We got you, Patty Rooney
Donation protected
Have you ever met someone and instantly known they were going to change your life?
I met Patricia Rooney, Patty to most, on July 15th of 2013 at 7:50 AM. It was my first day at a brand new job. I was nervous and Patty could sense it like a dog smells fear. I extended my hand to introduce myself, Patty warmly grabbed my hand, looked into my eyes, and with a smile that could brighten the darkest depths of the ocean said “Hi Nikki, I am so excited to meet you. Everything’s going to be fine, I got you.”
She said “I got you", meaning I’ll watch out for you, I’ll take care of you, you can count on me. Everything was so much easier after that.
For the next couple week I sat right beside Patty, observing her every move. I listened to her confident display of knowledge and direction as questions came her way. When it came time for the roles to reverse, for her to observe me and asses my skills she said “Don’t worry Nikki, I’m right here, I got you.” With that kind of confidence and reliance, I soared.
By this point you may be thinking Patty is, or was, my supervisor. That’s not the case, nor has it ever been. Patty is just the kind of person who wants everyone to succeed. She will train, encourage, and positively praise you until you achieve whatever goals you have set.
Over the past two and a half years, it has become very clear that Patty really does “got” me. She’s been by my side, as a coworker and friend, through all of the struggles and challenges in my personal and professional life. Patty’s the type of friend who will laugh with you when it’s funny, and laugh at you when you’re acting crazy. Side by side you’ll climb the mountain and when you get to the top, she will put you on her shoulders so you can see the better view. There are no barriers or boundaries to her love. She won’t let silly things, like discomfort or awkwardness get in the way of being your friend.
About a year ago, my dear friend Patty started experiencing some intense migraines. I recall workdays being darkened by her absence, but she’d be back quickly and everything would return to laughter and fun. As months went by, I slowly noticed more and more dark days.
At this time in our careers, Patty was moved to a different office, oh the horror! But we managed to stay deeply connected via phone calls and quirky text messages, we’d meet for happy hour and stay for many hours. Nothing was keeping us apart.
One day I came to work and noticed that Patty had been out sick for quite a few days and, as any worried friend would do, I sent her a concerned text.
Me: what the heck slacker, where are you?
Patty: Migraine, I think they are getting worse. I have a doctor’s appointment in the morning.
After many more absences and many more doctors’ appointments, I got a call. It was one of those moments in life when your ear lobes catch fire, your stomach hits your toes, and everything in the background turns to slow motion and spins. The call was from Patty, and in a tearful voice she said “Nikki, I need help.”
Patty had lost her sight due to a cluster migraine, she was in tremendous pain and was terrified. Her sick time was running out at work and she didn’t know when, or even if, she’d be able to return. It was December 15, 2015, ten days before Christmas.
A little back story on Patty’s family. About six years ago Patty lost the love of her life Ken Rooney to small cell carcinoma lung cancer. She was left raising her two children, Tyler then thirteen and Ally then eleven, all alone and with a broken heart. The three of them mourn the loss of Ken daily. The trauma of watching a parent fight so hard for life, only to become frail and pass away has left a devastating impact on the kids.
When Patty called me that day and said she needed help, I instantly got involved. At work we organized food deliveries and collected money. I was over at their house one or two times a week, just hanging out and trying to make her laugh. Ally, Patty’s youngest, who is still in high school and lives at home, was all of a sudden Patty’s full time care giver. Driving her to the doctor, picking up prescriptions, helping Patty bathe. Sometimes I go over just to provide Ally a little relief. And for a second, I thought everything was getting better….
Then the MRI scans came back. There is a mass the size of a marble in Patty’s brain. After a few more appointments and the agony of the unknown, she was officially diagnosed with a meningioma.*
Patty is reaching the end of her short term disability leave from work, a leave where you receive 65% of your regular salary. She is in the process of filing for long term disability, and could end up playing the waiting game for months trying to get approved. She’s trying to move into a smaller, less expensive home. Perhaps an apartment for the time being. However, the medical bills have only just begun. She's still looking at radiation and possible surgery to remove the mass. As a single mother of two, you would think she’d be broken, but not my friend Patty. Every time I see her, she smiles that life altering smile, and tells me she’s doing alright. In moments of weakness she’ll tear up and say “Nikki, I’m all these kids have, I have to get better”, but will quickly follow up with a joke about how she can’t see me so she’s probably talking to the wall (referencing the temporary blindness that is still affecting her). You see, even though Patty is going through all this stuff, she’s still “got” me . She’s still looking out for me and protecting me from the pain of this reality.
I’m inspired by this idea of “gotting” something. It has encouraged me to become something and someone I never knew I could be. My path in life has transformed from selfishness to selflessness. I find my fulfillment in doing for others. I am compassionate and generous, words I would never have used to describe myself before. I believe in humanity. I believe in peace. This all started when one beautiful woman told me she’s “got” me.
I’ve come to this public forum to ask for help. I want to give my friend the gift of peace of mind. I want her to rest easy knowing that her bills will be paid and her kids will be fed. I want to show Patricia (Patty) Rooney how much and how many people “got” her.
Please donate, anything helps.
(Patty's mass)
*Meningiomas are a diverse set of tumors arising from the meninges, the membranous layers surrounding the central nervous system. They arise from the arachnoid "cap" cells of the arachnoid villi in the meninges.These tumors usually are benign in nature; however, a small percentage are malignant. Typically, symptomatic meningiomas are treated with either radiosurgery or conventional surgery.
