What if this was your mom? What would you do to save her? It is every parent’s nightmare to raise their children who then become victims of street life. What happens when our Parents fall victim to this circumstance? My mind and heart are broken. Here is my story: I was raised by my Mom, a strong woman who could take on the world, or so it seemed. She always provided well for my younger brother and I. I grew up, strong and independent, as I witnessed her being. I married and had a beautiful family of my own with two small children and a husband that wanted to give me the world. It was during the beginning of my new life that I watched my Mother’s life begin to crumble around her. She suffered a back injury that all but crippled her. The disc’s in her back were deteriorating. The pain showed in her eyes, but more so I could see a deeper pain…the pain of not being able to care for her family anymore. She started the battle of trying to collect on disability. And why should she not have, she had worked up until this point. Suffering with this pain, my mother was then diagnosed with Cancer. Cancer?? How could this be?? What did she do to deserve this?? I was devastated! Again, she proved to have the strength that only a Mama could have. She fought the fight and she won! Yes, she won the battle of cancer! Her reward for beating it was her husband leaving her and moving in with her best friend who happened to live next door to them. How much more can a person take? She had lost everything it seemed, she had no family besides her two children and just did not know what to do because she knew she was going to lose her home too. It was at this point she moved into an apartment with my then underage brother. I promised to help her as much as I could. I worked hard, as did my husband, and we took on both sets of bills. I helped with no remorse, as no matter where she turned for help she was denied or put on a “list”. And then one day, as our debts became bigger and harder I watched as they repossessed our family car. The guilt I felt was beyond description. Had I done this to my little family by trying to help my Mama? The guilt I felt was unbearable! How do you choose? My family meant everything to me, but how could I NOT help my Mama? I had to choose between them, and I knew my children deserved better then that, so my choice was the only thing I could do, I had to stop helping my Mama out financially and put my children first. It shattered my heart. It was not long until my Mama lost her apartment. She packed what little she owned at that time, and her dog, the only one she felt stood by her during her trying times and moved into her car. MY mother, the woman that was so strong in my life was now homeless! She came and went in our home…who knows where her mind was, she had literally lost everything and one could only imagine the depth of her devastation. I watched my once strong Mom, as she turned to our State, turned to churches and other program. And I watched as she continued to bow her head ever day praying to God, praying that he would help her find the strength and help she needed to just get started again. She got some help with food, with clothing…but NO help to get her off of the streets. All the programs helped the homeless stay homeless, but it seemed there was no help to get you in a home. Weeks and sometimes months would go by and I would hear nothing from her. When I did hear from her I would beg her to come and live with us, but I could hear it in her voice, she was already broken. She refused to burden my little family. During this time I tried everything I could think of to try and get her help. I emailed Stars, I emailed head Pastors, I emailed people within the State Government and NO ONE responded. So all I could do is continue to pray and I would beg and plead with my mom when I spoke with her, but she wouldn’t’ budge. She stayed living in her car and on the streets with nothing but a bag in her trunk and her dog by her side. A year had passed and my husband’s job was suddenly taking us across the United States. I couldn’t do it! I could not leave there not knowing where my Mama was! I had to find her, to BEG her to come with us! So before I left I got in my car, and I drove and drove searching for her. I spent ONE night in my car and was wiped out. How could she do this day after day, night after night? Finally after what seemed like forever I found her. Was this MY mom? She was so frail, so thin. Her once “happy eyes” were now sunk in and so sad. MY mom? How could this be? How could our system have failed her so miserably??? After we spoke for a few minutes I told her I wanted to have lunch with her. It was then that I planned on begging her to come with us. She agreed to lunch. I drove away to find a place to get us lunch and just fell apart. I remember banging my fists on my steering wheel over and over asking God WHY?? Why would he let someone feel SO alone! I gathered myself together, and then got some food and went back to my Mom. It was then I told her that we had to leave, and that it was going to be very soon. I BEGGED her to join me. Her concern was the same, that she would be a burden on my family. I told her over and over again she could never be a burden on us, that we wanted her with us! Looking back, I see why she would feel this way, for no matter where or who she turned to it seemed no one cared. SHE did feel like a burden to everyone. She finally agreed to come out to where we were moving to, once she was able to get her affairs in order. She used every reason in the world, but the truth was… My mama was broken and no longer carried the strength to get those affairs in order. And so with a heavy heart, I left with only my hope that she would pull out the last of her strength and follow through, that she would finally help me, help her. After we moved, living paycheck to paycheck I watched with this broken heart of mine as weeks turned into months. Why had she not called? I was saving and saving every spare dime I could to bring her out to us. And then the worse happened. My husband was suddenly laid off of work! NO! There was no way this could be happening! I work full time, and we are so grateful for that, but my income would not cover our bills! The money we had worked so hard to save to bring my Mama to us and off of the streets was slowly disappearing and with the months passing, we had still not heard from her. And then a call would come in from her. She was so softly spoken, so broken and just so weak. My mother was still living on the streets and NO one was/is helping her? I guess a small part of me wanted to believe that she had found some help…but no, she had not. Her situation had actually gotten worse, believe it or not…she is dying. She was diagnosed with a severe case of COPD and Emphysema. Is this really happening? I feel helpless. Period. I am turning every corner there is to turn. I am doing now what I thought I would never in my lifetime have to do. I am BEGGING! Our state will not help get her here; our Government will not help get her here. I am not asking for a penny more then to help get my Mama here, where at least we can help out off of the streets. She DESERVES better than this. My children deserve their Grandma! And I feel sick, each and every day knowing it cannot be ME to achieve this. I watch my husband’s heartbreak. He has always provided for our family and it really takes a toll. This is where I will swallow any and all pride that I have. We are asking for any help we can get, to JUST help us show her that people DO care! We are not asking for thousands of dollars….just enough for my family to drive back “home” and gather my Mama and her dog and the few belongings she has and bring her back to our home. If you cannot offer any financial help, we understand, the economy is bleak right now but we ask that you please pray for my Mama, for peace, for better health and for her safety. No woman deserves this. We as Americans should be ashamed that GOOD people have to live this lifestyle! It is my complete dream that one day we will the ability to never seen our children or parents EVER living on the street again. Thank you for taking the time to read our story. I hope that you can open up your heart, whether it be a small donation, or simple prayer…we will be forever grateful. Thank you and God Bless * You can find a list of what is needed on the webpage and Facebook page as well as our contact information. https://facebook/mamak.fund
Posted on: Thu, 10 Oct 2013 11:33:00 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015