Help Renee Recover from Irma
Donation protected
The above photo is of Anita, me and Renee in happier times. Renee has been down on her luck for some time. We are asking for help to get my sister back on her feet, once again, after losing everything to Hurricane Irma.
Here is her story.
My sister has not had an easy life:
In 1998 as a result of a fall requiring her to have emergency brain surgery, she began experiencing seizures which she still has to this day. She also suffers from a loss of overall strength, particularly in her hands and legs.
In 2010 she tripped while vacuuming in her home and broke her neck. She was diagnosed as having a C2/C3 fracture aka Hangman's Fracture. This is the same break Christopher Reeves suffered from. My sister was lucky. Although walking is difficult she is able to do so with assistance and much physical therapy.
In 2014 she became essentially homeless after being summarily ejected from her home of many years by her then boyfriend. I flew to Chicago to bring her back to California with me. At that point she was both mentally and physically in bad shape. She lived with Phil and me for the next year while we helped get her back on her feet receiving various therapies. She was finally on an upswing in her life. Her walking had improved significantly and she was in a good place mentally. But on the pittance she received per month (less than $1k per month), the decision was made that she should move to a more affordable city, Jacksonville, with her sister Anita.
Within a year she began to deteriorate physically again wth her walking becoming more and more difficult. This time PT did not help. After much testing she was diagnosed with severe spinal stenosis with myelopathy. Surgery is high risk but will have to be done within the year.
Once she has this surgery she will need 24 hour care for the next few months. Anita, her husband and I will once again become fulltime caregivers and pray she comes through this 100%. Needless to say she is scared beyond imagination of this surgery.
And, now, Irma. She didn’t need this, she didn’t deserve it. Aside from a few high hanging pieces of our mom’s artwork and some clothing (and her cat!!) it’s pretty much all gone. We are all trying to remain positive but there is much to overcome. The struggle to keep afloat has doubled in cost.
So. Help. Please.
This is a sweet woman that has had a rough ride, and has mountains to face in the future.
These funds will be used to get her into a new place that is accessible to those with disabilities. We need to get her a new bed. Dining table. Chest of drawers. Clothing. Basic household items. Name it. That’s what we need for her. I will be withdrawing these funds on Renee's behalf and using to purchase the items she is in need of. We are hoping to have enough monies by the end of the month.
Any amount is appreciated. And please, please, say a prayer for her and all the other victims of Irma and Harvey.
Thank you.
Here is her story.
My sister has not had an easy life:
In 1998 as a result of a fall requiring her to have emergency brain surgery, she began experiencing seizures which she still has to this day. She also suffers from a loss of overall strength, particularly in her hands and legs.
In 2010 she tripped while vacuuming in her home and broke her neck. She was diagnosed as having a C2/C3 fracture aka Hangman's Fracture. This is the same break Christopher Reeves suffered from. My sister was lucky. Although walking is difficult she is able to do so with assistance and much physical therapy.
In 2014 she became essentially homeless after being summarily ejected from her home of many years by her then boyfriend. I flew to Chicago to bring her back to California with me. At that point she was both mentally and physically in bad shape. She lived with Phil and me for the next year while we helped get her back on her feet receiving various therapies. She was finally on an upswing in her life. Her walking had improved significantly and she was in a good place mentally. But on the pittance she received per month (less than $1k per month), the decision was made that she should move to a more affordable city, Jacksonville, with her sister Anita.
Within a year she began to deteriorate physically again wth her walking becoming more and more difficult. This time PT did not help. After much testing she was diagnosed with severe spinal stenosis with myelopathy. Surgery is high risk but will have to be done within the year.
Once she has this surgery she will need 24 hour care for the next few months. Anita, her husband and I will once again become fulltime caregivers and pray she comes through this 100%. Needless to say she is scared beyond imagination of this surgery.
And, now, Irma. She didn’t need this, she didn’t deserve it. Aside from a few high hanging pieces of our mom’s artwork and some clothing (and her cat!!) it’s pretty much all gone. We are all trying to remain positive but there is much to overcome. The struggle to keep afloat has doubled in cost.
So. Help. Please.
This is a sweet woman that has had a rough ride, and has mountains to face in the future.
These funds will be used to get her into a new place that is accessible to those with disabilities. We need to get her a new bed. Dining table. Chest of drawers. Clothing. Basic household items. Name it. That’s what we need for her. I will be withdrawing these funds on Renee's behalf and using to purchase the items she is in need of. We are hoping to have enough monies by the end of the month.
Any amount is appreciated. And please, please, say a prayer for her and all the other victims of Irma and Harvey.
Thank you.
Organizer
Laurie Dahlstrom-Green
Organizer
San Juan Capistrano, CA
