Help Pu (Pat) Heal
Donation protected
My Mom & Me! (pictured)
As my mom is an independent and capable person, I don’t ask for your help lightly. She urgently needs your help relieving medical costs resulting from getting hit by a car shortly after moving to Portland, as well as temporary assistance with rental costs and monthly expenses. Since her former rental property was recently sold, she was forced to move again while still recovering from injuries, and lacking a car and sufficient funds needed to pay a significantly higher rent. It was no easy task and she continues to face major financial challenges.
Here’s a summary of what happened to my mom followed by more details for those interested in a broader understanding of the causes and conditions leading to this GoFundMe request.
Summary
> My mom was hit by a car in 2013 and now at age 63, continues to have daily pain and impaired movement
> Because of her injuries, she could no longer gain sustainable income from her lifelong profession
> She had to deplete her savings to survive and pay down nearly $40,000 in medical & dental expenses
> Portland’s rents, including that of my mom’s, have tripled since her accident! My mom is in dire need of your help to pay this inflated rent and to reduce her outstanding medical expenses. ___________________________________________________________
Details
The Accident & Injuries: Everything changed in April 2013, when a car hit my mom twice while she was riding her bike in Portland, Oregon. The car folded her over like a taco, compressing and stretching her neck, arms and torso in ways they're not supposed to go. Then, she heard a ripping sound from her spine before crashing to the ground. After that, it became painfully difficult for my mom to turn her head, use her hands and arms for the simplest of tasks, or to remain standing upright. Her torso and shoulders were, and continue to be in frequent painful spasm, which constantly pull her skeleton out of alignment and interfere with her ability to walk comfortably or for sustained periods.
Consequences: My mom's injuries prevented her from working for some time. Besides the financial impact, she’s been grieving the loss of her ability to provide therapeutic massage, which had been her passion and practice for over fifty years. Oregon law requires injuries resulting from a car collision to be paid through the bodily injury clauses of car insurance. We were shocked to discover that because my mom had chosen to give up her car in favor of biking exclusively and no longer had car insurance, this law forced her to pay for her own medical expenses out-of-pocket despite the fact she had full health insurance and the driver acknowledged he was 100% at fault!
Finances & Work: Although my mom has a small teaching pension, it covers less than half her monthly expenses. To pay for her day-to-day costs without additional income during her recovery she was forced to exhaust her savings and carry the burden of paying down over $40,000 in out-of-pocket medical and dental expenses. She had to borrow to survive, further increasing her debt. She took on a part time job when she was strong enough to work again but it has done little to reduce her financial overload. Since getting hit by that car, my mom’s rent has tripled, dashing her plans to maintain financial independence and quietly retire in this formerly low-cost city.
Rather than move to a less expensive city, she's told me she must remain near family in Portland, and to Kboo Radio 90.7 FM. At Kboo, she has the unique opportunity to pursue her life's work of providing free quality healing modalities to people around the globe to help bring more calm to our troubled world. If you're curious, you can experience gong therapy anytime on her podcast using a computer or smartphone through this link:
https://kboo.fm/media/16515-experience-gong-therapy-gong-bath-performed-faye-henry
Those of you who have spoken at length with my mom know that despite her hardship, she's continued to work exceedingly hard to create more income while increasing her actions to contribute to the people around her. She's pursuing a number of business possibilities which will take time to help bring her finances in balance. I’m happy to report that some strength in her hands and arms has recently returned, raising her hope of being able to provide more regular massage over time.
Funding Request: I know my mom would deeply appreciate any financial support to lower her medical debt and ease her rent which tripled in December 2017. I would also like to see her have easier travel options as the location of her new residence forces her to bike an additional 25 miles weekly, often in freezing temperatures and 20mph winds which challenge her health and safety.
She is in desperate need of funds to:
> access resources which will help speed her physical and financial recovery
> allow her to remain in her healthful new residence with safer transportation options
> provide relief from the unfair and unfortunate burden of substantial medical debt
She’s worked hard to make a positive difference in this world as a holistic healer, teacher, and counselor. Even her injuries could not stop her from doing so! I would love it if you can help my mom gain the necessary funding to aid her recovery and further her healing work in the world. Thank you!
