Can you help?

**G'MaDebbie** · 05-15-2008, 02:42 PM

I am turning to all of you in a time of desperate need, not for myself, but for my sister Jennifer and her daughter Alexia.
Alexia was diagnosed yesterday with meningitis, she has been back and forth to the doctors and ER since last week. She has a large amount of fluid near her brain. The pressure of the fluid has caused her eyes to cross and she sees double images of everything she looks at. She is a very sick little girl. For some reason beyond me, she isn't hospitalized as of yet. Yesterday they did a spinal tap on her to relieve some of the fluid as well as the pressure it is causing on her brain and her optical nerve as I understand it. She may have to have another spinal tap on Monday. Alexia is 11 years old.
Jennifer is handling this well, however she is not doing very well financially. She is raising her 2 kids on her own, no child support or help from the state other than medical for the kids. She has used up all her vacation time at work so, any days she takes off from now on will be unpaid. I am asking if there is any way that any of you can help out with gas cards, groceries, money, etc. I know we are all feeling the pain of high gas prices and rising food costs, but I would never ask if she didn't depserately need your help. I am helping her the best I can, but I can't continue to do it all on my own and I dont know where else to turn. Jennifer is going to apply for help with groceries, but the caseworker said it can take up to 45 days because she works and they will take her income from the previous 30 days to figure out if they can help her....what the hell is wrong with this picture?
Anyways, if you can help, that would be greatly appreciated, if you can't I totally understand. I really hope that some of us can help her out. If you can help, just PM me and I will give you an address, Paypal, etc to send it too. I will continue to update you all on Alexia's condition as much as I can.
I dont normally ask anyone for anything, but I just have to at this point and know that I am sticking my neck on the line here, but I am desperate.
Please say a prayer for Alexia as well.

**Dancing Lotus** · 05-15-2008, 03:17 PM

This is so sad, I don' t know what to say expect I am sorry. I will pray for her.

**Missy** · 05-15-2008, 03:27 PM

This might seem unconventional, but have you considered posing her story to a local media outlet? The newspaper, the local news? Human interest stories are big news most places, and with word "out there" in the community, someone who knows how to help can surely be in contact with her to show her where to look.

**G'MaDebbie** · 05-15-2008, 03:32 PM

Great idea Missy!! thank you!

**janelane** · 05-15-2008, 04:02 PM

My heart goes out to your family and Alexia! I really wish I was in a position to help, I'm at least sending good energy her way.

And I had thought, but are you guys affiliated with a church or do you have a local fire hall that does community fund raisers? I'd imagine you could even organize something yourself if you could get hold of a big kitchen and enough space and helpers. Spaghetti dinners and pancake breakfasts are great for raising money, they're really cheap and fast to make, you may even be able to get stores to donate the food, doesn't have to be a huge amount of planning, ask for a few bucks per person -- and they'll donate even more.

I hope better health comes to your family soon.

**G'MaDebbie** · 05-15-2008, 04:51 PM

You know what? You people are freaking awesome!!! I have cried since the moment I put this post here, but tears of being overwhelmed with how thoughtful all of you are and the ideas you come up with at the drop of a hat!!. Please keep the prayers coming.
Debbie

**MomToTwoBoys** · 05-15-2008, 05:06 PM

My goodness. That's so heart-breaking. I'll definitely keep her in my prayers.

I'm in agreement with the other ladies. I'd suggest looking at the newspaper, as well...they're always itching for a human compassion story and it would reach another outlet of people as well. You could try to set up a fund in her name and have people donate, which would be great!

I know when we had tough times growing up, my mom would go to the Samaritan and other organizations that help people down on their luck. They're so great. They not only do food, but they do clothes and I believe some of them also have counseling. It never hurts to check it out.

**LuvMyHubby** · 05-15-2008, 05:56 PM

I will keep them in my thoughts.

I agree with Missy, try the media and perhaps one or more civic groups will be inspired to help or hold a fundraiser.

Good lucky.

**cissylu** · 05-15-2008, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by janelane

My heart goes out to your family and Alexia! I really wish I was in a position to help, I'm at least sending good energy her way.

And I had thought, but are you guys affiliated with a church or do you have a local fire hall that does community fund raisers? I'd imagine you could even organize something yourself if you could get hold of a big kitchen and enough space and helpers. Spaghetti dinners and pancake breakfasts are great for raising money, they're really cheap and fast to make, you may even be able to get stores to donate the food, doesn't have to be a huge amount of planning, ask for a few bucks per person -- and they'll donate even more.

I hope better health comes to your family soon.

