Help for an Essential Worker with Covid-19
Christina's mom and stepdad, Mona and Luke, both essential workers, are suffering with debilitating symptoms due to Covid-19. Though they are currently trying to recover at home, they have experienced significant weight loss, severe fatigue and body aches, excruciating headaches, loss of appetite, chest pain, shortness of breath, loss of smell and taste, etc.
Mona has been a nurse for 36 years and is one of the best you'd ever meet. Her compassion for others, her countless selfless acts, and her level of care is like none other. She puts everyone else, strangers included, before herself and always has. She has spent the last 11 years of her nursing career as a hospice nurse, and every patient of hers that passes, has a piece of her heart. The families of her patients become part of her family. She's a grandma to children that have no relation, she's the first to buy back to school clothes for children in need or a meal for the homeless. We've always tried to get her to give herself even a fraction of the attention that she gives others, but she is the definition of selfless.
About 8 weeks ago, she tore her meniscus in two places. She continued to work as much as possible, doing phone visits with her patients and their families, home visits as much as she could tolerate, desk work, etc. until a doctor made her take 2-3 weeks off and begin physical therapy. While off for her knee injury, she begin feeling ill and tested positive for Covid-19. Currently on day 14 of symptoms, she has experienced every possible symptom of Covid-19 at a significant level, and depression has begun to sink in, as she struggles to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Due to her knee injury and now Covid, she has been out of paid medical leave since June. Though we have been urging her to retire because of the current risk factors with her age, health, and this pandemic, financially, she is not in a position to do so - even more so now with this unexpected time off. As an essential worker, she is exempt from the Families First Coronavirus Response Act.
Mona, 63, and Luke, 64, are also raising their 15 year old grandson.
Not knowing how much of a toll this will take on either of them, what long-lasting effects it may have, or when they will be able to return to work, money is an added stressor they do not need while trying to fight this horrible disease.
Even the smallest donation can help relieve financial stressors so they can focus on making a full recovery. If nothing else, please add them to your prayer list!
Thank you for taking the time to read about their circumstances and consider helping. We appreciate your prayers!
The Hogue Family