Poster I created and painted for the City of Albuquerque that won first prize in city-wide art contest.

I BECAME DISABLED 23 YEARS AGO WHEN I WAS 50

In 2003, I became too disabled to work outside the home, and had to leave my secretarial position at the University of New Mexico. Over the ensuring years, I became more and more disabled until now I am in an electric wheelchair half the time, as it is difficult to walk any distance, and I am partially blind from macular degeneration.

CONSTRUCTION REPAIRS AT MY APARTMENT HAVE TRAPPED ME HERE

The apartment where I have lived since becoming disabled is falling down around my ears and undergoing major construction. Most of the other residents have had to move out. I have just been advised that the reasonable accommodation tunnel that was installed for me so that I could get out of my apartment with my wheelchair has to be removed so that the final stage of attaching the new stairs can be completed.

BEING DISABLED IS EXPENSIVE

It is getting so hard to come in and out of the apartment already, and it is costing me a lot of money to have everything delivered to me and to pay for folks to do manual labor tasks I am no longer able to do, such as housework.

One of my abstracts, called "appearances."

MY WHEELCHAIR NEEDS REPAIR OR NEW BATTERY

Suddenly, my wheelchair is refusing to take a "charge" and it looks like I have to buy a new (expensive!) battery.

I AM TRYING TO FIND A MORE DISABILITY FRIENDLY APARTMENT

In addition, I have been searching for a new place to live so that I can come and go from my home when needed, which I cannot do at this point. When and if I DO find something that is available, the moving costs and deposits are dizzying!

One of my miniature paintings that features the New Mexico sky.

MY INCOME IS VERY LOW

My Social Security is barely enough to live on. I spent years as a nun in a Hindu convent, during which time I made no money whatsoever, and no money was put into Social Security for me, which I did not realize. When I left to become Catholic, I worked secretarial jobs which did not contribute much to my Social Security and did not include any retirement fund. Then I had to retire very early for health reasons, and my income is quite limited.

Until I can get my art business going, I will continue to be constrained by poor income.

Mixed media, sketch using pen-and-ink with watercolor. (This is the view from a favorite spot in Northern California, where I lived before moving to New Mexico 25 years ago.)

I WAS CHEATED OUT OF AN INHERITANCE

My whole life, my father always told me, "when I die, kid, yer gonna be rich!" We were very close, as we shared creative and artistic similaritiefs and we worked together for some time when I was writing for Charlie's Angels, but after he got dementia, people who had access to him changed all his legal staff, doctors and bankers, re-wrote the will to take me out of it, and then he died under extremely suspicious circumstances after I became disabled. I did not know he had died until after his body was cremated and I received a nasty note from a suspicious person. There was nothing I could do.

Since I became disabled, I have lived as a religious hermit. I am also returning to my fine art painting, having recently taken some classes on how to sell one's art, and I intend to gin up a new career in my old age which is compatible with both my disabilities and my religious vocation.

I WILL SPEND THE DONATIONS THIS WAY:

I am seeking $5,000 in donations - a modest amount. Some of the donation money will be spent on art supplies (which, like everything else these days, are hideously expensive.) Without some help purchasing the oil paints, I will have a really hard time getting a start with the new business. Some of it will be saved for rental deposits and that sort of thing. A lesser amount will be spent on tips and charges having to do with delivery of everything to my apartment while I am unable to leave.

I HOPE FOR A WHEELCHAIR VAN, if donations exceed the minimum...

If by some miracle, we receive much more in the way of donations, I intend to buy a van that can carry my wheelchair so that I am not so trapped here, in a building that is disintegrating under the New Mexico sky.

(New Mexico sky)

THANK YOU for reading my story and considering my needs.

God bless you all

Silver S. Parnell