Single Mom Needs Our Support to Get Back on Track

Hello, I'm Cory speaking on behalf of Palisade Baptist Church, Silver Bay, MN. We're spurring an effort to help out a single mom in our congregation who needs support after having back surgery that is keeping her from working, and threatening to lose her home and vehicle, among other things, as right now, she is continuously behind on her monthly bills, due to the added debt, and her situation is urgent.

Her name is Angie, and let's give you the backstory in her own words:

Hi Everyone!

Thank you all so much for taking the time to read my story.

I was born and raised on the North Shore, but later moved to the Twin Cities for awhile. As a single mom in 2004, after my infant son's battle with cancer was over, I started driving a school bus, as it seemed to be the perfect job at the time, so I could bring my son to work with me, at the Oakdale location.

7 years later, in 2011 as I was finishing my bus route, I started having unbearable low back pain and my left side. I called into the bus garage for help, and ultimately had to be lifted out of the driver's seat, carried out and brought to the ER and chiropractor in excruciating pain. I had scans and was diagnosed as having a herniated disc and pinched nerve. With back injections and chiropractic care, I was able to go back to work a few months later. I did pretty good but had continual flare ups now and then. So, I would go back to the chiropractor for about 8 visits and do ok again.

I'd also worked as a CNA for several years at this point.

I ended up working in assisted living, thinking I wouldn't have to lift the residents, but many times we were put in a position to have to, with it being very hard on my back. And one day while lifting a resident, I hurt my back and the chiropractor told me I could no longer work in that field!

In February of 2022, while doing a cleaning job, everything with my back came to a head while lifting the corner of a bed to put a sheet on. I went to the doctor and was scheduled for an MRI, as I couldn't hardly even walk anymore, due to the excruciating low-back pain.

Within 4 days of the MRI results being read, I was in emergency back surgery, with a herniated disc at L5S1, and a nerve was crushed between two discs!

As the months of healing went on, my back surgeon and I realized that the low-back surgery was only partially successful, with the nerve no longer crushed after removing half of one of my discs. While this helped with some of the pain, I was still having continued pain and issues in that L5S1 location. The surgeon then informed me that I will require a second surgery, consisting of: disc decompression and fusion, which he stated will limit my mobility for life! So, after 32 years of working full time, I was suddenly told that I could no longer work!

The surgeon wants to put off the second surgery as long as possible, as he says that I am at least still able to walk good, and again, states that the additional surgery will limit and affect my mobility for the rest of my life. So now I have many multiple restrictions, so as to not make my back worse, hoping to put off the second surgery as long as possible. I continue to use ice and prescription Ibuprofen as needed, as I don't tolerate narcotics well. I also continue to get low back injections every 4 months.

At this time I had no idea what I was going to do for income, as a single mom. My only option, after much research, was to apply for Social Security Disability, which is a very long process. During the extremely stressful, 17 month waiting time, I tried in every way I could to get financial help from the State or County. The only help I was approved for was health insurance and food support - nothing toward my bills. I was on the verge of losing my house and vehicle, so I had no choice but to take out some personal loans to live on and pay bills with. Still struggling to scrape by as it wasn't enough, I continued to fall behind, then didn't qualify for any more loans, as my good credit rating was taking a big hit. About 7 months ago now, I was finally approved for SSDI, but it is less than half of the income that I was taking home while working.

So, I am drowning in bills and my situation is very dire, as I am still in a position to lose everything I worked so hard for as a single mom and before that for 32 years! My biggest concerns are losing my house and vehicle. Unless the debt I used to survive on is resolved/paid off, I won't be able to make it. This is a very humbling position, as I live a quiet life, keep to myself, and am not comfortable putting my financial struggles out there for all to know and see. However, I have tried everything I can to resolve my situation and have no choice but to ask for help. I have faith that Jesus will make a way, and I'm praying that this Go Fund Me will be the answer to them, so that I won't lose everything I worked for. With financial help, I will pay off the extra debt/loans incurred during this time, and therefore will be able to survive monthly on the little bit of SSDI that I receive each month. Without the loan debt paid off, I won't make it, and am at immediate risk of losing both my home and vehicle. With the debt paid off, I will be able to make my monthly obligations.

I humbly ask each of you for your help and prayers, and to please share my story/need with others

Thank you for your time, and any and all help you are able to give. Have a blessed day! Sincerely, Angie

This is Cory again...Angie was/is a hardworking, dedicated, loving mother, who loves Jesus and desires to be a fruitful follower in any way she can. Our prayer and goal is to see her debt burden relieved so that she doesn't lose her home and vehicle, and can make it each month, on just the small amount of disability coming in. While her overall debt burden, minus the house, hovers around $20,000, it only accrued since her surgery, and she hasn't added to it since her SSDI payments came to fruition.

We would enjoy you partnering with us to help Angie get relieved of this debt monster that threatens her sustainability, and keep her on the road of stability and peace.

Hey guys! Kelsey from Rock Hill Community Church in Duluth, here.

I’ve gotten some chances to talk to Angie over the last couple of months and hear her story and see into the financial pressure that she’s experiencing. It’s one of those situations where she’s doing everything that she can, but it’s just not enough.

When I talked to Cory about doing this, we wanted to put this out to make a way for God to work. To put this in front of His people and let the Holy Spirit move. Our prayer is that you would chip in to help Angie. Our hope is that you will be praying for her. Praying for relief, God’s grace, and His love to be experienced through this.

Update from Angie:

Thank you so much to those who have already given donations and shared my story. I appreciate your help!