Please Help
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Full disclosure: I've asked for help before this past spring via GoFundMe, and many, many kind souls (most of whom I've never met) responded generously and compassionately, enabling me to stay in my little country house, and begin my new career as a non-medical caregiver for the elderly, a job I am finding quite fulfilling (I'm learning additional and valuable advocacy skills, and my clients love me!). I remain grateful beyond words for the help I received this spring.
Frankly, I was confident that this recent request for help was going to set my course to success as a non-medical caregiver, the full-time employment I expect to maintain until my retirement in five years.
However, on November 2 of this year, after two weeks of rather limiting back pain caused from lifting and shifting a bedridden client, I was standing outside beside another client on a beautiful autumn day, when this independent, creative, elderly client FELL right in front of me! My automatic response was to try to stop the fall, but I couldn't! This all happened in the blink of an eye.
The outcome of this accident? A broken wrist for my client, and a severe back injury and sciatica for me. I have been bedridden since that day. The first three weeks of November, I've had severe and relentless pain in my lower left back and down to the calf of my left leg. For this past week, my pain has been manageable, but I am unable to do much more than hobble to the bathroom or into the kitchen. The distance to my kitchen is daunting, but I am now managing two meals a day, and I have been able to wash a few dishes!
Anyway, I have an appointment with my doctor to get a referral to a specialist so that I can get an MRI. I may need back surgery, but I should qualify for my state's version of the ACA, since I've had such a meager income throughout this year (to date, I've grossed around $5300).
Obviously, I've generated zero income for the entire month of November. I'm not sure when I'll be able to get back to work (I'll know more this Thursday), but I do know that I'll need a lot of help to pay my monthly bills for the month of January (I actually had saved my last two paychecks, and they were sufficient to make all my monthly bills for December). In addition to my regular monthly rent and utilities, I need help paying for my doctor's/chiropractor's visits (my chiropractor has been kind enough to wait for his payments) and the drugs I'll have to purchase.
I know I've said this before, but please do note that I have been a volunteer advocate for survivors of relationship violence for more than thirty years. I've created and facilitated peer support groups and provided one-on-one advocacy for survivors during this time. For the past 15 years, my volunteer work has been focused on children and an informal type of art therapy. Before I moved home to Newton County, I was providing free art lessons for low-income children.
This is volunteer work that I am continuing where I currently reside. Right now, I'm providing free art programs at our local library, I'm helping three younglings by tutoring them in math, and I am helping one amazing young artist by transporting her to our knitting group and our woodcarving group (at least, I was providing transportation before this accident).
Again, I mention my volunteerism, because I want everyone to understand that I am giving as much as I can at present, and I fully appreciate everyone giving me as much as they can to help me.
Thank you in advance for your consideration of my request.
Frankly, I was confident that this recent request for help was going to set my course to success as a non-medical caregiver, the full-time employment I expect to maintain until my retirement in five years.
However, on November 2 of this year, after two weeks of rather limiting back pain caused from lifting and shifting a bedridden client, I was standing outside beside another client on a beautiful autumn day, when this independent, creative, elderly client FELL right in front of me! My automatic response was to try to stop the fall, but I couldn't! This all happened in the blink of an eye.
The outcome of this accident? A broken wrist for my client, and a severe back injury and sciatica for me. I have been bedridden since that day. The first three weeks of November, I've had severe and relentless pain in my lower left back and down to the calf of my left leg. For this past week, my pain has been manageable, but I am unable to do much more than hobble to the bathroom or into the kitchen. The distance to my kitchen is daunting, but I am now managing two meals a day, and I have been able to wash a few dishes!
Anyway, I have an appointment with my doctor to get a referral to a specialist so that I can get an MRI. I may need back surgery, but I should qualify for my state's version of the ACA, since I've had such a meager income throughout this year (to date, I've grossed around $5300).
Obviously, I've generated zero income for the entire month of November. I'm not sure when I'll be able to get back to work (I'll know more this Thursday), but I do know that I'll need a lot of help to pay my monthly bills for the month of January (I actually had saved my last two paychecks, and they were sufficient to make all my monthly bills for December). In addition to my regular monthly rent and utilities, I need help paying for my doctor's/chiropractor's visits (my chiropractor has been kind enough to wait for his payments) and the drugs I'll have to purchase.
I know I've said this before, but please do note that I have been a volunteer advocate for survivors of relationship violence for more than thirty years. I've created and facilitated peer support groups and provided one-on-one advocacy for survivors during this time. For the past 15 years, my volunteer work has been focused on children and an informal type of art therapy. Before I moved home to Newton County, I was providing free art lessons for low-income children.
This is volunteer work that I am continuing where I currently reside. Right now, I'm providing free art programs at our local library, I'm helping three younglings by tutoring them in math, and I am helping one amazing young artist by transporting her to our knitting group and our woodcarving group (at least, I was providing transportation before this accident).
Again, I mention my volunteerism, because I want everyone to understand that I am giving as much as I can at present, and I fully appreciate everyone giving me as much as they can to help me.
Thank you in advance for your consideration of my request.
Organizer
Cheryl Miskell
Organizer
Marble Falls, AR
