I am the mother of two beautiful children. My 18 year old son graduated from high school this past year and still lives with me. He works at my office as a temp and I keep him busy. My daughter, who would be 24 years old, lost her life to a malignant brain tumor at the age of 5. I was by her side every single second along the way but the cancer was undefeatable and my daughter died on March 2nd, 1990. Just 24 short days later, my son was born!
Soon after giving birth to my son I returned to college at the ripe old age of 30. I received an associates degree in journalism at the age of 32. I tried in vein to find a job in my field but was unsuccessful. Having failed at finding work in my hometown in Ky, I moved to the Washington DC metro area where I immediately found work as an administrative assistant. I have worked for exactly 2 companies in the past 12 years and went back and forth between the two as they counter offered and counter offered to keep me working for them. I finally settled on the one that offered the greatest benefits and I still work there today.
The reason I am here is to let people know that there is always hope. I have been homeless over the years. I suffer from bipolar disorder and neglected to pay my rent for several months, was suffering from severe hyperplasia, bleeding profusely, missing work, running up debt with credit cards, considering suicide and finally evicted from my house and had to live in my car. I left my son with my brother and went to my office to kill myself. A little voice inside said go to the hospital and I did. Needless to say I saved my own life. I am here today to encourage other's not to give up! Keep fighting! There is always a light at the end of the tunnel. After a month in a psych hospital, I went back to work, having never lost my job and managed to find an apartment complex that would actually rent to me. By December I had traded my little Toyota that I owned for a nice sporty little SUV. I had my son and myself situated in a nice little one bedroom apartment and with the help of friends (I did have to ask for help) I furnished my little apartment with hand me down furniture.
Things have really changed drastically since then. My mental health is stable due to diligenence on my part to receive the treatment I learned I needed and take my meds as prescribed. It took some effort to get here...it wasn't magic...but we made it! Standing on my own two feet makes me feel powerful, like I can do anything!
My next goal is to become a doctor. I am now looking for medical school assistance. I know I have a long road ahead of me but I'm not afraid to try! I do not want to go further into debt but would like to become financially secure as I work toward a medical degree. My degree will be put to good use in the service of other's less fortunate. It is my plan to run a free clinic to provide quality health care to all those who do not have the resources to obtain it on their own. Every life is important and should be protected and that is my goal. I am absolutely looking for hand outs for this purpose. My reward to you for helping me with my medical degree will be the satisfaction of knowing you contributed to the good health of less fortunate women, men and children of all ages.
I am currently putting together a website so those who contribute to my degree can watch my progress as I make this jouney. Please come walk with me. Let's make the world a better, healthier, more compassionate place!
