Funding Faith's Future

Thank you for taking the time to stop by and read my story. My story begins five years ago on June 21, 2012 with what I thought was a severe case of stomach flu. I was working as a Hospice Chaplain, going through my day just like any other day when I became violently ill, throwing up. I managed to make it home after which my Granddaughter informed me she was going to call EMS. With little to no energy left in my body, I begrudgingly went to our local hospital. I don't remember much after that until several days after surgery to remove two feet of dead small intestine. I was discharged home after two weeks in ICU. I never managed to begin bouncing back, and after three more visits to the Emergency Department, I was finally diagnosed with another two feet of dead small intestine. So, for the second time in two weeks, I went through another major surgery. Meanwhile, my best friend --we have rented together since Seminary--lost her job. That afforded me the luxury of 24 hour caregiving, but we were now living on 70% of my salary. After three months off work, I lied to my Surgeon and told him I felt ready to go back to work--I still could not take in enough calories to sustain myself, and walked through the hallways gripping the hand rails to hold myself up. The position in which I was working at the time of my illness was no longer there, but I was placed in another position doing the same type work. My friend and roommate did not secure a job until November. Fast forward to April of 2016. I had applied for another position--a raise in salary-- and been hired. I thought finally we would be able to get on our feet. In January of this year, I was pulled from that position and was placed in a full time, month to month position at an inpatient hospital. When the budget expired on June 30th, so did the money to pay me. After fourteen years of full-time employment with the same organization and turning 60 years old next month, I am working on a Contingent basis with no guarantee of hours from week to week. I have applied for 125 jobs from Customer Service to Administrative Support to Leasing Consultant to Scheduling--you get the picture. It is the same thing. Nobody thinks that a 60 year old woman can keep up the pace; and, I am not eligible to retire until age 62 at the earliest. If you ask any Physician, they will tell you that people just don't survive this type of illness. I have asked myself over and over--especially now, 'Why did I survive?' With utility bills and rent and food, I must have an income--and still never got back on my feet from 2012. Hence, the reason I am reaching out to you for any financial assistance you can find it in your heart and wallet to give. I have come across a viable small business to start. The financial investment I need to raise to get up and running is $17,000.00. That sounds like a big number to me and to many of us. To others, it sounds quite small. Any amount you can donate brings me closer to a brighter future and an ethical, legal way to get my business funded. Thank you again for taking the time to stop by and read my story--and hopefully making a donation.