Melissa's Journey: Care for Sharon

Background story: I was in foster care most of my childhood, but then I was adopted at age 15.

However, at age 16, my biological mother, Sharon, came back into my life. I have two moms. They have both been a part of my life for years now, and I love them both with all of my heart.

Sharon is now 81 years old and is living in Nebraska (our home state) on Social Security income. She lives in her home alone and is comfortable there. She has had 9 mini-strokes and 3 major strokes in the last year, has lung cancer that has spread to her lymph nodes, 4th stage kidney failure, and now the main artery in her brain is stretched to the point that it could burst at any moment. There is no treatment with all her co-morbidities. She still has normal brain use at this time and is a fighter. Her wish is to die in her home.

She has a care provider, Di (who is an angel sent from God), who comes and helps her 7 days a week for a total of 60 hours. That is all that Medicaid and Medicare will pay without putting her into a nursing home. I am here with her this week and have set up hospice. The doctors say she could have days to weeks to live. Hospice requires someone to be with her 24 hours a day in order to help her in the home. Otherwise she will be required to not get hospice help and go into a nursing home. The thought of which I absolutely hate, and if you have ever been to one, you can probably understand why. I cannot stay as I have a job, husband, and home in Oregon that I need to get back to on Monday.

I have talked with Di, and she is bonded with Sharon and is willing to do the 24-hour care.

The additional care will cost $1500 per month. The going rate for this type of care is $20-$35 per hour, far, far above what Di is willing to charge. In addition to the care cost, there is the cost of her cremation, which is around $3800. This is just too much for me to handle financially.

My son suggested I set this GoFundMe up. I am reluctantly doing so, as I hate to put this on anyone else.

Some might say she doesn't deserve to be cared for by me or by others because of her past and mine. However, my faith teaches forgiveness. Sharon came back into my life for a reason. We all fall short in this life and are imperfect and do the best with what we know or have at any given time. She has my forgiveness and love.

If you are so inclined to donate, it would be appreciated and never forgotten by me.

Much love and appreciation,

Melissa / Momma Conn

From the GoFundMe page:

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