency Exchange Fee
$ 70 - GoFundMe Fee
~ $2,310 Approximate Total Cost for HHG Shipment
WHAT I CAN DO FOR YOU IN RETURN
Ok, I have some skills.
One of my skills is in Web Design (I designed www.cakedonmakeup.com and BellissimaCucina.com which is still under construction).
Another skill is I'm Certified as an English Teacher for foreigners.
And another skill I will be getting is life coaching.
I will repay you when you help me in one of the following ways:
For every €125 ($150) I will give you or someone you designate five (5) English language lessons over Skype or another online platform.
For every €250 ($300) I will give you a package of five (5) coaching sessions beginning when I have completed the first module of coach training in the middle of July for you or someone you designate over Skype, Zoom, the telephone, or any other method that works well.
For €425 ($500) I will build a semi-custom webpage for you, your business, or someone you designate on the Wordpress.org platform.
For €1,700 ($2,000) I will build you a semi-custom website consisting of up to five (5) pages for you, your business, or someone you designate on the Wordpress.org platform.
Everyone will receive a handcrafted, handwritten note of gratitude mailed to you with a real postage stamp on it.
It is a very long read. I tried to be detailed.
The long and short of it is this: I really need your help in one of two ways - or both. The first way is by donating to this campaign. Every $10 helps immensely! The second way is by sharing this. Every share is worth $37.
If 10 of you share this, my two pieces of overweight luggage can come with me on the flight. If 7 of you share this, the queen's flight fee is taken care of so I don't have to leave her behind.
A simpler way of seeing it is this: It's $250 to get HRH on the flight.
If 25 of you donate $10 she's on!
If 7 of you share this she's on!
If 5 of you donate $10 AND share this she's on!
Who is Kimberly?
I am 52 years old and living in Italy, near Rome, just trying to get on with my life. I was active duty navy for 7-years, got out and married the navy for almost 20 years, got divorced, met a guy, and moved to Italy (with HRH - she's from Washington state) to be with him. And to fulfill my lifelong dream of living here the right way. And to have a simpler lifestyle.
When I got out of the navy I got myself a Business degree (major in MSIS) from Oklahoma State University, and I started working as a programmer. I did this for 10 years, through several military moves before the Great Repression hit. We lived in Seattle at the time and we were transferring to Florida. Career Killer!
I got laid off in May 2008, and have not had a job since. This is another reason I went to live in Italy. My money would last a lot longer there than in the US. It turns out, it's about the same. The difference is the lifestyle.
Trying to Start a Career in Italy is No EASY FEAT
I decided I was going to start a travel agency since I love to travel. Hint: Just because you love to travel doesn't mean you love to SELL travel.
In September and October 2017 we went to Montefalco for professional photo shoots for the website I was building.
I finally started to feel like everything was going well. I knew Bellissima Journeys was going to be a success.
The Incident
Ten days later we returned to Montefalco for a party, after a hellacious immigration day (read about that at www.cakedonmakeup.com/gofundme/#immigration).
After some wine drinking, lack of water drinking, and lack of eating we headed to sleep (after I found a box of spinach to eat).
I have no memory of how it started. I detest drama. I will not fight.
But I have flashes of memory. One flash was I was on the floor and I tried to kick him. How I got on the floor I have no idea. Why I was on the floor, again I have no idea. I was 51 years old and limber is not a word I would use to describe my state of flexibility.
The only other memory I have is I saw a fist from a 60-year-old man coming at my face. It stung. A lot.
I didn't really know what happened.
Until.
I ran my tongue along my teeth and realized one was broken. At that point, I screamed bloody murder.
After a whole bunch of drama that you can read about here www.cakedonmakeup.com/gofundme/#theincident
I found myself in an ambulance crying with my mother over Skype. How absurd! My father wanted to speak to me, but apparently, I had had enough of men and refused. The broken psyche is a very sad thing indeed.
Oh my gosh, this memory is impossible. I am so tired of crying, and yet when I wrote the blog post, and now this the stream of tears remains steady.
Physical Damage
After enduring the Italian health care system all while not speaking Italian - read more about how they just stick needles in you without saying what they're going to do or why here - I found out that my left ankle was broken. They said nothing of my mouth.
When you break an ankle in Italy you don't walk out of the hospital with crutches. Yeah, try hopping around on one leg on the marble, tile, and cobblestone that is all over this country.
After visiting the dentist here I was sent to Rome to some hospital to have a 3D scan of my head done. I was starting to feel like I need to be worried about radiation. This was quite literally my 4th or 5th head x-ray in about 3 days, not to mention the x-rays on my leg, the ultrasound on my abdomen, the MRI on my brain.
