My name is Alana Garcia, and I am the wife of Freddie Garcia. Freddie and I have been married for 12 years, and he has battled Multiple Sclerosis for 16 years. In 2010, Freddie was injured at work. Up until that time, Freddie showed no significant signs of side effects from his MS. After he was injured, he quickly started to deteriorate health wise. In a matter of 6 years, our lives were turned upside down and we, as a family, have been fighting several battles right along Freddie's side. After his injury, he was denied Workman's Compensation due to a "preexisting condition." Freddie had to resign from the Juvenile Hall as a (Supervising Juvenile Correctional Officer), because he was no longer physically fit to do the strenuous tasks of the job. In order to keep our family afloat, he cashed out his retirement to help our family keep our home. At the time, I myself, was also working as a Supervising Juvenile Correctional Officer, and continued working. In 2011, Freddie started using a cane to help ease the pain in his back from his fall. We firmly believe that he was and still is dealing with a double whammy at this point. The injury was not only caught on video, when you see how hard his tailbone hit the ground, there should be no question why he IMMEDIATELY got worse. That fall exacerbated his MS. While getting out of our vehicle one night in September of 2011 Freddie's pain in his back was so bad, that when he went to take a step after getting out of the car, he fell to the ground and started yelling. He had fractured his right ankle. The hospital gave him an ankle brace, and sent him on his way. He walked out of the hospital with a cane and a brace around his ankle that night. 5 days later, Freddie ended up in the ER again. He took another step at home, and fully broke his ankle, accidentally. Once again, he was sent home. Sutter couldn't do a whole lot. After I was able to get Freddie to rest and heal his ankle (all the while, I was still working), my dad Stoney, was able to help out as much as possible. When I was working, my father was helping Freddie and our 2 little girls. My dad lives on our property but not in our home. Once Freddie's ankle healed, he just couldn't accept that there was a possibility that he wouldn't ever work again. He was still limping, but he wasn't about to give up. In 2012 Freddie, being the prideful man that most men are, he would not give up. Between 2012 and 2013, Freddie was determined to work. He went through 3 different employers. 3 because he had difficulties getting around with a cane. Freddie was never reprimanded, nor fired. Each place of employment, actually were very nice, but Freddie knew in his heart he was a liability, due to the fact that every step he took looked as if he could fall. In fact the last place Freddie attempted to work, he slipped on pavement, busting his forehead opened which resulted in him needing stitches. That was the straw that broke the camels back for me. I told him that he would no longer be able to work. I was understanding his best intentions, but he wasn't seeing the risk factors. In 2013, with Freddie's condition worsening, we decided that it would best for obvious reasons, to not have anymore children. He at that time, was getting around with a walker, and the cane was no longer any help to him. Needless to say, as we were in the middle of having a conversation about not having anymore children, I was pregnant. She's been nothing but a blessing, but at the time we knew what our obligations were first with the 2 girls we already had. I think I cried for about 4 weeks (until we saw the heartbeat,) and then it was fight time. In August of 2014, Freddie was granted permanent disability for life for his MS, and we had our 3rd little girl on August 20, 2014. After going back to work in October 2014, our lives crumbled yet again. Our middle child was diagnosed with RSV, and our newborn contracted it from her, which became a very dangerous situation very quickly. Once again, I had to go out of work, our baby was in the hospital with tubes and IV's. She was on stanby for being flown out, for about 2 days, because of her wheezing and fluid in her lungs. Once she was sent home a Lincare nurse was in and out of the house daily to check our baby's breathing, her machine, medication, etc. That was the very last time Freddie ever walked, or drove again. The stress of feeling like we were going to lose our child was too much to bear. When she got better, I again, attempted to go back to work. While I was at work, not only was I constantly worried, I knew that Freddie was at home alone, and responsible for 3 children. The upside, was having my dad around. The downside, was coming home to complete chaos. It wasn't anyone's fault. At that point, everything had changed, and we were struggling . The children were confused, because Freddie had gotten worse, I think it was taking a toll on my dad, and it definitely was taking a toll on me. In May 2015, I transfered from the Juvenile Hall and took a job at Probation. I figured, as opposed to 12 hour shifts and not being able to leave the facility, this would give me the opportunity to take my kids to school, go home on my lunch hour to check on Freddie and the baby, and pick my middle child up from school before heading back to work. I also took a HUGE paycut. That is just it though. Money doesn't make us happy. If we are just making it, but have a roof over our heads, power, car and food, that's our family! I never took into consideration the stress that went along with having to obtain so much new information. Right after getting hired on at Probation, one morning, while getting ready for work, I couldn't get in touch with my father, who I usually spoke to every morning. Before leaving for work, I decided to walk over to his place where I found him curled up in a fetal position and acting very lethargic. I called the ambulance, and he refused to be taken for an examination. His reasoning was that he needed his coffee. So, as panicked as I was, I went to work. When I got home for lunch my dad had no idea what was going on. I made him get into my car and took him to the hospital. Tests revealed that he had 2 massive heart attacks. He was flown out of town for further care. Once again........out of work!!!!!! In the end, I was not the greatest fit for the Probation Department, and ended up back at the Hall again. I was happy about being back at the hall, but I had been so all over the place that I started to have anxiety on a regular basis. I was a wife, daughter, and mother of 3, but really, I had turned out to be the caregiver, grocery shopper, lawn mower operator, full time employee who was spending not ANY time with my family. I was sometimes being held over 16 hours, and my family needed me. Physically to help, and emotionally.

