As most know, my Grandmother MarryAnn was diagnosed with COPD some years back and has now reached the point of hospice care. In order to qualify for hospice (such as a nurse to check on her a couple times a week, someone to come in a couple times a week to help her with baths and financial coverage for medications) through her insurance, she has to have someone in her home with her at all times.

Last Tuesday October 28th she had what the nurses described as "an evolving MI", which is really just a subtle way of saying she had a heart attack. The days following, she began a rapid decline. She could no longer move from her kitchen chair (where she spent most of her day) to her recliner in the living room, she couldn't make it to the bathroom anymore, she can't get up out of her chair with out help, she can't sit down without someone helping her down, she needs help with her breathing treatments and medications. She needs around-the-clock help and since no one in the family can afford to pay someone to be with her and care for her, and the fact that we'd rather spend this time with her instead of paying someone else to, we've all been rotating in and out and driving back and forth on a daily basis so that she has the help she needs.

Though even without paying for in-home care aids, as a family we've still run into some difficulties financially. Driving to and from her place, our homes, and our jobs racks up quite the gas bill and unfortunately gas isn't cheap especially when most of us drive SUV's. This along with missed shifts at work for each of us here and there when no one is available to help out has put a financial strain on all of us which only continues to grow as we don’t know how long this will continue.

During this particularly difficult time we've all done our best to help support one another, however, as a family we could use a little help. All funds donated will go towards gas for our commutes, groceries and help with missed wages.

Anything helps, God bless<3