Have you checked out Making Home Affordable? It’s a government program that helps people with their mortgages, sometimes due to hardship related to medical bills. You may or may not be eligible, but it’s worth a shot. This link goes to their eligibility page, but definitely consider tooling around on the site. They might have some additional resources there.
My company directs people to this program fairly frequently - many people we work with are in foreclosure proceedings because they have to choose between paying their mortgage and their medical bills. It doesn’t sound like you’re there yet, but even if these people can’t help you, they might be able to recommend some alternatives.
A good thing to remember is that if you do work with a company - any company - to try to reduce your mortgage or put off some of the payments, if they request money from you and you’re not refinancing, it’s probably a scam, especially if they claim to be with the government. There are a lot of scammers out there pretending to be with the HOPE program (a housing program) who ask for money, then don’t deliver.
I seem to be making it a habit to look at Getty’s videos every couple of days as a reality/perspective check, and I keep having this feeling- maybe wishful thinking- that she’s going to be OK. Make of that what you will. I really had to think whether I wanted to say that here or not, but I just felt I had to. And I so hope that it’s not wishful thinking. It’s just that she looks so happy & yet so studious & serious that she gives me a feeling of reassurance.
(I have one arm in a sling so pardon terseness/ please!)
I recall earlier in the thread that you were hesitant to post a donate request on the Caringbridge site, and that donations using the Donate link there go to CB not to your family. I think you mentioned this in a journal entry, and it’s great for CB to get donations, but I urge you to rethink it and post a link to donate. I’d love to pass the link around, and I know others would likely as well, but I don’t want to post your email address/ask people to Paypal you, that might seem a little suspect.
A friend is planning a fundraiser and we may be setting up an account for that purpose. I have no idea how to donate online except PayPal.
I’m curious as to what an elected official might do. They send a letter to the mortgage company? Why would the bank listen to them? Risk of bad publicity?
If the bank is asking for anything from the local or state government - a building permit for a larger parking log, a tax break on building a new branch, a piece of legislation that would benefit them - the rep’s office might be able to lean on them. Even if the bank is unresponsive, the rep’s office might be able to point you towards local organizations or government programs that could help you out.
Elected officials simply do not get elected without both owing and incurring favors owed. You never know who an elected official might be owed a favor by!
Jelly Roll and I have an Etsy shop in the works - I’d say it’ll be up probably in a couple of weeks or so. Any doper contributions would be great, and I’ll post my patterns (knitting and sewing) so people can use them if they want to. (And if someone else would rather spearhead the Etsy shop in the meantime, that’d be fine too, of course.)
I’d be happy to handle the listings and such, people can just email me pictures and a description and then when the item sells, I can pass on the address for shipping (I’ll make sure the listing says that this will be the case, so people don’t get upset about me giving their personal details to others). Or items can be shipped to me to ship out again, if preferred.
Congress people have whole departments dedicated to assisting people in their district. My mom never would have gotten her SSI without the intervention of our Rep. who cut through the red tape and bureaucratic crap in a flash. Call/write all of them and please don’t be all stoic and manly. Call United Way, your hospital social worker, whatever agencies look promising.
Also, you can consider going back to school in a hurry. I lived on student loans for a while a few years ago. Yes they have to be paid back but they can provide some cash in a hurry with up to a year forbearance once they come due. It’s all done on line now and you can get your refund/balance back pretty quickly. They are meant to pay your living expenses and mortgage/food/water counts.
I know you have thought of all these, it just makes me feel like I am doing *something *to help. I wish I could help.
After much wrangling and weighing of issues, we decided it is best for Mrs. Bearflag to return to work full time … for now.
The main reasons are that half time at half pay doesn’t come close to what we need, two-thirds time is not available, we need to maintain health benefits, and we don’t want to burn through all of the limited leave benefits while the Little Owl is still a pretty healthy kid … for now.
At some point, though, her condition will change. When it does, we will re-evaluate the work schedule and we will need Mrs. Bearflag to go to half time or less. So, as painful as it may be to be away from her baby, it’s full time … for now.
For the Little Owl Fund contributors, please know that your contributions have really saved our asses over the past couple weeks as I have been generating zero income as we try to deal with all this and Mrs. Bearflag will not see a paycheck until the end of September. Also, know that the full time status will last only as long as our girl can get by with Mama at work. We will be incurring some in-home day care costs and we will likely be spending quite a bit on equipment, co-pays, and things not covered by Kaiser. Also, the fundraising efforts currently underway will certainly be needed when our Little Owl’s health takes a turn and Mrs. Bearflag reduces her full-time status to part-time. So, the full-time status will not be a permanent fix, but it will buy us some time to fend off creditors. I just wanted to assure you that the Little Owl Fund has gone and will continue to go to its intended use. Thank you all!
I hope everyone is keeping up with the Getty vids on YouTube!
The latest… she’s rockin’ it to The Cars!
I have a question- hope it’s OK- when you manipulate her arms & legs, does she show any resistance at all? She certainly seems to enjoy it- does she attempt to initiate it any?
I just found this thread, and I’m so sorry to hear about your little girl’s diagnosis. When I worked as a nurse in a pediatric ICU, I took care of several SMA babies. I’ve never forgetten those little ones or their families.
I don’t have much else to say right now, but just wanted to let you know that I’m praying for your family. I looked at your daughter’s pictures on the website, and she is beautiful! I love the name Getty, by the way.
Bearflag, she needs to play some left-handed gee-tar as well, lest her left wing miss out on some of that vital activity. Maybe put her on bass ala Paul McCartney.
Her drumming is impressive, too - I noticed a Ringo-esque crossed-hands beat. Just be sure she uses the entire kit!
