Help the Wilson Family

Hi everyone. For those of you who don't know me, my name is Alex Smith-Scales (24) and I am the proud daughter of Paula Smith (Ma, 64) and the proud granddaughter of Ruth Y. Wilson (Grandma, 94). Ma and Grandma have been my rocks for my entire life, with my grandma dropping everything to move down to Richmond to help raise me, as Ma was a single mom who never received child support. They've been my best friends and have always made me feel loved, even when I felt unlovable. As a Black woman with Bipolar Disorder, I once feared that they would want nothing to do with me whenever my illness got to its worst. Thankfully in those times, they only doubled down on their love for me and helped me in any way they could.

Now, it has come time for me to try and help them in the best way I can. At the end of July 2021, Ma and Grandma were both diagnosed with COVID (likely the Delta Variant). Grandma has needed to be hospitalized as she developed pneumonia from the virus. Ma luckily received a COVID antibodies infusion on August 3rd, but her body is still in deep recovery.

Grandma is a retired teacher from Caroline County, VA, and was one of the best teachers Bowling Green has ever known. Her English and Music expertise spanned four decades and touched students of all backgrounds as she taught through segregation into integration. Ma spent 30 years working for Bon Secours Health System in their technology security department, but unfortunately due to a merger with Mercy Health Systems and COVID lockdown, she was laid off from the company in June 2020. Being the fighter that she is, she did not give up and took up a full-time job as an Infant Daycare Teacher with Childtime Learning Centers.

Somehow, they've made their finances work throughout the years, with my ma supporting me throughout college to live out my dream of being a UVA Wahoo. They've always made it clear that I have a room in their home and I can stay on health insurance as long as possible. Thankfully, when Ma began working at Childtime, she was able to gain full health insurance.

However, due to this medical emergency, changes will need to be made. Grandma will need medical care and attention for the rest of her days. She was already semi-immobile before, but now her health will need to be monitored even closer. Ma will not be able to return to work as a Daycare Teacher, as her body after COVID will not allow for the long hours and little compensation. Grandma's hospitalization will likely be expensive, and as Ma will not be returning to work and is not yet eligible for Medicare, she will lose her insurance. Luckily, I will be able to receive insurance through my full-time employer, but no amount of coverage will take away the worry I have for Ma and Grandma to be able to pay their bills.

As I mentioned before, Ma has supported me relentlessly throughout my life, both emotionally and financially, having to take on the role of two parents while she was only one. Due to this and her giving heart to other causes, she is in an incredible amount of debt with little retirement money. The family's stubbornness runs deep and she would like to pay off my private student loans as well.

Our current apartment is not suitable for elderly folks in recovery. It often requires maintenance work and very high stairs leading to the bedrooms. My sister, Natasha Smith, has generously offered to take care of Ma and Grandma, but this will require them to move to Chantilly, VA (Northern VA) and find a suitable apartment that is one-level and up to standards they deserve.

I myself will be staying in Richmond, VA, but I will need to find my own apartment as quickly as possible, furnish it, and get fully on my feet in a matter of a month.

For those of you who do not know Ma and Grandma personally, they are everyone's Ma and Grandma. These two women love fiercely and give as much as they can, even when they did not have anything to pour from their own cup. They are intelligent, driven, and proponents of justice, and it has been an absolute honor to live with them and look up to them as role models. My friends view them as family and are in constant awe of their positive attitudes and joyful nature as they've been through more hardships than imaginable.

I know that eliminating financial stress from their lives would allow them to live out their days post-COVID diagnosis in peace. While they will never not worry about me, they will be a little less worried if they know I am set up for financial success as well. When I say they are so deserving of being able to live and not just exist, I mean it with my entire chest. If there is one thing that COVID has taught me, is that there are times where we need help. If you can, please help my sweet family.