Walknlow Glo Medical Fund
Donation protected
My name is Gloria Combs, I am a 69 year old active double amputee with several health problems (phantom pain, sleeping problem, HEP C in liver, blood clots, diabetic, high blood pressure, back pain, torn rotor cup in arm, and arthritis ) I raised my granddaughter which is now twenty five and now helping raise my five year old great-granddaughter. I’ve been in a wheelchair for almost 30 years and in those years I have never had this much problem out of my chair and health problems.
First in 1985 I lost my limbs due to blood clots (in my arteries not veins), about time this was detected it was too late and I had to have emergency amputation surgery to save my life.
I went back to school after I got out of the hospital in 1986. In 1988 I received my Associate Degree in Business Technology and went back to work at Coca Cola Foods. Then in 1997 I got laid off from Coca Cola food. Within the two years looking for a job (raising my 7 year old grand-daughter) I went back to school and took some business courses and in 1999 I got hired at The City of Houston as an Administration Aide in Information Technology. I was very active and outgoing until I torn my left and right rotor cup in my arm, now I have to be in a motorize wheel chair. In 2000 my husband died and also I found out that I had HEP C from the bold transfer I receive when my limbs were removed, but was told that if it didn’t bother you don’t bother it. Then later other complication came (more frequently phantom pain, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol), so in 2001 I went and took more business classes at work (Cape Center) and a part time job (Contemporary Service Incorporation Security) to keep my mind off of the problems I had.
In 2010 I got laid off my job at the City of Houston (with only five months to retire). Now the depression and anxiety problems came but I still had my part time job and going to Tom Bass park with the seniors (doing sewing, craft, making jewelry, going on outings, exercising), volunteering, was keeping me going mentality.
Then it happen my old chair went out and I received a new chair back in January 2014 and this chair has not been working since I’ve had it. This chair is supposed to go up and down (so I will be able to reach up in my cabinets), lay back and tilt to keep pressure off of my stubs after sitting. And they have been working on the chair for a year and a half. It was very uncomfortable and hard for me to set a long time in it because of the wrong cushion. While I was at work at the Stadium the chair stopped several times and also stopped while operating the elevator. It was getting harder for me to sit long length of time, so I had to stop going to the park for the seniors program, slow down on working at the stadium and other activities.
I received a loaner chair in February, 2015 but it didn’t work so well. The time I’ve had this chair I have broken my toilet (because I didn’t know the foot flap was down) also fail twice trying to get in the shower. The pressure form setting in this chair got worst. I have to stay in the bed off my buttes more than in the chair, I can’t do house work or reach anything. So within the time that I’ve had this chair I have begun to get a pressure wound and now I am not able to work as I like (I have been working this job for 10 years before I got laid off in 2010 and never had no problem siting , cleaning, cooking, being active, bathing until now). I called PRN several times and my insurance Texan Plus but they still didn’t know what was wrong with the chair so finally they came and picked it up last month on the 7 of September. I even had to get a lawyer to write them about fixing the chair before they ever started attempting to fix it.
April 2015 I changed doctor and she ordered me a new cushion so I would be able to sit longer to help with the pressure, bit I have yet to receive it. Now I have to take treatments for the HEP C, went to a diabetes class and have appointment with other doctors. Now I have anxiety attacks again and all kinds of crazy things going through my head, because I don’t want to be cut on anymore for anything.
Before I had problems with my chair (also loaner chair) and falling in the shower and having pressure wound problem for sitting on a hard uncomfortable chair and not being able to take a bath(take a wash off in a basin not feeling lean and comfortable around people) and trying to take care of this problem before it goes too far, I was a very outgoing person and also very independent 69 year old senior helping raise a five-year great-grand-daughter, I worked part-time frequently, volunteered at school and other places, exercise, participated in senior activities went on field trips, did arts and crafts, done my own chores inside and outside of my house, cooking, baking and etc. In the past year and a half I have felt worthless, angry, depressed, handicap (not just a disable person in a wheelchair), be in more pain than usual, and stay in the bed more than usual. As of August 24; 2015, I received my wheelchair, hopefully not breaking down on me again, before I can go to the dentists (because my chair was not working for me to get my six month clean), get my wellness and get a doctor to check my wound (because the chair would not go up for me to get on a table to be checked).
So what do all of this have to do with having a bath tub? I like working at Contemporary Service Incorporation (NRG Stadium, and now hope University of Houston also) helping in the community, volunteering, driving where I want to go, getting medical help when needed, just being independent and don’t want to have to quit any activities (in or outside of home) because of my newly health problem that was not under my control. So I am asking if I can get some help in fixing my bathroom (so I will be able to sit and take a bath in a bathtub (not shower)) and to fix my commode from coming off the floor, and be able to sit in a bathtub in a chair, (the one that goes up and down in the tub) so I will be able to help heal my pressure wound before it get worst and not having to have surgery, help with phantom and back pain so I will able to sleeping better and longer, so I can get back to doing the activities I use to do, being independent, happy, outgoing, and go back to school for a Teacher’s Aid in January 2016, but just to sum everything up I just want to be Gloria again and not someone in a wheelchair just setting around doing nothing. Thanks in advance for your help.