I met Patricia Rooney, Patty to most, on July 15th of 2013 at 7:50 AM. It was my first day at a brand new job. I was nervous and Patty could sense it like a dog smells fear. I extended my hand to introduce myself, Patty warmly grabbed my hand, looked into my eyes, and with a smile that could brighten the darkest depths of the ocean said “Hi Nikki, I am so excited to meet you. Everything’s going to be fine, I got you.”
She said “I got you", meaning I’ll watch out for you, I’ll take care of you, you can count on me. Everything was so much easier after that.
For the next couple week I sat right beside Patty, observing her every move. I listened to her confident display of knowledge and direction as questions came her way. When it came time for the roles to reverse, for her to observe me and asses my skills she said “Don’t worry Nikki, I’m right here, I got you.” With that kind of confidence and reliance, I soared.
By this point you may be thinking Patty is, or was, my supervisor. That’s not the case, nor has it ever been. Patty is just the kind of person who wants everyone to succeed. She will train, encourage, and positively praise you until you achieve whatever goals you have set.
Over the past two and a half years, it has become very clear that Patty really does “got” me. She’s been by my side, as a coworker and friend, through all of the struggles and challenges in my personal and professional life. Patty’s the type of friend who will laugh with you when it’s funny, and laugh at you when you’re acting crazy. Side by side you’ll climb the mountain and when you get to the top, she will put you on her shoulders so you can see the better view. There are no barriers or boundaries to her love. She won’t let silly things, like discomfort or awkwardness get in the way of being your friend.
About a year ago, my dear friend Patty started experiencing some intense migraines. I recall workdays being darkened by her absence, but she’d be back quickly and everything would return to laughter and fun. As months went by, I slowly noticed more and more dark days.
At this time in our careers, Patty was moved to a different office, oh the horror! But we managed to stay deeply connected via phone calls and quirky text messages, we’d meet for happy hour and stay for many hours. Nothing was keeping us apart.
One day I came to work and noticed that Patty had been out sick for quite a few days and, as any worried friend would do, I sent her a concerned text.
Me: what the heck slacker, where are you?
Patty: Migraine, I think they are getting worse. I have a doctor’s appointment in the morning.
After many more absences and many more doctors’ appointments, I got a call. It was one of those moments in life when your ear lobes catch fire, your stomach hits your toes, and everything in the background turns to slow motion and spins. The call was from Patty, and in a tearful voice she said “Nikki, I need help.”
Patty had lost her sight due to a cluster migraine, she was in tremendous pain and was terrified. Her sick time was running out at work and she didn’t know when, or even if, she’d be able to return. It was December 15, 2015, ten days before Christmas.
A little back story on Patty’s family. About six years ago Patty lost the love of her life Ken Rooney to small cell carcinoma lung cancer. She was left raising her two children, Tyler then thirteen and Ally then eleven, all alone and with a broken heart. The three of them mourn the loss of Ken daily. The trauma of watching a parent fight so hard for life, only to become frail and pass away has left a devastating impact on the kids.
When Patty called me that day and said she needed help, I instantly got involved. At work we organized food deliveries and collected money. I was over at their house one or two times a week, just hanging out and trying to make her laugh. Ally, Patty’s youngest, who is still in high school and lives at home, was all of a sudden Patty’s full time care giver. Driving her to the doctor, picking up prescriptions, helping Patty bathe. Sometimes I go over just to provide Ally a little relief. And for a second, I thought everything was getting better….
Then the MRI scans came back. There is a mass the size of a marble in Patty’s brain. After a few more appointments and the agony of the unknown, she was officially diagnosed with a meningioma.*
Patty is reaching the end of her short term disability leave from work, a leave where you receive 65% of your regular salary. She is in the process of filing for long term disability, and could end up playing the waiting game for months trying to get approved. She’s trying to move into a smaller, less expensive home. Perhaps an apartment for the time being. However, the medical bills have only just begun. She's still looking at radiation and possible surgery to remove the mass. As a single mother of two, you would think she’d be broken, but not my friend Patty. Every time I see her, she smiles that life altering smile, and tells me she’s doing alright. In moments of weakness she’ll tear up and say “Nikki, I’m all these kids have, I have to get better”, but will quickly follow up with a joke about how she can’t see me so she’s probably talking to the wall (referencing the temporary blindness that is still affecting her). You see, even though Patty is going through all this stuff, she’s still “got” me . She’s still looking out for me and protecting me from the pain of this reality.
I’m inspired by this idea of “gotting” something. It has encouraged me to become something and someone I never knew I could be. My path in life has transformed from selfishness to selflessness. I find my fulfillment in doing for others. I am compassionate and generous, words I would never have used to describe myself before. I believe in humanity. I believe in peace. This all started when one beautiful woman told me she’s “got” me.
I’ve come to this public forum to ask for help. I want to give my friend the gift of peace of mind. I want her to rest easy knowing that her bills will be paid and her kids will be fed. I want to show Patricia (Patty) Rooney how much and how many people “got” her.
Please donate, anything helps.
(Patty's mass)*Meningiomas are a diverse set of tumors arising from the meninges, the membranous layers surrounding the central nervous system. They arise from the arachnoid "cap" cells of the arachnoid villi in the meninges.These tumors usually are benign in nature; however, a small percentage are malignant. Typically, symptomatic meningiomas are treated with either radiosurgery or conventional surgery.
Organizer and beneficiary
Nikki Meyer
Organizer
Oregon City, OR
Patty Rooney
Beneficiary