Couple's spirits remain high
"I do things for people who are worse off than I am," said this elderly woman, whose spirits remain high despite the rough patch she and her husband have gone through this past year. The two live on Social Security, and in a short period of time, the wife has had surgery, the husband has been diagnosed with a memory disorder and the two were forced to move out of their mobile home park and relocate their residence of more than 30 years.
Years ago when the husband suffered an on-the-job accident, he injured his back so badly he could no longer work. A veteran, he must still pay at least partially for his medicine, his wife said.
"For years I was an administrative assistant in a legal office," she said, "but then one of my daughters brought home a baby of a friend of hers and I didn't have the heart to say no. I took care of that baby and pretty soon I was taking care of the children of a lot of my kids' friends."
She continued doing this for years. "I wouldn't charge for daycare if the parents went to college. They weren't allowed to miss a day of school and they had to graduate. And that's exactly what a lot of them did."
A while back she had pneumonia and recently she has had knee-replacement surgery. "It's starting to work like a knee again and I'm doing my exercises, but it all takes a long time to heal when you're my age."
Despite her surgery, she's still helping out with other people's children. Currently she is watching "only" two.
When the mobile home park in which they lived was sold, it cost this couple money they didn't have to get moved to a new one. "It took us a year to get everybody that helped us to move paid off. I don't think we'll ever be back on our feet again financially the way we used to be. But that's not going to stop me from doing things for others."
With our readers' assistance, Press Christmas for All works to brighten the holidays for people like this - the jobless, homeless, those who are barely making ends meet, individuals with disabilities or illnesses. Many are alone this holiday season.
Each year, our generous readers' donations allow us to assist thousands of Kootenai County families in need. Each day until Christmas, we will share the stories of those whose holiday memories will be a little happier because of Press Christmas for All.
Donations are collected, then distributed in the form of gift cards to Kootenai County residents in need.
Press Christmas for All is a holiday charity now in its 28th year. It is managed as a nonprofit by The Hagadone Corp. Because it is run by volunteers from The Hagadone Corp. and their partners at Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, every penny raised is distributed in the form of gift cards from local retailers who also generously support the program. The cards can be used to buy food and gifts but not alcohol or tobacco products. All contributions are tax deductible.
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