Hi everyone, my name is Michelle and I am really in need of some support for my elderly parents. This year has been very challenging for most of us and especially tough on our seniors, my folks included. I’m not someone that reaches out for help, not from family and especially not from kind people like you, but my folks are in a financial crisis that is far beyond my help so I am doing what I thought I would never have to do – reach out and ask for help.
Little history on how we got to today and my need, and their need for assistance. During the beginning of COVID, my parent’s home went into foreclosure due to loss of income and medical hardship resulting in a valiant effort to save their home of 48+ years.
My mom and dad, Carl and Phyllis, have been happily married for 53 years and settled down in what was once a little town in Southern California know as Camarillo. This is where my parents raised a family, created years of fond memories, and where they expected to live out their remaining years. Both were self-employed and extremely hard-working. My dad was a paint contractor and my mother was an amazing artist where she taught for most of my childhood and adulthood years at her very own studio in town.
6 years ago, at the age of 68, my mom had an unexpected quadruple by-pass and during recovery suffered from a massive stroke. She was in the hospital and skilled nursing for over 5 months. The effects of the stroke were so severe that she was unable to talk, eat, or drink and the left side of her body was completely paralyzed. She went through many months of therapy and treatment before she could eat and drink on her own. My mom is no longer able to use either her left arm and leg and is permanently confined to her wheelchair.
When this tragedy took place, my mom’s working art studio came to a standstill. Many of her students left to find new art teachers. Majority of her income came from teaching art lessons, and from creating beautiful paintings that she sold. Her health and physical limitations changed the dynamics, which sadly caused the closure of her studio.
The first 6 months my mom was home, the out of pocket expense for her caregiver was over $40,000 and that didn’t include other medical treatment and expenses. Today, medical treatment and expenses continue to accrue. My parent’s savings was exhausted the first year my mom was back home and since then they’ve used their home equity as their bank. Sadly, all their available funds have been exhausted and their credit has taken a major hit making it nearly impossible to secure any additional financial assistance.
My dad is 76 years old, beyond retirement age, and still “trying” to paint homes to bring in extra income to make ends meet. However, he too has endured several health issues over the years, but this year along with COVID preventing him to work and risk of bringing it home to my mom, he too is unable to work due to his heart condition and severe back injuries.
It breaks my heart to see how one tragic event can destroy everything they’ve planned for withina blink of an eye. It saddens me this is happening to two of the most loving and wonderful people that I know. My parents have worked so hard and always imagined living in their home through the end of their senior years.
Here is the ask … in order to keep them in their home, they need to come up with $50,000 to save them from foreclosure/eviction. Many of you may be thinking, do a reverse mortgage, sell their home, get a family member to buy the home … believe me WE HAVE THOUGHT OVER EVERY AVENUE and the solution that will keep them in their home and to put their future in a stable place, while continuing to provide them both with the care they need, is to come up with the gap money needed to secure the loan to keep them in their forever home.
Time is running out so I’m hopeful setting up this account will help raise enough money keep Carl and Phyl – otherwise known to family and friends as “Gaston and FeFe” - in their home.
Any donations will be greatly appreciated, and I thank you all in advance for your generosity! Stay safe and stay well.
Warmest regards,
Michelle
Little history on how we got to today and my need, and their need for assistance. During the beginning of COVID, my parent’s home went into foreclosure due to loss of income and medical hardship resulting in a valiant effort to save their home of 48+ years.
My mom and dad, Carl and Phyllis, have been happily married for 53 years and settled down in what was once a little town in Southern California know as Camarillo. This is where my parents raised a family, created years of fond memories, and where they expected to live out their remaining years. Both were self-employed and extremely hard-working. My dad was a paint contractor and my mother was an amazing artist where she taught for most of my childhood and adulthood years at her very own studio in town.
6 years ago, at the age of 68, my mom had an unexpected quadruple by-pass and during recovery suffered from a massive stroke. She was in the hospital and skilled nursing for over 5 months. The effects of the stroke were so severe that she was unable to talk, eat, or drink and the left side of her body was completely paralyzed. She went through many months of therapy and treatment before she could eat and drink on her own. My mom is no longer able to use either her left arm and leg and is permanently confined to her wheelchair.
When this tragedy took place, my mom’s working art studio came to a standstill. Many of her students left to find new art teachers. Majority of her income came from teaching art lessons, and from creating beautiful paintings that she sold. Her health and physical limitations changed the dynamics, which sadly caused the closure of her studio.
The first 6 months my mom was home, the out of pocket expense for her caregiver was over $40,000 and that didn’t include other medical treatment and expenses. Today, medical treatment and expenses continue to accrue. My parent’s savings was exhausted the first year my mom was back home and since then they’ve used their home equity as their bank. Sadly, all their available funds have been exhausted and their credit has taken a major hit making it nearly impossible to secure any additional financial assistance.
My dad is 76 years old, beyond retirement age, and still “trying” to paint homes to bring in extra income to make ends meet. However, he too has endured several health issues over the years, but this year along with COVID preventing him to work and risk of bringing it home to my mom, he too is unable to work due to his heart condition and severe back injuries.
It breaks my heart to see how one tragic event can destroy everything they’ve planned for withina blink of an eye. It saddens me this is happening to two of the most loving and wonderful people that I know. My parents have worked so hard and always imagined living in their home through the end of their senior years.
Here is the ask … in order to keep them in their home, they need to come up with $50,000 to save them from foreclosure/eviction. Many of you may be thinking, do a reverse mortgage, sell their home, get a family member to buy the home … believe me WE HAVE THOUGHT OVER EVERY AVENUE and the solution that will keep them in their home and to put their future in a stable place, while continuing to provide them both with the care they need, is to come up with the gap money needed to secure the loan to keep them in their forever home.
Time is running out so I’m hopeful setting up this account will help raise enough money keep Carl and Phyl – otherwise known to family and friends as “Gaston and FeFe” - in their home.
Any donations will be greatly appreciated, and I thank you all in advance for your generosity! Stay safe and stay well.
Warmest regards,
Michelle