Jessica & Isaiah-Overcoming Their Greatest Hurdle

Hi, I'm Pastor Cleveland Hobdy, and I'm fundraising for my friends, Jessica McDowell, and her son, Isaiah Treece, two overcomers whose faith in God and each other has brought them through one of the most difficult passages that any family could go through.

Last year Jessica experienced two major health crises just months apart. She experienced a massive heart attack in March, followed by a crippling stroke in August. At the close of the summer, just months after recovering from the heart attack, Jessica was preparing to move for a new job, as well as send her son to college for his freshman year. Isaiah's first day of college was August 15, of last year.

After dropping Isaiah off, the day was going as planned until she realized that night that the furniture in her apartment had not been properly set up. Determined not to sleep in the Uhaul, Jessica rented a room for the night, preparing for her 1st day of shadowing the following day. Jessica experienced a major stroke that night in the hotel room by herself. She was found the next day by hotel attendants, and was sent to the hospital.

The stroke caused hemi-paralysis of her left side. Within days of this event, Jessica would lose her mobility, housing, and income. This would be the beginning of what would be the most difficult challenge of her life. Unable to return to work, Jessica spent two months in a local stroke hospital, followed by another two months at one of the city's worst-rated nursing homes. After experiencing verbal, psychological, and physical abuse from staff, the Lord opened a door for Jessica to leave that facility, and that door started her on a journey that, though it's taking longer than expected, has proven to be necessary for where the Lord is leading Jessica's family. However, this would start a string of instability and homelessness. This happened just before Christmas, and Isaiah would be leaving for his first winter break.

During this time, a neighboring church provided food and shelter in a motel throughout the holidays. Jessica tried several times to secure housing with the local housing authorities, but was unsuccessful due to overwhelming demand. During breaks, Isaiah would have to come to whatever shelter or housing Jessica had, and as a result of the overwhelming stress and instability, Jessica's family and Isaiah's grades suffered.

Jessica urged Isaiah to stay in school because there he would still have housing throughout the semester except for breaks, and it would possibly be his only hope for his future, but the crisis still proved to be too much.

At the completion of his 1st year, Isaiah didn't know if he would be able to return due to his inability to manage his grades, homelessness, and the stress of their unchanging situation.

Isaiah was given a second chance at college, and is now currently enrolled in his 1st semester at Oakwood University. Jessica has secured a homeless voucher, and is searching and waiting for housing in Huntsville.

Jessica has hemi-paralysis, and is in desperate need of therapy. She is still waiting to be approved for Social Security Disability. But in the meantime, she will need physical therapy 2 - 3 times per week To regain strength in her left side, in the hopes of restoring her total mobility, as well as the need for in-home care.

Isaiah is in need of funding to cover the remainder of his tuition. Isaiah's remaining tuition is roughly $5000 for this semester. They are also moving from Tennessee to Alabama. The cost for the move is roughly $4000 - $6,000. Each physical therapy session is roughly $100, and is needed 2 to 3 times per week.

Please join us in helping to restore health and housing so that this deserving family can have a better ending to a most challenging year. Thank you in advance for coming together to support this incredible family!

*I will NOT benefit at ALL from the donations! I am only assisting them in raising the necessary funds.*