Help Give Francie a Leg Up
Donation protected
How is it that a 65 yr old double amputee, Francie, and her 93 yr old mother, Edna, are living independently, even of each other, in a side by side duplex in our very own neighborhood? It’s a promise that the property owners made to their parents NOT to move them out even after they were long gone. Francie has lived there over 30 yrs; Edna round 10 yrs.
I first met Francie over 8 years ago at church. I was drawn to her quick wit and her fierce independence. Although she was a single amputee when I met her, she drove herself around, walked with a cane and a prosthetic and did pretty much whatever she wanted to do.
2015 was a very challenging year as her disease took her good leg. In that process, Francie suffered 2 heart attacks and spent a couple of months in rehabilitation. Her mom, Edna, became a “rock star” to the medical staff at St. Joseph’s Hospital. She took the shuttle daily to visit Francie after her surgery. When the staff saw Edna coming they swept her up in a wheelchair and brought her straight up to Francie’s room. Special delivery.
This is a duo brought up during a time when you earned and paid your own way or you did not pass go, period. Unfortunately, those efforts have put Francie over the income bracket that would qualify her for some much needed help, i.e. medical bills, housing and meals. Imagine what the stress of not being able to pay medical bills has on her already stressful life. She lives now to prepare food for herself and her mom. That in itself is stressful as her kitchen has not caught up with her current stature.
Please consider Francie’s humble plea for assistance ~
My name is Francie. Fifteen years ago I lost my left leg below the knee to diabetes and in March of 2015 I lost my other leg to gangrene, also due to diabetes.
After surgery I suffered two heart attacks and spent two weeks in the hospital and another six weeks in a recovery center. My muscles atrophied and I needed two new prosthetic legs. Medicare paid 80% leaving me with thousands of dollars in copay.
I am taking physical therapy to learn how to walk. One of my biggest accomplishments has been learning how to get up off the floor and into my wheelchair without the use of my legs.
I live alone and do my own cleaning. I take the shuttle to shop for groceries, keep medical appointments and run errands. I try to keep my spirits up, but it is hard to do. I appreciate any help you can give. Thank you and bless you.
I first met Francie over 8 years ago at church. I was drawn to her quick wit and her fierce independence. Although she was a single amputee when I met her, she drove herself around, walked with a cane and a prosthetic and did pretty much whatever she wanted to do.
2015 was a very challenging year as her disease took her good leg. In that process, Francie suffered 2 heart attacks and spent a couple of months in rehabilitation. Her mom, Edna, became a “rock star” to the medical staff at St. Joseph’s Hospital. She took the shuttle daily to visit Francie after her surgery. When the staff saw Edna coming they swept her up in a wheelchair and brought her straight up to Francie’s room. Special delivery.
This is a duo brought up during a time when you earned and paid your own way or you did not pass go, period. Unfortunately, those efforts have put Francie over the income bracket that would qualify her for some much needed help, i.e. medical bills, housing and meals. Imagine what the stress of not being able to pay medical bills has on her already stressful life. She lives now to prepare food for herself and her mom. That in itself is stressful as her kitchen has not caught up with her current stature.
Please consider Francie’s humble plea for assistance ~
My name is Francie. Fifteen years ago I lost my left leg below the knee to diabetes and in March of 2015 I lost my other leg to gangrene, also due to diabetes.
After surgery I suffered two heart attacks and spent two weeks in the hospital and another six weeks in a recovery center. My muscles atrophied and I needed two new prosthetic legs. Medicare paid 80% leaving me with thousands of dollars in copay.
I am taking physical therapy to learn how to walk. One of my biggest accomplishments has been learning how to get up off the floor and into my wheelchair without the use of my legs.
I live alone and do my own cleaning. I take the shuttle to shop for groceries, keep medical appointments and run errands. I try to keep my spirits up, but it is hard to do. I appreciate any help you can give. Thank you and bless you.
Organizer
Francesca Nation
Organizer
Lakewood, WA