Single Mother Born With Mystery Illness Seeks University Education Grant Money

by Poppy
(Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

I'll start by telling you my adventure story and conclude with an appeal for government grant money to fund my daughter's university education.

I was born in a small town in Cyprus on January 21 1966. My life began with an illness that don't remember what it's called.

I was in and out of the hospital until the age of 5. My mother picked me up from the hospital and took me directly to the school for first day registration.

I had a good 3 years in schools until 1974 where the war broke out between the Turks and the Greeks.

In December 1974, I immigrated to Toronto Canada and came face to face with the worst storm in history.

Not familiar with the country, weather and especially the language I was horrified being in this country.

I had to face my fears on my own because my parents had to go to work to put food on the table for my two older sisters and me.

I hated school. I was bullied teased and made fun of because I was different than the norm back then.

Somehow I managed to come out of those years by learning the language and getting used to the cold weather and the snow half way up my waist.

I finished high school and went off to college where I had to work hard to pay my way through school.

I completed my schooling, got a job bought myself a car and paid my car loan while I lived at home.

I met a guy, we dated for 4 years and we got married. We had a beautiful wedding, which I paid for all on my own.

That marriage ended in a divorce in a year and a half. As a result of the marriage I got a beautiful daughter.

I worked hard to give her everything she needed and some. I spent all my free time with her and enjoyed every minute of it.

My ex never gave me any child support or any sort of help in raising her. I did it all on my own but as she was getting older the expenses were getting higher.

I had a stressful and well paid job but it all came to an end when in the year 2000 I was diagnosed with severe Multiple Sclerosis.

I was desperately trying to hold onto my job as well being a super mom for my daughter and being part of her life. I had to give that up.

My doctor said either you have to quit your job or your condition will be getting worse and worse.

So with no choice I packed it all up and settled with a very small portion from disability pension from the government.

At this point I still no help from my ex. Also I had an outstanding loan of his that I was liable to pay. (The father is still nowhere to be found after all these years.)

Eventually my large debts and expenses caught up with me and I had to declare bankruptcy.

I experienced more stress and more relapses on my condition because I was desperately trying to find a way to hold onto my property that I had purchased a year earlier with my hard earned money.

My property was considered an asset and the creditors would have taken it to pay off my debts.

I worked hard to find a solution to that problem and I succeeded. With the added stress, my condition was getting worse.

I got past that hurdle and now have to face the other problem: university time. I managed to get tuition for the first and second year.

My daughter is going to study overseas the third year and I need $20,000 to do that. She's taking French studies and for the third year it is beneficial to study in France. It gives her to exposure of the language first hand.

Now that you know my life story I hope you can see how much of a financial need I'm in. I hope you can help me. Any amount I'll get I will be more than grateful for.

Thank you for any government education grants or other financial help you can direct me to. Poppy.