Hi! My name is Joanne and I am doing what I can to help my family take care of me while I recover. I have to have open heart surgery. My surgery is scheduled for October 25th, as I asked for the soonest date. In the meantime, I feel the need to do something to help them. I am usually the one that does things, so me not being able to help is not a good feeling for me right now. I know, rest!!

My family is the most important thing to me, and I need to make sure that they are doing well and can take care of me (and themselves) while I am recovering. I need to make sure that they are fed and that can take care of important details, like paying the bills and making sure life goes on, in the event that life takes a different direction. Surgery is expensive! My angiogram would have cost me almost $50K if I didn't have insurance.

I am very limited on saved sick leave and vacation so we'll see how long it will take me....take us. I don't know if I'll get a full paycheck and NDI will only pay me so much. I will not have a full check. I wasn't planning on having surgery. I was doing ok because I was working. I just want to help before my surgery. Here's one of the ways I can help.

If you find it in your heart to help, please do so. I don't want to go back to work until I'm really ready to do so. From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU!!