A Leg Up for Leah
Donation protected
I’d love for you to meet my friend Leah. We met in 1978 when I had moved to Corpus Christi and we’ve remained friends for the past 42 years. In 1984, our sons were born just months apart! To know Leah is to know that when you spend time with her, you WILL laugh! She’s a joy to be around and can find the “funny” in just about anything and everything. Leah is currently facing her biggest life challenge, and that is why I’m coming to you, my friends, with her story.
A few years ago Leah experienced some bad-luck events, sadly. That’s not to say she hadn’t already had to overcome some pretty horrible life events – especially the murder of her Mother when her young son Robby was only 3 years old. Leah is the kind of woman we often refer to as a “tough cookie”. She’s tough, but she’s also a big “softie”, especially when it comes to animals! She worked for a Veterinarian for decades and took home more rescues than she could probably count. In 2008, there was a story in her local Corpus Christi news about one of her special rescues - Benny, the lovable little 5-legged dog. (Link to Benny’s story below) In addition, she has spent nearly twenty-seven years caring for a young man with autism and views him as a member of her own family – like a second son.
But to move closer to the present situation, Leah met with some substantial damage to her home and property from Hurricane Harvey in 2017 which resulted in facing some serious insurance and coverage issues. Then, in early 2019 a young guy stole a car, sped around her corner and ran right into her house! Again, she was met with property damage and additional insurance coverage issues. Now, to her current and biggest challenge yet, Leah was diagnosed with bladder cancer just a few months ago. Since then, she has had numerous doctor visits, two surgeries and will be having to begin follow up treatments shortly. Leah is currently behind a few hundred dollars in co-pays, and medical bills will be climbing from co-pays and other miscellaneous costs and charges that are just difficult to cover when her extra part-time money isn’t coming in.
When I think of Leah, I think to myself, “there but for the grace of God go I”. It can happen to any one of us. I know people are diagnosed with cancer daily. And I also know it can be devastating to a person or family in a very short time! For Leah, it’s a challenge because as a fellow “baby boomer”, she’s retired, on SS and Medicare but also must work part time to help make ends meet. The part time work has really suffered, as you might imagine. She’s had to miss a lot of work and will continue to, at least for the near future. I would love to see her be able to NOT worry about work and money for the next few months so she can concentrate on taking care of herself and especially on her RECOVERY!
Leah’s part-time job brings in $150 a week. If we were to take that worry away for about the next 4 months for her, it would amount to $2,400; so, plus the co-pays currently owed, it seems that $2600 is a reasonable goal that would give her a break and lift that burden of mounting medical bills for her while she heals.
I am hoping we can come together and help Leah out. LET’S GIVE LEAH A BOOST!
Benny’s story:
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/253014
A few years ago Leah experienced some bad-luck events, sadly. That’s not to say she hadn’t already had to overcome some pretty horrible life events – especially the murder of her Mother when her young son Robby was only 3 years old. Leah is the kind of woman we often refer to as a “tough cookie”. She’s tough, but she’s also a big “softie”, especially when it comes to animals! She worked for a Veterinarian for decades and took home more rescues than she could probably count. In 2008, there was a story in her local Corpus Christi news about one of her special rescues - Benny, the lovable little 5-legged dog. (Link to Benny’s story below) In addition, she has spent nearly twenty-seven years caring for a young man with autism and views him as a member of her own family – like a second son.
But to move closer to the present situation, Leah met with some substantial damage to her home and property from Hurricane Harvey in 2017 which resulted in facing some serious insurance and coverage issues. Then, in early 2019 a young guy stole a car, sped around her corner and ran right into her house! Again, she was met with property damage and additional insurance coverage issues. Now, to her current and biggest challenge yet, Leah was diagnosed with bladder cancer just a few months ago. Since then, she has had numerous doctor visits, two surgeries and will be having to begin follow up treatments shortly. Leah is currently behind a few hundred dollars in co-pays, and medical bills will be climbing from co-pays and other miscellaneous costs and charges that are just difficult to cover when her extra part-time money isn’t coming in.
When I think of Leah, I think to myself, “there but for the grace of God go I”. It can happen to any one of us. I know people are diagnosed with cancer daily. And I also know it can be devastating to a person or family in a very short time! For Leah, it’s a challenge because as a fellow “baby boomer”, she’s retired, on SS and Medicare but also must work part time to help make ends meet. The part time work has really suffered, as you might imagine. She’s had to miss a lot of work and will continue to, at least for the near future. I would love to see her be able to NOT worry about work and money for the next few months so she can concentrate on taking care of herself and especially on her RECOVERY!
Leah’s part-time job brings in $150 a week. If we were to take that worry away for about the next 4 months for her, it would amount to $2,400; so, plus the co-pays currently owed, it seems that $2600 is a reasonable goal that would give her a break and lift that burden of mounting medical bills for her while she heals.
I am hoping we can come together and help Leah out. LET’S GIVE LEAH A BOOST!
Benny’s story:
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/253014
Organizer and beneficiary
Linda Payne
Organizer
Tallmadge, OH
Leah Sanford Garcia
Beneficiary
