A humble thank you for the hearts, and an unfortunately serious reason I can't reciprocate this time

[abq e streeter]

I am for at least the immediate future, sending any spare money I have to help out a cousin, even though I've never met her, but had recently reconnected with several family members on that side of our family after many years, including her mother .Brittainy is 24, and shortly after New Year's she was involved in a terrible car crash, and it was touch and go as to whether she'd survive. She did, but suffered a spinal cord injury and is now paralyzed below the waist (Though I have great hopes that with stem cell research ,which the repubs can't block forever, she will walk again some day). She apparently is a hell of a fighter and is doing remarkably well considering what happened and what she's facing. But even beyond insurance, her family is facing an enormous financial burden and has set up a donation fund ; right now to buy her a special bed that will make it easier for her to get into and out of, but also for the other inevitable costs down the road. I just sent them as much as I could right now, and hope to send more from time to time. But there are many people on DU who have been very kind and supportive to me, and/or whose posts I've enjoyed etc... and who I wish I could have bought a heart for, but each one of those hearts will now be 5 more bucks I can send to help Brittainy and her mom.
Thanks again for the hearts and the year round kindnesses and political , personal, and musical comraderie I've found here......abq e streeter (Ron)

[KamaAina]

1. There are services out there for people with disabilities

the repukes haven't managed to kill them all yet!

There are sister organizations to the one I work with all over the country:

http://www.ilru.org/html/publications/directory/index.html

If Brittainy is also in ABQ, you're looking for:

Independent Living Resource Center (ILRC)
Gil Yildiz
4401 Lomas Blvd., Suite B
Albuquerque, NM 87110
[phone]
TTY: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
EMAIL: [email protected]
URL: none

I wish her the best! Many of my valued colleagues and all-around favorite human beings are wheelchair users. I know it probably sounds silly to tell her not to despair right now, but she shouldn't. :hug:

[abq e streeter]

2. Thank you for your kind words and the links

She is actually in the Pacific Northwest;my father's side of the family is pretty scattered which is why we've never met; like I said I recently reconnected, mainly facebook and emails, with her mother and grandfather, and some of her aunts and uncles. And thank you again for your generosity of spirit in finding and sending me this information.I will forward it to them.