First in 1985 I lost my limbs due to blood clots (in my arteries not veins), about time this was detected it was too late and I had to have emergency amputation surgery to save my life.
I went back to school after I got out of the hospital in 1986. In 1988 I received my Associate Degree in Business Technology and went back to work at Coca Cola Foods. Then in 1997 I got laid off from Coca Cola food. Within the two years looking for a job (raising my 7 year old grand-daughter) I went back to school and took some business courses and in 1999 I got hired at The City of Houston as an Administration Aide in Information Technology. I was very active and outgoing until I torn my left and right rotor cup in my arm, now I have to be in a motorize wheel chair. In 2000 my husband died and also I found out that I had HEP C from the bold transfer I receive when my limbs were removed, but was told that if it didn’t bother you don’t bother it. Then later other complication came (more frequently phantom pain, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol), so in 2001 I went and took more business classes at work (Cape Center) and a part time job (Contemporary Service Incorporation Security) to keep my mind off of the problems I had.
In 2010 I got laid off my job at the City of Houston (with only five months to retire). Now the depression and anxiety problems came but I still had my part time job and going to Tom Bass park with the seniors (doing sewing, craft, making jewelry, going on outings, exercising), volunteering, was keeping me going mentality.
Then it happen my old chair went out and I received a new chair back in January 2014 and this chair has not been working since I’ve had it. This chair is supposed to go up and down (so I will be able to reach up in my cabinets), lay back and tilt to keep pressure off of my stubs after sitting. And they have been working on the chair for a year and a half. It was very uncomfortable and hard for me to set a long time in it because of the wrong cushion. While I was at work at the Stadium the chair stopped several times and also stopped while operating the elevator. It was getting harder for me to sit long length of time, so I had to stop going to the park for the seniors program, slow down on working at the stadium and other activities.
I received a loaner chair in February, 2015 but it didn’t work so well. The time I’ve had this chair I have broken my toilet (because I didn’t know the foot flap was down) also fail twice trying to get in the shower. The pressure form setting in this chair got worst. I have to stay in the bed off my buttes more than in the chair, I can’t do house work or reach anything. So within the time that I’ve had this chair I have begun to get a pressure wound and now I am not able to work as I like (I have been working this job for 10 years before I got laid off in 2010 and never had no problem siting , cleaning, cooking, being active, bathing until now). I called PRN several times and my insurance Texan Plus but they still didn’t know what was wrong with the chair so finally they came and picked it up last month on the 7 of September. I even had to get a lawyer to write them about fixing the chair before they ever started attempting to fix it.
April 2015 I changed doctor and she ordered me a new cushion so I would be able to sit longer to help with the pressure, bit I have yet to receive it. Now I have to take treatments for the HEP C, went to a diabetes class and have appointment with other doctors. Now I have anxiety attacks again and all kinds of crazy things going through my head, because I don’t want to be cut on anymore for anything.
Before I had problems with my chair (also loaner chair) and falling in the shower and having pressure wound problem for sitting on a hard uncomfortable chair and not being able to take a bath(take a wash off in a basin not feeling lean and comfortable around people) and trying to take care of this problem before it goes too far, I was a very outgoing person and also very independent 69 year old senior helping raise a five-year great-grand-daughter, I worked part-time frequently, volunteered at school and other places, exercise, participated in senior activities went on field trips, did arts and crafts, done my own chores inside and outside of my house, cooking, baking and etc. In the past year and a half I have felt worthless, angry, depressed, handicap (not just a disable person in a wheelchair), be in more pain than usual, and stay in the bed more than usual. As of August 24; 2015, I received my wheelchair, hopefully not breaking down on me again, before I can go to the dentists (because my chair was not working for me to get my six month clean), get my wellness and get a doctor to check my wound (because the chair would not go up for me to get on a table to be checked).
So what do all of this have to do with having a bath tub? I like working at Contemporary Service Incorporation (NRG Stadium, and now hope University of Houston also) helping in the community, volunteering, driving where I want to go, getting medical help when needed, just being independent and don’t want to have to quit any activities (in or outside of home) because of my newly health problem that was not under my control. So I am asking if I can get some help in fixing my bathroom (so I will be able to sit and take a bath in a bathtub (not shower)) and to fix my commode from coming off the floor, and be able to sit in a bathtub in a chair, (the one that goes up and down in the tub) so I will be able to help heal my pressure wound before it get worst and not having to have surgery, help with phantom and back pain so I will able to sleeping better and longer, so I can get back to doing the activities I use to do, being independent, happy, outgoing, and go back to school for a Teacher’s Aid in January 2016, but just to sum everything up I just want to be Gloria again and not someone in a wheelchair just setting around doing nothing. Thanks in advance for your help.
Organizer
Gloria Combs
Organizer
Houston, TX