Hola! Thank you for reading my request.
Five years ago my mom Jody passed away from breast cancer that had metastasized into her bones. Despite being put on hospice she bravely fought to heal herself through the pain. She lived for almost a year and a half, until it became too much and her heart stopped beating. My mom was my best friend. She always had my back and loved me so much. Her love was unconditional and that love has carried me through the last five years.
During her illness I worked part time to support her along with help from my brother Scott. I am grateful that I was able to do this. I found a person who lived near her to rent a room to me at a low price since I couldn’t afford regular rent on my paycheck. When I wasn’t at work, I was with my mom. I would show up early before work to help her as needed and would return to her after work, staying until 9PM. At that time I would ride my bicycle because I couldn’t afford a car. This was my daily schedule for over a year. I would even stay the night on the weekends. It was exhausting, but I knew that if she didn’t beat the cancer these would be my last memories.
It has been a long process of grief and healing.A year before her death my dad Bernardo and brothers girlfriend Vanessa also died. A year before that one of my best friends Cortney died. A year after my mom’s death, my cousin Tootsie died. Before her illness I was depressed for 17 years and had just started to get help when she was diagnosed with cancer. So, on top of my grief I was also trying desperately to heal my inner trauma.
I have continued to work part time jobs because full time work is difficult without an accredited college degree which I don’t possess. I have an old associates degree that is not accredited and the school is closed. I recently discovered this when I applied to attend college this autumn and was told none of my credits could be used. Because the part time job I had when my mom died was contract labor, I now owe the IRS just over $7,000. I struggle to pay the $150 per month I am required to pay. If I pay less than that the IRS has the legal right to garnish my wages. I am not asking for the full $7,000. Even if I could just be gifted $150, that would help me. I could buy a $72 buss pass next month instead of walking an hour each way to my current part time job and any odd jobs that come my way. Though I will gratefully accept as much as $7,000.
I imagine this is not the most tear inducing story you receive. My emotional pain is not as bad as it was. However, living week to week to buy food and pay rent is putting me in the negative. I am so tired and so frustrated. I am tired of being too poor to buy new underwear. I am tired of living in a house that doesn’t have running water so I have to bathe at the beach showers in my clothes. I want to be able to buy glasses that are not held together by bandaids. I want to go to college, study psychology and work in grief counseling. I will not let anything stop me. I am motivated and I am stronger than ever. The death of so many loved ones so close together taught me to enjoy life, to keep moving forward and be kind to others because I know that so many people suffer on so many different levels. I have felt extreme pain and I have survived. If you choose me as a recipient I will make sure to pay it forward. Thank you for considering me.
Peace and hugs, Leah