Disabled Mother Of Six With Quadriplegic Daughter Needs Government Grants For Housing And Transportation
by Karen Yvonne Miller
I am having a lot of hardship dealing with my 22-year-old quadriplegic daughter and my family. We have started over again. Back in May on the 16th day, my daughter was involved in a hit and run accident and was left for dead in the street. As a result of the traumatic injury she is now a quadriplegic. She has a severe spinal injury. She has rods and screws in her body. Her spine had multiple fractures, including the three main areas of the spine needed to function properly. She suffered fractures to her 3rd and 4th ribs and her lung collapsed. She cannot sit up on her own and wears a body brace for her front and back torso. She is wheelchair bound. It has been tough since day 1. She was in Ben Taub General Hospital in Houston, Texas from May 16, 2009 to July 1, 2009. When she was released from Ben Taub, she was admitted at Quentin Mease Community Hospital from July 1, 2009 and was discharged on July 28, 2009. I the mother am taking care of my daughter alone with little help from her siblings. It is difficult for them as well. I do not have financial assistance to get an apartment or home equipped and made accessible for her. The rent is $650 and my SSI check is $664. I am receiving SSI because of Bipolar disorder with severe depression. This accident has left us as a very devastated as we deal with who did this horrible crime of which no one has come forward. She has been seen on channel 13 KTRK Crime Stoppers, all the television news stations and on the Internet. There is not any help from an agency that hires a Home Health Aide. Neither am I getting paid to take car of her. My days are very hard. I have no time for rest and my daughter requires all my attention. I need assistance in getting medical supplies delivered to the house. She wears diapers. It is very hard dealing with her from day to day. She is very angry because she wants to know how someone can be so cruel. Our emotional and mental issues are burdensome. I have suffered a breakdown as well. I am on medication and have been now for 16 years. I need some psychiatric counseling. The Crime Victim Witness Compensation Program is a slow process and takes time. The DARS program has a long waiting list depending on the severity of her needs. The apartment I live in is too small. We live in a complex that has had many murders in the past and is drug infested. It is too dangerous for us to live here. There is nothing I can do to change this. My daughter's wheelchair is so huge that it cannot fit into the bathroom. She has not had a tub bath since July 28, 2009. I have to bathe her lying in her bed. It is too hard to use the patient lift alone because she is very heavy. I have also called several agencies for assistance. I turn out empty handed. I have a car but need financial assistance to get my car up and running. Being poor in this society does not pay. I can't do anything to help her. Her mood changes daily as does my family. I hate that this has happened. I did not know that it would be this difficult. Would you please consider my plea for help in getting my daughter and family a happy life again? It hurts me that I can't give her the best that life has to offer. I would appreciate it if this letter reaches President Obama's desk and others that may read this letter. My heart goes out to other families in the same situation that we are in. May God bless the hands that this letter reaches and that he or she has a lot of understanding as my family and quadriplegic daughter wait for the much-needed help. This is an experience that never goes away. Doctor's say it may take at least 18 months of extensive rehabilitation to know if she can walk again. In the meantime can you make us very happy by assisting us in getting the help my daughter really and desperately needs? Thank you for taking the time to read this letter and give us the help we so desire to get on with our lives and to make my daughter smile and have hope for her precious future. Thank you for taking the time it takes to read this letter and sending the help to make her have a better outlook on life as she faces this major tragedy. I know that things will be okay with God on our side. I cry a lot hoping one day our dreams will become a reality. She thanks everyone that will be involved in making this case a priority and hearing her mother's silent cries.
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