A Sanctuary for Sue

I'd like to introduce you to my mom, Billie Sue (or Sue as she prefers to be called). She's 82 and lives independently in a studio apartment in a senior living community. She likes to quilt and go on outings, and she loves to babysit her two granddogs any chance she gets. She is beloved in her community where she is known for having a warm heart, a joyful smile and a positive outlook.

My name is Barbara, I am Sue's daughter. For most of her life, I have watched my mom struggle with a serious hearing impairment, being sandwiched between caring for an elderly mother and raising three children, and lovingly caring for her disabled husband. I watched her work two, sometimes three jobs at a time in an effort to keep everything afloat. She started saving for retirement late in life, after her kids were grown and on their own and her mother had passed away. Although she did her best to provide resources for retirement, time was against her.

In February 2015, she and my dad moved from Middletown Pennsylvania, where they had lived for 36 years, out to Grand Rapids Michigan, so my mom could get a little more help and support to care for my dad. Five months later, my dad died...just a few weeks after his 88th birthday, and two weeks before their 52nd wedding anniversary. Since that first move, in 2015, my mom moved five times in six years. From one senior living community to another, into smaller and smaller spaces in an effort to conserve the little nest egg she had managed to save. During that time, she also weathered significant health challenges, including back surgery and a triple bypass. She is currently struggling with debilitating Restless Legs Syndrome, which robs her of much-needed sleep and causes a cascade of other health issues. My heart breaks for this woman who has spent her whole life caring for others only to struggle relentlessly in what should be the golden years of her life.

Well, this past July we learned her retirement funds were exhausted. As the widow of a veteran, she is entitled to receive benefits from the VA. Although we applied for VA assistance, the wheels of bureaucracy turn unbearably slowly and we are still waiting for her application to be approved. In the meantime, she has only her Social Security check to live on and it is not enough to cover her monthly rent, so she is accumulating back rent. I am trying hard not to move her yet again. I want to give my mom the gift of comfort, stability and a little bit of ease after a lifetime of sacrifice.

During this transitional time, while we wait to hear from the VA, we are desperate for a bit of kindness. I am reaching out and asking for your help in whatever ways are best for you. If you can contribute financially, even a little, that would be tremendous. If you have friends who you think may be willing to help, please send this to them. That too would be greatly appreciated. And, if you can, please keep her in your thoughts, add her to your prayers, and send good mojo her way. All forms of support make a difference and are joyfully welcomed!

I know her story is not unique, and I appreciate your willingness to read this little bit about her. Even though these few paragraphs don't begin to capture who my mom is, what she has experienced, or how she has been in service to others, I hope you can see your way to being a part of her journey. She can really use your help right now.