43 Year Old Bipolar Disabled Mother Seeks Childcare And Transportation Grant
by Valerie Horton
At age 14 my depression was so severe I tried to commit suicide and was admitted to the hospital for two weeks. I remember, as I got older I prayed to God to bless me with children to have someone to love so my life wouldn't seem so useless. I was blessed with six children, which I've been raising practically alone for over a period of 22 years. Unfortunately, five of them suffered from chemical imbalances as well. My 19 year old also suffers from bipolar disorder, my 14 year old from major depression, my 8 year old, ADHD, and my 6 year and 8 month old baby also have sleeping disorders. I've tried everything: special care and treatments, reading self help books, psychology, therapy, herbs and medication, and so on. It's been physically, mentally and emotionally draining. I need help financially to pay for childcare for the baby because she stays awake up to 11:00 pm to 4:30 or 5:00 am almost every morning in addition to her daytime waking hours. I keep adjusting her 2 to 1.5 hour naps to a minimum of twice a day, but that doesn't work either and I need time to recoup for the other children. Although my other children are in school during the day I have to work constantly with the school staff to address problems they have due to their conditions, in addition to special care needed at home. I have medication I'm supposed to take for my bipolar but the side affects make me drowsy so it's hard for me to care for them. So most of the time I'm unable to take my own meds, which makes it difficult to care for me. My husband is a tremendous help but he's 51 years old with a heart condition, so we are both overexerting ourselves and making our health conditions worse. Most of the time my blood pressure is 185/100 and my doctor keeps telling my I'm going to have a stroke if I don't take better care of myself and rest. But I only get a chance to sleep 2-3 hrs a night due to the sleep disorder my children and I have. I don't want risk going into the hospital from having suffered a stroke or heart attack or risk losing my kids to DCFS, but I really need help! I don't have reliable transportation to get mental health doctors and therapy session nor the strength and energy to travel on a bus or train with four kids. I'm caring for my baby 18 hours a day and I'm so exhausted most of the time, I need help getting reliable transportation. A grant could give us a more balanced life, and possibly help my 19 year old daughter and her three-year-old child. They're currently in a shelter because her bipolar disorder makes it hard for her to manage socially. I would really appreciate any financial assistance you can provide to assist my husband and me, as disabled parents caring for disabled children. Sincerely, Valerie Horton.
      Go to the Accessible.org Home page. 
|
