Hi – my name is Suzie – I am reaching out because I am in need of assistance and have held on until I cannot do it by myself anymore.

In December of 2020, the evening after getting elbow surgery, I was letting out the dogs before bed and somehow lost my balance and tumbled head over foot backwards down the basement stairs and landed on my head. I could not reach out with both arms because my right arm was in a full cast and bent at the elbow (had broken it while walking the dogs and needed pins screws put in to fix the break).

We are not sure how long I was on the basement floor but my hair was pulled up and the doctors say that saved my life. I heard the crack and reached up to find blood everywhere. Miraculously, I crawled up the stairs and was able to call my neighbor who took me to the hospital and called my youngest son to meet us there.

While I thought I just needed stitches, I was rushed in and they immediately put in 12 staples – very painful – but I thought I was going home.

The doctor came in and said that I was going to ICU as I had a brain bleed. The following day, they did a repeat CT Scan – and it showed another brain bleed and a growing subdural hematoma on the frontal lobe. So – back to ICU I went. This went on a few more days with yet another brain bleed. In addition, I had bruised ribs with one fracture.

After a few weeks, the Neurosurgeon finally agreed that I could go home IF my son agreed to stay with me – and while I was getting in-home care, physical therapy and such.

About a week after I was home, I developed severe vertigo to the point my son had to hold me in bed until the spinning stopped when I was going to sleep. I then woke up one day – and I was stuttering – badly! And as I tried to navigate out to the living room, I started veering to the left and running into walls.

I saw the Neurologist, a Neuropsychologist and a Vestibular therapist. During this visit is when I learned that while I did have a concussion, I had suffered a much more serious Traumatic Brain Injury.

I went through months of therapy to learn to talk and walk again as I had to use a walker or cane to steady myself. I could not think very well at all – AND at this point, my son and his girlfriend had to put up signs on the wall with directions – such as which direction was “right” and which was “left” and even items like not the “plop” while sitting down because if I did and was not slow and steady, I would lose my balance and/or create vertigo again.

My vision has changed 3 times, necessitating eye exams, new prescriptions and visits with an ophthalmologist to ensure nothing else was happening behind my eyes.

I could no longer work in my industry at that point – and then COVID threat expanded. Driving with vision issues and continued vertigo poses challenges.

While I did file for Social Security Disability with the help of friends, it has been over 2 years and is still pending.

After my talking got more normal during this time, I tried to work. I got a remote position in my industry in a role that I had worked in for many years – yet, it did not work out after a few months. It was too intensive and required more activity than I could handle.

I have now had 3 Contract jobs in my industry with the same outcome – they did not work out – and now I have run out of all money. I had to deplete my 401K simply to live.

I have ongoing medical expenses and am putting off needed appointments and minor surgery because I cannot pay.

Now, I literally have no money and nowhere to go. I have been going from Airbnb to Airbnb but now I have absolutely nothing and have to leave here by the end of this week with nowhere to go and no money even to rent a short-term place.

My bank is overdrawn, and I am maxed out on credit and behind on payments.

I am still trying for Disability, but in the meantime, I need some help. I keep trying every, single day, praying everything will be okay.

This is humbling to be at this point and to have to ask, but please, if you can help in any way, even to just share this post, it would mean the world to me! God Bless you!

Much love and prayers to all,

Suzie