Presently~ Freddie can no longer walk. He uses a wheelchair daily and hardly ever gets out. I get him out of here as much as I can. He slurs his speech and is often times, hard to understand. His hands are beginning to curl and he's losing muscle mass and the ability to grip things.
~My dad Stoney, is dying from congestive heart failure. I'm heartbroken.
~Recently our family endured a situation that I will not speak of, but it was a heartbreaker.

In September, the girls and I went to see Carrie Underwood. Freddie and Olivia and Dad stayed behind. We had been saving up for nearly 5 years. A little here, a little there. As we were on our way back, the Lord spoke to me. Many of you know that our faith is in our Lord. This wasn't a "pulling your leg", it was Jesus full blown in his own words telling me "My Child, with all the greatness you do, and how much love you have for children, I don't want you to go back to the Hall children." The girls were napping, and I was listening. ...........trust me. When He is speaking, you listen. My plate was overflowing, and the Lord was saying "Slow down."

When I returned, I spoke with Freddie about it. It was at that moment that my world came crashing down on me. Freddie is in bad, bad shape, my dad is dying of congestive heart failure, we had another traumatic event recently take place, and I will not be ashamed to say that I couldn't take it on alone. I started to have mental health issues that were interrupting my daily activities, I couldn't make it to work for a full week if I would have tried. I missed my girls, and was just plain scared. So, out of the blue, I without further preparations, listened to the Lord, put my faith in him, and I respectfully resigned on October 3rd.

Freddie and I were very aware that we would run into some financial hardships, but wasn't expecting it to be this soon. It is not like us to ask anybody for HELP, let alone money. I have money on the way, but nothings guaranteed that it will make it by the time in which very important things must get paid. We are trying to do this respectfully, and we made the story so long so you kinda have a feel for what we've been through. I've lost a part of my husband, I'm going to lose my dad soon, I just resigned because in our world it's family first. Although I have a plan that is well into the works. I have decided to open a daycare. I'm in the process to receive licensing. This was by far the last thing Freddie and I wanted to do, but I'm going to end with a few things. We are hurting/badly, We love the Lord because he provides, and we honestly feel blessed to live in a community that truly is filled with great people. Freddie and I have no doubt Ill have daycare up and running soon. God bless!