Wonderful Family in Need
Donation protected
I work with this most wonderful person. Her name is Lorelei Walker. She comes to work every day with a smile on her face, but underneath she is hurting. Here is her story in her own words:
"Jordan has Asperger's (an autism-related disorder)/ADHD. Matthew is autistic. Kenny has ADHD. I've been dealing with autism for fourteen years when Matthew was diagnosed at the age of 4 1/2 (Jordan was diagnosed with Asperger's at the age of 8, less than three years later. We've been blessed in the sense that neither of the boys have required any extensive therapies or services because we would not have been able to afford them. Unfortunately because autism is a neurological disorder it has been viewed as a mental illness; because of that most insurance companies won't touch it. Where the struggle has been is in terms of acceptance and understanding. I took Jordan out of Petoskey Public Schools after 7th. grade and put him in Concord Academy due to bullying issues and lack of support from the schools (that's the long and short of it anyway. Both boys have been looked at as freaks, weirdos, and unruly brats when they display behaviors that are characteristic of autism/Asperger's. Me, being the Mom I have been the "bad guy" for questioning certain things, for having the audacity to ask, "What happened that led up to this?" There's so much more I could tell you but I'll leave it at this for now.
Ira (her husband) is a diabetic. He has had cataracts removed, both retinas attached, multiple MRSA infections, been on dialysis for 61/2 years, a device put in his stomach to aid in the processing of his food, and most recently, his right foot amputated below the knee. His health has improved to where he can go back to work but prior to that he has been on disability since his kidneys shut down. There is a good chance that he will be able to receive a kidney by the end of next year. When needed, I have been responsible for getting him back and forth to dialysis, to any medical appointments. When he is to the point of needing to go to ER, I get him there and I get him home. If he is admitted, I make sure he has what he needs from home. When Jordan was still in high school there were days when there's be at the very least 8 trips to town (school, dialysis) that I would be making (we share a vehicle). That's not including trips to the grocery store, to pick up meds, to pay bills, or any unforeseen trips. That not only burns a lot of gas but also puts wear and tear on the vehicle.
As you know, I work part time, front end, at Lowe's. Working part time, I have some insurance coverage but no prescription coverage. Shortly after my daughter was born, I was diagnosed with asthma. Right now, I have close to $300 worth of asthma medicine sitting at Prescription services because I can't afford to get them. We currently live in Walloon Lake but are looking to move by the end of the year. $1200/month in rent, plus water, plus utilities, plus an unforeseen amount for our pets because the guy we're dealing with now says that they were not approved (the original guy approved them; I made it known from the very beginning that we have pets). We struggle to bring home just enough to make our bills. I can't afford to go grocery shopping on a weekly or even a monthly basis; we frequent local food pantries to make it through. We're facing having our lights shut off by Monday at the very latest and I won't be able to get help from DHS. I most likely can't get help from any other agency either because I can't get help from DHS. Though Ira is tribal and three of the four kids are tribal, I am not and therefore I can't seek help from the tribe. You might say it's one of those "caught between the devil and the deep blue sea" moments."
As you can tell they need help. Just yesterday their electric was shut off and she did not know what to do. So, I am helping them with that. I wish it could be more, but for now that is all I can do financialy. However, I am getting signatures to put her and her family on the TV Show Extreme Makeover. I would like to get 5,000 signatures. So anyone willing to help me with that I would GREATLY appreciated.
Some of you will ask why do they not go to the Department of Human Services to help. The reason is they have no funding until MAYBE November (which is too late) because of the Government shutdown.
So I am asking ALL of you as friends and family and just a good person that you donate what you can to help this family out. I know there are several worthwhile charities out there and others who need help, but I ask you to put yourself in their shoes for just a moment and how much it would mean to you to receive help from the people you most care about or even a complete stranger. The strength or our Country is in its people. Strength is not only defined as how strong you are but also how caring. I care, do you?
"Jordan has Asperger's (an autism-related disorder)/ADHD. Matthew is autistic. Kenny has ADHD. I've been dealing with autism for fourteen years when Matthew was diagnosed at the age of 4 1/2 (Jordan was diagnosed with Asperger's at the age of 8, less than three years later. We've been blessed in the sense that neither of the boys have required any extensive therapies or services because we would not have been able to afford them. Unfortunately because autism is a neurological disorder it has been viewed as a mental illness; because of that most insurance companies won't touch it. Where the struggle has been is in terms of acceptance and understanding. I took Jordan out of Petoskey Public Schools after 7th. grade and put him in Concord Academy due to bullying issues and lack of support from the schools (that's the long and short of it anyway. Both boys have been looked at as freaks, weirdos, and unruly brats when they display behaviors that are characteristic of autism/Asperger's. Me, being the Mom I have been the "bad guy" for questioning certain things, for having the audacity to ask, "What happened that led up to this?" There's so much more I could tell you but I'll leave it at this for now.
Ira (her husband) is a diabetic. He has had cataracts removed, both retinas attached, multiple MRSA infections, been on dialysis for 61/2 years, a device put in his stomach to aid in the processing of his food, and most recently, his right foot amputated below the knee. His health has improved to where he can go back to work but prior to that he has been on disability since his kidneys shut down. There is a good chance that he will be able to receive a kidney by the end of next year. When needed, I have been responsible for getting him back and forth to dialysis, to any medical appointments. When he is to the point of needing to go to ER, I get him there and I get him home. If he is admitted, I make sure he has what he needs from home. When Jordan was still in high school there were days when there's be at the very least 8 trips to town (school, dialysis) that I would be making (we share a vehicle). That's not including trips to the grocery store, to pick up meds, to pay bills, or any unforeseen trips. That not only burns a lot of gas but also puts wear and tear on the vehicle.
As you know, I work part time, front end, at Lowe's. Working part time, I have some insurance coverage but no prescription coverage. Shortly after my daughter was born, I was diagnosed with asthma. Right now, I have close to $300 worth of asthma medicine sitting at Prescription services because I can't afford to get them. We currently live in Walloon Lake but are looking to move by the end of the year. $1200/month in rent, plus water, plus utilities, plus an unforeseen amount for our pets because the guy we're dealing with now says that they were not approved (the original guy approved them; I made it known from the very beginning that we have pets). We struggle to bring home just enough to make our bills. I can't afford to go grocery shopping on a weekly or even a monthly basis; we frequent local food pantries to make it through. We're facing having our lights shut off by Monday at the very latest and I won't be able to get help from DHS. I most likely can't get help from any other agency either because I can't get help from DHS. Though Ira is tribal and three of the four kids are tribal, I am not and therefore I can't seek help from the tribe. You might say it's one of those "caught between the devil and the deep blue sea" moments."
As you can tell they need help. Just yesterday their electric was shut off and she did not know what to do. So, I am helping them with that. I wish it could be more, but for now that is all I can do financialy. However, I am getting signatures to put her and her family on the TV Show Extreme Makeover. I would like to get 5,000 signatures. So anyone willing to help me with that I would GREATLY appreciated.
Some of you will ask why do they not go to the Department of Human Services to help. The reason is they have no funding until MAYBE November (which is too late) because of the Government shutdown.
So I am asking ALL of you as friends and family and just a good person that you donate what you can to help this family out. I know there are several worthwhile charities out there and others who need help, but I ask you to put yourself in their shoes for just a moment and how much it would mean to you to receive help from the people you most care about or even a complete stranger. The strength or our Country is in its people. Strength is not only defined as how strong you are but also how caring. I care, do you?
Organizer
Tim LaCroix
Organizer
Boyne City, MI
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