51 Year Old Grandmother Seeks Grant Money For Debt Relief And School

by Bridgette
(Atlanta, Georgia, USA)

My grandson surveyor in training

Just as the ozone layer of our atmosphere filters out harmful rays from the sun, our kidneys filter harmful toxins and waste in our body.

Unfortunately, I discovered some 20 year ago when trying to obtain additional life insurance that I had protein in my urine. Subsequent visits to my doctor revealed that I had Chronic Kidney Disease.

This is incurable and can be slowed down by keeping blood pressure under control. After recovering from initial shock I educated myself and started a rigid diet and exercise program.

I started a business with my husband hoping to hand down to my daughter or any future grandchildren.

Now at 51, I am on peritoneal dialysis and after all the years of hard work and effort my husband and I find myself living with our daughter and her husband with our grandson.

My husband is a land surveyor licensed in two states but because of the economy he cannot find work consistently. Frustrated, we used his pension and took early retirement living off of $1300 a month.

That amount disqualified me for $600 of SSI Disability. I rely on my daughter so much. And she has kindly lived up to the Chinese proverb "when you drink water remember the source."

She lovingly reminds me of the love and care I provided for her and how she appreciates it. She is struggling everyday with her bills, and with her responsibilities as a wife and mother, constantly worrying about the home we're living in going into foreclosure.

I HATE being a burden. I have tried to find work. I took a test for census work, scored high and still did not receive a call.

For years my husband and I wanted to start a business to educate at-risk youths in land surveying. If we had a duplex to live in with an attached office we could do this from our home and still have our daughter and family with us as my caregiver.

We are not asking for a handout. It is more as a proverb says, "if you climb a good tree, you may be given a good push." If you pursue worthwhile goals, you may be given support.

If anyone can point us toward grant money or other resources for debt relief and to help us start a school, we would really appreciate it.