Donate to help me take care of my mom Jenine

On August 20, 2022, my mom Jenine suffered her second stroke. She was out with some of her friends at lunch when she became extremely dizzy and was unable to stand up. Her friends contacted my sister, and an ambulance and my mom was able to get to the ER in time to have the ‘clot buster’ medicine administered. A stroke victim only has 3 hours from onset of first symptoms to have this medication, and my mom was within minutes of this window closing.

She was in the ICU for a few days, a week or so on the general floor of Blodgett, and then did intensive therapy at Mary Free Bed. She has made some significant improvements, but still has a few deficits to overcome. We have been advised that my mom needs 24/7 care at the moment while she works hard to get back more of her strength. She currently has a whole team of therapists coming to her home a couple of times a week to work with her.

Since coming home last Wednesday, September 21st, I have been caring for her. I like to call myself Scrappy- I have always prided myself on being very independent, and a lot of the time I need to get creative to find solutions to a financial problem. My current financial problem is that I want to be here in Grand Rapids caring for my mom, but I have bills to pay back in Chicago.

Before my mom's second stroke, I was doing freelance Interior Design, custom sewing and upholstery, and I also have two booths in the suburbs where I resell vintage accessories. When these avenues are slow, I have turned to driving Uber to help support myself and supplement my income. In recent months, my other avenues have been very slow, so I was driving Uber every day.

This page is my attempt to ask for help, as I often struggle to do. I have been reluctant to do this because it means putting out there that I do not have the financial means to just be here (in GR) and take care of my mom. Which is all I wish to do right now. I am also taking on custom sewing and upholstery projects here in Grand Rapids, as I packed up my workroom and brought it with me!

We do not know if my mom will get back to being 100% independent again, but she is determined and it is certainly her goal! However, she currently cannot be left alone, making it difficult for me to work. My siblings and I are just looking at the next 4-8 weeks to see how my mom continues to improve, and what our next steps are.

Your donation would simply give me some breathing room to focus on my mom and her health, but also mine too at the end of the day. This is my attempt to take care of myself so I can take care of her.

I appreciate you!

Anne