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Mom needs help after surgery

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Since 2009 I have worked at OTDA as an auditor. In December 2012 I had a beautiful baby girl and went on maternity leave with plans to return to work in June when she was 6 months old.

My plans got derailed when in April 2013 I was hospitalized for severe pains. I got to spend my 34th birthday in the hospital with an IV instead of a birthday cake and missed the dinner & Show (Married to the Mob) my daughter's father had planned. They diagnosed me as having gallstones and put in a stent. All was good until July 29th when I had seizure and went to the ER where I had a second seizure. At point I was hospitalized and eventually began to have issues breathing so I was placed on a respirator and put into a medically induced coma. I stayed that way for 4 weeks until at my mothers persistent request they finally brought me out of the coma.

Then in mid September I was transferred to a rehab facility still on a respirator without any hopes of coming off of it. Eventually though they were able to wean me off and I was able to return home in November. Damage was already done though to my breathing and ability to walk and remember things.

I currently have to write things down and don't remember much of the past few years including the first half of my daughter's life. I only remember things after I've been told about them or seen pictures. Like I know I'm a LMSW but I don't remember taking the licensing exam or graduation which were both only 2 years ago. I also have to take seizure medications so any hope of learning to drive have been eliminated though I was taking lessons prior to entering the hospital.

I currently can't work since I have a job that involves remembering client details and entering them into reports as well as fieldwork and I have suffered memory issues. Plus due to damage to the tendons in my right wrist I can't type well and definitely not for the extended amounts of time my job requires.

I also can't walk well and use a walker for at home and a wheelchair when I go out and since I have a job that involves field work I'm limited in that regard too.

I was on leave at half pay but that ended last month and though my sister was helping my out with the rent but that's also ended. I still have a lot of other bills such as my credit cards, student loans, medications, doctor copays, transportation as well as baby care. My daughter's father covers the gas, electric, house phone, medical insurance and some food but that's it. He can't afford to do anything more. My mother is currently helping with formula, wipes and diapers but she can't continue that forever plus there's so much more a child needs such as clothing, bath products, medication and toys.

I've attempted to apply for short disability but found out I'm inelgible since I never returned to work from maternity leave before getting sick.  If only I had gotten sick 2 weeks later it would have been fine.  We're receivng food stamps and WIC already but that only covers the food. I'm also selling clothing that Gabby as outgrown as well as some of my old clothes, books, DVDs and other items on ebay at http://www.ebay.com/usr/galaxy1979 so feel free to make a bid. I'm hesitant to apply for social security disability because then I will permanantly have to surrender my job and at this point I'm not willing to believe this is forever. I'm currently waiting to find out if I can return to my job with the restriction of being unable to do field work otherwise I will be forced to apply for SSD.

I'm hoping to be stabilized enough thru at home OT, PT and nursing to return to work by September so I'm asking for the money to cover my bills until then.

So if you have a few bucks, please donate. If you have a lot of bucks, I'll take that too. And if you have nothing, no worries: just call, text, come on by (I love having company and help with the baby or around the house). But if you have the money, I will definitely take and appreciate anything you can afford. We're also willing to accept inkind donations of clothing, pampers, food and household goods.

I've created a wishlist below just so you can see the different things we need money for.
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Donations 

  • Sue Bernstein
    • $50 
    • 9 yrs
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Organizer

Mel Con Klin
Organizer
Brooklyn, NY

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