What it IZZZ!!! ✌
 
My name is Joseph Hobdy, and since 2007, I have been the Personal Home Care Provider (aka Caregiver) for my mother, Starlette (aka "Star"). Here she is, by the way. ☆⭐️☆ 
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She's a fierce prayer warrior and minister of the Word of God that has a HUGE heart for people, and will "take the shirt off her own back" for someone in need. She is my best friend, my mentor, and (second to God) is my everything (mi todo). I love her so, so much, and I know that her work on this earth is not finished yet. 
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By now, many are familiar with our journey of how life changed drastically for us over a year ago. To bring those unfamiliar up to speed, on June 24th, 2023, my beautiful mother fell into a semi-comatose state due to heat stroke in her home. Over the following week, the neurologist found an abnormality in her brain stem preventing her ability to wake up and be responsive, and they didn't know when she'd come out of her coma. 
 
Thankfully, since then, my mother has remained stable and healthy. While she is still mostly non-verbal and immobile, the Lord is with her, and I am blessed to be able to serve her during this new season of life. While she continues to recover in a long-term care nursing facility, I've continued to do my best to visit her often and bring my keyboard to sing/play for her as a way of encouraging her to keep fighting, which isn't that hard because she's always been a fighter! She is my best friend and I'm not giving up on her anytime soon as we continue to take "one step at a time, one day at a time"! 
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HOW HAS SHE BEEN DOING?
 
"Her Royal Badness" has been receiving long-term care at Good Samaritan Society [White Acres], an assisted living &amp; long-term care nursing facility here in El Paso. Sadly, no Medicare insurance plan covers long-term care, so Medicaid continues to garnish the majority of her monthly SSA check in order to cover her stay in the facility. 
 
She still cannot speak for herself, which has made advocating on her behalf quite a challenge at times. While I am thankful to be her Medical (and now Durable) Power-of-Attorney (POA), I have faced various challenges in spite of this level of authority. 
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HOW HAS THIS AFFECTED US?
 
Imagine having your best friend no longer speaking to you, and it's not because they don't want to, or because of anything you said or did. They *literally* cannot talk to you. My mother and I are "thick as thieves", so to have that communication practically stripped from us has been emotionally challenging and life-changing, and it has also been rewarding in many different ways.
 
As her caregiver through the State of Texas, once she was placed in the long-term care at the nursing facility, my work status was placed on an indefinite hold. In addition to still paying my own bills, I now began to inherit hers. 
 
I am thankful to have found employment at a small church in Las Cruces, serving as their worship leader. This is my skill set and what I studied when in college, so I will do my best to keep myself available for any outside church services, events, or functions where my services will be needed.
 
One of my primary goals is to have all sections of the apartment (or find a new apartment) that is more medically-accessible and accommodating to my mother's needs when she returns home. I will need time to get it done so, when she does recover (and she will, 'cause she's a fighter ), she will have a clean and stress-free environment to come home to. 
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WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT US
 
<ul>
<li>Star (Mom) is an ordained minister and evangelist 
</li>
<li>I (Joseph) am a singer-songwriter and worship leader with over 20 years of experience 
</li>
<li>Together, we have been extended ourselves out to the community at large all-year-round for almost 30 years through music and outreach ministry 
</li>
<li>We host annual Christmas Caroling events at assisted living facilities, children's hospitals, doctor's offices, and more (click on the video link below) 
</li>
<li>Many times, we extended ourselves out to others at our own expense -- physically, mentally, and financially -- and that's the gig. 
</li>
<li>We planned everything around Star's doctor's appointments and procedures so she didn't neglect her health 
</li>
<li>Our mission has always been to "Spread JOY, Show LOVE, and BE a LIGHT." 
</li>
</ul>
<a href="https://youtu.be/TBkwk1sZ7b0target=_blankrel=noreferrertarget=_blankrel=noreferrer" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Good Vibes Only Story (2022)</a>
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THE MOMENT OF TRUTH: WHY GoFundMe?
 
Full disclosure here: A close friend who cares for me deeply suggested I do this a year ago because she saw me struggling to manage all of this on my own (and I still am for the most part). I'm not asking for a handout, but rather a hand-up. It took a lot of humility for me to even create this GoFundMe campaign, so this is where we are now. Pride, prudence, and privacy have now taken a backseat at this point. 
 
The amount I have posted is a ballpark estimate. Our expenses could exceed it. Anything that is given will help me to: 
 
<ul>
<li>Assist with payment(s) on a new [used] vehicle and other associated expenses (i.e. vehicle registration, auto insurance, vehicle repairs, etc.) 
</li>
<li>Cover some of my mother's medical and living expenses as she recovers in the nursing facility 
</li>
</ul> 
Thank you in advance for your love, encouragement, prayers, and support. I will continue to update you on her status as she continues to recover. Blessings! 
 
➖️ ➖️ ➖️ ➖️ ➖️ ➖️ ➖️ ➖️ ➖️ ➖️
 
 RECENT UPDATE -- Nov. 13th, 2024 
 
I've very recently been challenged by the loss of our vehicle, a 2008 Chevrolet Impala (shown in the picture below) In short, the vehicle needs a new engine, the cost of which is far above my budget at this time. Therefore, I am actively seeking a new [used] vehicle as I attempt to sell our current one [for parts, mostly]. 
 
If you'd like to partner with me &amp; my ministry in this capacity (or just to be a blessing), below are some additional resources that you can use:
 
• CashApp | $the413effect [ ⛽️ ]

• Venmo | @the413effect [ ]

• Zelle | [email redacted] []

• By mail:
 
STAR &amp; JOSEPH HOBDY

351 Thunderbird Drive, Apt. 14

El Paso, TX 79912
 
Thanks in advance! 
 
➖️ ➖️ ➖️ ➖️ ➖️ ➖️ ➖️ ➖️ ➖️ ➖️ 
 
** UPDATE -- September 7th, 2023
 
I am committed to providing weekly video updates on social media and YouTube (as "THE 413 EFFECT" or @the413effect), so be sure to follow for more info! 
 
➖️ ➖️ ➖️ ➖️ ➖️ ➖️ ➖️ ➖️ ➖️ ➖️ 
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Seeking Support As We Serve

Seeking Support As We Serve

Still $6,508 to go. Help us build momentum.