As my mom is an independent and capable person, I don’t ask for your help lightly. She urgently needs your help relieving medical costs resulting from getting hit by a car shortly after moving to Portland, as well as temporary assistance with rental costs and monthly expenses. Since her former rental property was recently sold, she was forced to move again while still recovering from injuries, and lacking a car and sufficient funds needed to pay a significantly higher rent. It was no easy task and she continues to face major financial challenges.
Here’s a summary of what happened to my mom followed by more details for those interested in a broader understanding of the causes and conditions leading to this GoFundMe request.
Summary
> My mom was hit by a car in 2013 and now at age 63, continues to have daily pain and impaired movement
> Because of her injuries, she could no longer gain sustainable income from her lifelong profession
> She had to deplete her savings to survive and pay down nearly $40,000 in medical & dental expenses
> Portland’s rents, including that of my mom’s, have tripled since her accident! My mom is in dire need of your help to pay this inflated rent and to reduce her outstanding medical expenses. ___________________________________________________________
Details
The Accident & Injuries: Everything changed in April 2013, when a car hit my mom twice while she was riding her bike in Portland, Oregon. The car folded her over like a taco, compressing and stretching her neck, arms and torso in ways they're not supposed to go. Then, she heard a ripping sound from her spine before crashing to the ground. After that, it became painfully difficult for my mom to turn her head, use her hands and arms for the simplest of tasks, or to remain standing upright. Her torso and shoulders were, and continue to be in frequent painful spasm, which constantly pull her skeleton out of alignment and interfere with her ability to walk comfortably or for sustained periods.
Consequences: My mom's injuries prevented her from working for some time. Besides the financial impact, she’s been grieving the loss of her ability to provide therapeutic massage, which had been her passion and practice for over fifty years. Oregon law requires injuries resulting from a car collision to be paid through the bodily injury clauses of car insurance. We were shocked to discover that because my mom had chosen to give up her car in favor of biking exclusively and no longer had car insurance, this law forced her to pay for her own medical expenses out-of-pocket despite the fact she had full health insurance and the driver acknowledged he was 100% at fault!
Finances & Work: Although my mom has a small teaching pension, it covers less than half her monthly expenses. To pay for her day-to-day costs without additional income during her recovery she was forced to exhaust her savings and carry the burden of paying down over $40,000 in out-of-pocket medical and dental expenses. She had to borrow to survive, further increasing her debt. She took on a part time job when she was strong enough to work again but it has done little to reduce her financial overload. Since getting hit by that car, my mom’s rent has tripled, dashing her plans to maintain financial independence and quietly retire in this formerly low-cost city.
Rather than move to a less expensive city, she's told me she must remain near family in Portland, and to Kboo Radio 90.7 FM. At Kboo, she has the unique opportunity to pursue her life's work of providing free quality healing modalities to people around the globe to help bring more calm to our troubled world. If you're curious, you can experience gong therapy anytime on her podcast using a computer or smartphone through this link:
https://kboo.fm/media/16515-experience-gong-therapy-gong-bath-performed-faye-henry
Those of you who have spoken at length with my mom know that despite her hardship, she's continued to work exceedingly hard to create more income while increasing her actions to contribute to the people around her. She's pursuing a number of business possibilities which will take time to help bring her finances in balance. I’m happy to report that some strength in her hands and arms has recently returned, raising her hope of being able to provide more regular massage over time.
Funding Request: I know my mom would deeply appreciate any financial support to lower her medical debt and ease her rent which tripled in December 2017. I would also like to see her have easier travel options as the location of her new residence forces her to bike an additional 25 miles weekly, often in freezing temperatures and 20mph winds which challenge her health and safety.
She is in desperate need of funds to:
> access resources which will help speed her physical and financial recovery
> allow her to remain in her healthful new residence with safer transportation options
> provide relief from the unfair and unfortunate burden of substantial medical debt
She’s worked hard to make a positive difference in this world as a holistic healer, teacher, and counselor. Even her injuries could not stop her from doing so! I would love it if you can help my mom gain the necessary funding to aid her recovery and further her healing work in the world. Thank you!
Organizer and beneficiary
Alana Epstein
Organizer
Portland, OR
Patricia R. Epstein
Beneficiary