I agree check these thing`s all out . there is some help out there some where.
I`m sending good thought`s her way please keep us posted.

**became4347** · 05-15-2008, 08:50 PM

I pm'd you

**mombottoo** · 05-15-2008, 09:15 PM

((((hugs)))) Sorry to hear of your niece's illness. I hope she has a full & speedy recovery! If your sis is in dire need of food she needs to ask for emergency foodstamps...which can be approved very quickly. If she has a case going already and requires help with utilities to avoid shutoff, she can apply for emergency assistance for this as well. If her caseworker isn't willing to help her, she needs to speak with her caseworker's supervisor. Try Catholic Social Services, Love Inc., Salvation Army and there is a phone number available for finding other agencies to help...I think it is 211 (if I'm wrong it should be in the phone book). You could also call the American Red Cross office in town and see if they have any ideas. Many of these agencies will issue gas cards, etc. if there is a proven need...it would be worth a shot.

If it looks like this is going to be a long haul type issue your sister should apply for help through Children's Health Services (formerly Crippled Childrens) the Health Dept should have info for this program. This program will pay any medical expenses not covered by another form of insurance and will pay for mileage for medical appointments. If care is needed out of town they used to pay for motel, food & parking fees and I am pretty sure they still do.

All of you are in my thoughts & prayers.

**Frugal Nurse** · 05-15-2008, 09:17 PM

First things first.

I understand that older children are sometimes allowed to get better at home. (which is probably is a much better idea anyway).
But is Mom in the position to monitor her neurological status?

Is she not being closely monitored? Getting CT scans or MRI's?
Messing around with a child's brain like that is scary!
Meningitis can cause permanent injury!

Sheesh! I do hope it's not because of her insurance status. I'll clock them right now. (look... I know it happens- let's not kid ourselves here)

You did not mention... but I will assume it's viral meningitis?

**G'MaDebbie** · 05-15-2008, 09:40 PM

I am so happy you asked these questions! First, they did a CT scan last week and said it was "fine".They made an appointment with an eye doctor due to her eyes crossing and the double vision and he had her rushed to ER due to him seeing the fluid near her brain. In the ER they said she had a medical issue that she would live with for the rest of her life and gave her a prescription for a diuretic(sp). Wednesday my sister took her to a neurologist and he confirmed that it was meningitis, he said it was viral....(I never knew that viral caused fluid on the brain, I was always led to believe that bacterial was the one that caused the fluid.) The neurologist said that her eyes wont be corrected until the virus is completely gone. If her symptoms arent better by this coming Monday, they are going to do another spinal tap.
My sister is in no way knowledgable to monitor her nuerological status. I'm not sure where we go from here.

Originally Posted by Frugal Nurse

First things first.

I understand that older children are sometimes allowed to get better at home. (which is probably is a much better idea anyway).
But is Mom in the position to monitor her neurological status?

Is she not being closely monitored? Getting CT scans or MRI's?
Messing around with a child's brain like that is scary!
Meningitis can cause permanent injury!

Sheesh! I do hope it's not because of her insurance status. I'll clock them right now. (look... I know it happens- let's not kid ourselves here)

You did not mention... but I will assume it's viral meningitis?

**G'MaDebbie** · 05-15-2008, 09:43 PM

I never heard of 211 before. I am going to call tomorrow and see what they suggest. Thank you so much for the information, it's times like these that I need friends like you, to help me think clearer and to think of the things I may have forgotten or dont know about.

Originally Posted by mombottoo

((((hugs)))) Sorry to hear of your niece's illness. I hope she has a full & speedy recovery! If your sis is in dire need of food she needs to ask for emergency foodstamps...which can be approved very quickly. If she has a case going already and requires help with utilities to avoid shutoff, she can apply for emergency assistance for this as well. If her caseworker isn't willing to help her, she needs to speak with her caseworker's supervisor. Try Catholic Social Services, Love Inc., Salvation Army and there is a phone number available for finding other agencies to help...I think it is 211 (if I'm wrong it should be in the phone book). You could also call the American Red Cross office in town and see if they have any ideas. Many of these agencies will issue gas cards, etc. if there is a proven need...it would be worth a shot.

If it looks like this is going to be a long haul type issue your sister should apply for help through Children's Health Services (formerly Crippled Childrens) the Health Dept should have info for this program. This program will pay any medical expenses not covered by another form of insurance and will pay for mileage for medical appointments. If care is needed out of town they used to pay for motel, food & parking fees and I am pretty sure they still do.

All of you are in my thoughts & prayers.