Mouth & Face Damage
The 3D scan showed my maxilla something on the right side of my face was fractured. Three of my teeth will die (have died), three are broken (not all of the broken ones are the dead ones), I will need 3 root canals, and braces were put on to keep my teeth from falling out. At least that's why I think they were put on. I don't speak Italian, so my understanding is not that great.
What I did understand was that it was either braces or some horrifically painful surgery that was expensive.
Treatment
The dentist here quoted me €4,800 for the following:
* 3 root canals
* 3 tooth reconstructions
* 3 tooth whitenings
* braces installed
* permanent retainer
I can't see anywhere on the quote where there is orthodontic work to put my teeth back in their original location. My unbroken front tooth has dropped significantly and has shifted to the center of my mouth. It hurts like hell when I eat something and bang that tooth on any other tooth in my mouth.
Since I ran out of money in February that's the last time I've been to the dentist. So, I have no new prognosis.
Returning to the United States
I asked if I could fly when I was shocked to discover my leg was being wrapped with a cast. Try being in your 50s and being in a hospital in God only knows where Italy and having the doctor put a cast on you without any explanation what so ever. I had no clue. I started feeling like a prisoner.
The doctor told me I could not fly for at least 30 days. Well, a couple months later we were still worried about blood clots so I was still not able to return.
I finally got the all clear, but not I am completely out of money. The US Embassy can only help me with counseling or legal avenues, but not with the financial way to return.
Urgent Help Needed
It seems the airfare to return to the US is VERY EXPENSIVE this summer. Unless I return this month, in June. The dental care is next in line of importance, and shipping my stuff back to the US is last in line of importance (though it's still important because if that stuff doesn't come with me I'll have to rebuy it there and I don't have the money for that).
Once I get myself back to the US I can use the VA to check on my ankle. Unfortunately, unless my face was blown off in Afghanistan or Iraq, they won't look at my teeth. You would think that after almost 30 years of my life given to the US military I would get dental treatment. But, nope.
I need to find a good dentist immediately to fix my mouth - I hope it's still fixable and it hasn't been too long without treatment.
I went out last night and took video of walking around the town. The very last scene was of me in front of a tiny car. I think they are very cute, and I like them a lot. I smiled because when you're happy that's what you do, but MY ENTIRE MOUTH IS BLACK. I don't want to smile anymore.
HOW YOU CAN HELP
1. Please donate. If everyone I knew donated $10 I would be home getting treatment. I would be ever so grateful!
2. Please Share. They say that every share is worth $37.
3. Please Donate AND then share.
4. Are you a dentist in Jacksonville, FL who would donate your services?
5. Do you have Delta airlines miles you can donate? I can only fly on Delta because they are the only airline that allows dogs to fly transatlantic.
There are three areas I need help: flight home, dental expenses, and shipping my household goods (HHG) from Italy to Florida.
Flight Costs (quoted in euro because it must be paid in euros):
€1149.24 - Flight from Rome to TN
€ 200.00 - Gabbie's Fee
€ 85.00 - Cost for the 2nd suitcase
€ 170.00 - Cost for both suitcases being overweight
$ 56.80 - Wells Fargo International Currency Exchange Fee
$ 60 - GoFundMe Fee
~ $2,010 Approximate Total Cost for Flight, Gabbie, and Luggage
Dental Costs (as quoted in Italy - I expect it's more in the US):
€4,800/$5,665 - 3 tooth reconstructions, 3 root canals, 3 tooth whitenings, placing braces, permanent retainer
$175 - Go FundMe Fee
~ $5,840 Approximate Total Cost for Dental Care
Shipping HHG from Italy - FL (Must be paid in euros):
€1,740 - Partial container on a ship
€ 100 - Insurance
$ 65 - Wells Fargo International Currency Exchange Fee
$ 70 - GoFundMe Fee
~ $2,310 Approximate Total Cost for HHG Shipment
WHAT I CAN DO FOR YOU IN RETURN
Ok, I have some skills.
One of my skills is in Web Design (I designed www.cakedonmakeup.com and BellissimaCucina.com which is still under construction).
Another skill is I'm Certified as an English Teacher for foreigners.
And another skill I will be getting is life coaching.
I will repay you when you help me in one of the following ways:
For every €125 ($150) I will give you or someone you designate five (5) English language lessons over Skype or another online platform.
For every €250 ($300) I will give you a package of five (5) coaching sessions beginning when I have completed the first module of coach training in the middle of July for you or someone you designate over Skype, Zoom, the telephone, or any other method that works well.
For €425 ($500) I will build a semi-custom webpage for you, your business, or someone you designate on the Wordpress.org platform.
For €1,700 ($2,000) I will build you a semi-custom website consisting of up to five (5) pages for you, your business, or someone you designate on the Wordpress.org platform.
Everyone will receive a handcrafted, handwritten note of gratitude mailed to you with a real postage stamp on it.
Organizer
Kimberly Mozzetti
Organizer
Kingsport, TN
