Frances is 93 years old and proud of it.  She is a feisty lady that still cares about looking good, being independent and having fun.  She also cares about monitoring her health and comes to CARE Chest to receive free diabetic supplies. 

 

Since Frances retired at 60 years of age because of health complications, she was forced to begin using her social security early.  She receives approximately $700 from Social Security and Supplemental Security Income combined. Frances had been barely scraping by but the situation has worsened since Frances now has to move to assisted living which costs $1,350 a month.  Living on such a small income Frances can’t afford to buy tests strips or glucome meters on her own. 

 

When asked if she would recommend CARE Chest to others she exclaims, “Oh God yes, I have before! CARE Chest is fantastic!”  Without CARE Chest, Frances says she’d have to try to buy them and borrow the money from a friend or family member.  

Mariah used to sleep with a lighter under her pillow but she wasn’t scared of imaginary monsters under her bed. She was always prepared for the worst, living in a very unstable and dangerous environment.  Both Mariah’s parents are addicted to meth. 

 

Her aunt Gracie decided to take action even though she herself was still very young, only 21, and fight for custody of her niece.  Now, at age 8, Mariah has a happy, active, and above all, safe home life.  Gracie works at TMCC and is also studying to become an Elementary Education teacher.  Gracie works hard to support herself and Mariah but living on a student’s budget unexpected expenses can be too much to handle. 

 

When Mariah fell off a slide, her new mom rushed her to the emergency room where they found she had broken three bones in her feet.  Gracie couldn’t afford to buy a pair of crutches for her to walk with so mother and daughter came to CARE Chest looking to borrow a pair.  Within minutes Mariah had a set of crutches and her face was all smiles.  It will take her time to get used to the crutches but soon she will be out on the playground again, enjoying life with her caring mom.

Norma worked at IGT for eight years.  Recently she had been getting very tired for no obvious reason.  She finally went to her doctor where she learned she had stage three Hepatitis C.  This infection causes liver inflammation and can result in cirrhosis and liver cancer.  

 

Unfortunately, there is little doctors can do now since the medication they prescribed did not work on her advanced stage of Hepatitis C.  Due to her condition she cannot work and she lost her insurance.  Her husband also lost his job in recent months.  Norma missed her last doctor’s appointment to monitor her condition because of her lack of insurance and funds.  She has made an appointment to seek Medicaid for herself and her children. 

 

She has also found CARE Chest.  CARE Chest helps Norma with diabetic supplies, including her diabetic medication.  Not knowing about CARE Chest before, Norma has gone without testing herself and without taking her medicine.  Norma is facing a difficult situation but she has a positive attitude and continues to do the best she can with the resources she has.  CARE Chest is glad to be one of the resources she can count on for her medical supply needs.