First Responder in Need of Assistance

What it IZZZ!!! ✌

My name is Joseph Hobdy, and for the past 15 years, I have been the Personal Home Care Provider (aka Caregiver) for my mother, Starlette (aka "Star"). Here she is, by the way. ☆⭐️☆

She's a fierce prayer warrior with a HUGE heart for people, and is someone will "take the shirt off her own back" so someone else could have. She is my best friend, my mentor, and (second to God) is my everything (mi todo). I love her so, so much.

I have been so blessed to have the opportunity over the past 15-plus years to be at my mother's side as she has battled Breast Cancer, Sarcoidosis, a heart attack, and these are just a few of her medical conditions that she's *allowed* me to disclose. :P  

As I continue to assist her, it is now I who is in need of assistance as well. Here we go...

On June 24th, 2023, my beautiful mother fell into a sudden semi-comatose state due to heat stroke and dehydration. Over the next 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, over the past two (2) months, her vitals have remained stable. She has since been waking up and sometimes responding to others by nodding her head "yes".

Unfortunately, her improvements have not been significant enough to continue skilled nursing eligibility, so she has now transitioned into long-term care. 

"Her Royal Badness" has been placed in long-term care (for an indefinite period of time) in an assisted living facility that is not fully covered by her insurance. Sadly, her Medicare insurance plan does not cover long-term care, and her Medicaid plan has now garnished the majority of her monthly SSI check in order to cover her stay in the facility. 

She cannot speak for herself, which means I have been struggling to advocate on her behalf. While I am her Medical Power-of-Attorney (POA), the option of obtaining guardianship is still being considered, which will mean acquiring legal counsel and incurring the costs therein.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR ME?

As her caregiver, since she has been in long-term care at the nursing facility, I have been laid off. In addition to paying my own bills, I have now inherited hers. 

With that said, I am actively searching for worship leader positions and/or music ministry opportunities during the week and/or weekends (https://www.the413effect.com). This is my skill set and what I studied when in college, so I will do my best to keep myself available for any church services, events, or functions. With that said...

One of my primary goals is to have all sections of the apartment 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.

WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT US

• Star (Mom) is an ordained minister and evangelist

• I (Joseph) am a singer-songwriter and worship leader with over 20 years of experience

• Together, we have been extended ourselves out to the community at large all-year-round for almost 30 years through music and outreach ministry

• We host annual Christmas Caroling events at assisted living facilities, children's hospitals, doctor's offices, and more (click on the video link below)

• Many times, we've extended ourselves out to others at our own expense -- physically, mentally, and financially -- but that's the gig.

• We plan everything around Star's doctor's appointments and procedures so she doesn't neglect her health

• Our mission has always been to "Spread JOY, Show LOVE, and BE a LIGHT."  

THE MOMENT OF TRUTH: WHY GoFundMe?

Full disclosure here: A close friend who cares for me deeply suggested I do this because she saw me struggling to manage all of this on my own. 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, but this is where we are now. Pride 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:

• Cover some of my mother's medical and living expenses once in the long-term care facility

• Cover any legal fees incurred from acquiring counsel, along with obtaining guardianship over my mom

Thank you in advance for your love, encouragment, prayers, and support. I will continue to update you on her status as she continues to recover. Blessings!  

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UPDATE #1  -  Sept. 7th, 2023

I am commiting to provide weekly video updates on social media and YouTube (as "THE 413 EFFECT" or @the413effect), so be sure to follow for more info!