Hi there, my name is Sharonda and I’m the daughter of Henry Moore. My father used to be the neighborhood fisherman, painter, and roofer. Unfortunately, life has thrown us many curveballs through the past years, and he has significantly declined due to Parkinson’s disease and Lewy Body Dementia. My father and mother were together for almost 40 years until her untimely death last July due to Kidney Disease and Breast Cancer. This loss has caused my dad to become extremely depressed loosing his “baby”. Being the only child, I have always been the sole caretaker and provider for myself, both parents and my 2children. Now that my mother has left us, I have been faced with fully taking care of my father while still trying to work to provide for us. It has taken a huge toll on me both mentally, emotionally, and physically. Most days, I don’t know if I’m coming or going, but I know I have no time to dwell in sorrow because I must keep going; because I am all they have. I’m everybody's backbone. I’m left to be there for my dad with the daily feeding, bathing, grooming, dressing, diaper changing, clothes washing, elopement, confusion and etc. I have begged, cried, and pleaded for help to keep him home because I can’t fathom the thought of placing him in a nursing home. Due to his slowed cognitive decline, I know they will not have the patience to feed him nor listen to him as I have seen this numerous times during hospital visits. This has thus caused me in the past month to be severely absent from work and now facing a financial hardship to keep bills afloat. Spending days and nights with my dad, constantly meeting with doctors and specialists, assisting with feeding, encouraging physical therapy.

As depression from losing his wife continues to creep in and progress his diseases, hospital visits have been becoming more frequent. Being bedridden has made his muscles and joints more rigid, and by the end of the day, I am exhausted doing this task all alone. I’ve been faced with the uphill battle to just give up and put him in a nursing home. But I can’t. I just lost my Mom. What do you do when he’s all you have left now? What do you do when you know he hates and is terrified of hospitals? Do you just give up and leave him more depressed than he already is? My parents have always been my biggest advocates and my biggest supporters. Throughout my mom’s ailments, I literally gave it my all. IYKYK!!!! Sacrificing everything in life to be there for her.

Where is the help from the government for the elderly and disabled that have worked all their life? Why should they be forced to be thrown in a facility that’s going to give them the worst care (especially when they can’t speak for themselves) when a caregiver is just asking for help to be able to keep him at home? If you find it in your heart to help me continue to care for him, buy the necessities and daily essentials, medical supplies not covered by Medicare, and be able to financially keep up with bills to provide a roof over our head for my Dad to comfortably spend his last days surrounded by those he know and love I will appreciate it. No amount is too small;it’s the thought and consideration that counts. If not, please keep us lifted in prayer that I may stay strengthened and encouraged during these trying times.

-Sharonda