Help Semana & sons move into home!
Donation protected
My friend Semana is a single mother of two and she is in a financial crisis. She is dealing with several medical conditions and has reached the end of her finances. Having to leave her job due to health reasons, her bank account is now dry. Her and her children are about to be forced to leave their apartment because they can no longer pay rent.
This is an urgent need. Every dollar counts!
Let's help keep Semana afloat as she seeks at-home work, maintains her home and safety, and raises her two young boys. Please donate if you can, and pass along. Thank you!
~Lauren
(Please feel free to reach out to me on Twitter if you have any questions! @4lala)
From Semana:
Hello everyone! I am a single urban indigenous mother to two sons 6 & 8 years old residing in the Phoenix area.
In July of 2015, at age 33, I was diagnosed with many conditions – PTSD, Fibromyalgia and back conditions (spondylolisthesis, stenosis and severe facet joint arthritis) of the lumbar spine. The pain in my lower back extended into my legs and made it hard to walk and sometimes get out of bed. I received spinal injections to reduce inflammation the beginning of August but will need to get injections again really soon as I am experiencing pain now after two months.
I am currently seeing a rheumatologist for Fibromyalgia and now diagnosed Rheumatoid Arthritis. I take medication for RA to see if it helps and will soon start taking medicine for nerve pain associated with Fibromyalgia. One RA medication I take once weekly makes me nauseous just about everyday and wipes me out some days the entire day. With fibro, RA, and back pain, the pain is daily and around the clock and I never know how it will impact me day to day.
For the past 25 years, I have also lived with mental illness and ADHD. However, I was not diagnosed with major depressive disorder and general anxiety disorder until 17 years ago and ADHD finally this year. The chronic pain contributes to my depression and anxiety. I was recently without ADHD medication for two months so with the fibro fog and depression, I was so unfocused and in a haze. I also had to self manage and lower my dosage of my antidepressants as I wasn't able to see a Doctor until a few weeks ago. This is not fun if you know what taking venlafaxine (Effexor) is like.
So here I am, I've reached this point where life has turned me upside down and in doing so, literally emptied my pockets. Due to my decline in health, I had to quit my job on August 18. Since I have been out of work, I have spent most days lying in bed experiencing pain, chronic fatigue and major depressive episodes, battling this illness and struggling to keep myself okay. I've still managed to search for work, apply online, link with recruiters and had a few interviews. However nothing has worked out and here I am October 12th still unemployed and running low on money. I haven't given up, I still actively search for work and resources.
My sons have absolutely no support from their father. He moved to the east coast 5 years ago and has never visited or provided for them since. In the past 5 years he has called twice. People have inquired about child support, which I will not apply for my own personal reasons, a decision affirmed once I consulted with legal counsel.
I have applied for every type of assistance including TANF, SSI, unemployment and nutrition assistance. Right now I am currently only qualified for and receiving nutrition assistance. I have requested help from different places and people. I have been here before so I know available resources. (I'm only adding this information because I have been criticized for not doing more for myself and children.)
Financial Need
Now, I am asking for help. I have enough funds for necessities including gas and electricity, however come November, I will need to pay rent as well as living expenses. If I can just pay my rent which is $890 a month, I will be so thankful! I want to keep my sons in a safe environment at home and school.
How You Can Help Support
Donate - With your help, a donation of even $5.00 will contribute to my family making it through this hardship and contribute to lessening the burden.
I ask you humbly and with much respect to please help my family if you can.
Sape (it's good/ok),
Semana
@femsemee
atMissSemee Blog
This is an urgent need. Every dollar counts!
Let's help keep Semana afloat as she seeks at-home work, maintains her home and safety, and raises her two young boys. Please donate if you can, and pass along. Thank you!
~Lauren
(Please feel free to reach out to me on Twitter if you have any questions! @4lala)
From Semana:
Hello everyone! I am a single urban indigenous mother to two sons 6 & 8 years old residing in the Phoenix area.
In July of 2015, at age 33, I was diagnosed with many conditions – PTSD, Fibromyalgia and back conditions (spondylolisthesis, stenosis and severe facet joint arthritis) of the lumbar spine. The pain in my lower back extended into my legs and made it hard to walk and sometimes get out of bed. I received spinal injections to reduce inflammation the beginning of August but will need to get injections again really soon as I am experiencing pain now after two months.
I am currently seeing a rheumatologist for Fibromyalgia and now diagnosed Rheumatoid Arthritis. I take medication for RA to see if it helps and will soon start taking medicine for nerve pain associated with Fibromyalgia. One RA medication I take once weekly makes me nauseous just about everyday and wipes me out some days the entire day. With fibro, RA, and back pain, the pain is daily and around the clock and I never know how it will impact me day to day.
For the past 25 years, I have also lived with mental illness and ADHD. However, I was not diagnosed with major depressive disorder and general anxiety disorder until 17 years ago and ADHD finally this year. The chronic pain contributes to my depression and anxiety. I was recently without ADHD medication for two months so with the fibro fog and depression, I was so unfocused and in a haze. I also had to self manage and lower my dosage of my antidepressants as I wasn't able to see a Doctor until a few weeks ago. This is not fun if you know what taking venlafaxine (Effexor) is like.
So here I am, I've reached this point where life has turned me upside down and in doing so, literally emptied my pockets. Due to my decline in health, I had to quit my job on August 18. Since I have been out of work, I have spent most days lying in bed experiencing pain, chronic fatigue and major depressive episodes, battling this illness and struggling to keep myself okay. I've still managed to search for work, apply online, link with recruiters and had a few interviews. However nothing has worked out and here I am October 12th still unemployed and running low on money. I haven't given up, I still actively search for work and resources.
My sons have absolutely no support from their father. He moved to the east coast 5 years ago and has never visited or provided for them since. In the past 5 years he has called twice. People have inquired about child support, which I will not apply for my own personal reasons, a decision affirmed once I consulted with legal counsel.
I have applied for every type of assistance including TANF, SSI, unemployment and nutrition assistance. Right now I am currently only qualified for and receiving nutrition assistance. I have requested help from different places and people. I have been here before so I know available resources. (I'm only adding this information because I have been criticized for not doing more for myself and children.)
Financial Need
Now, I am asking for help. I have enough funds for necessities including gas and electricity, however come November, I will need to pay rent as well as living expenses. If I can just pay my rent which is $890 a month, I will be so thankful! I want to keep my sons in a safe environment at home and school.
How You Can Help Support
Donate - With your help, a donation of even $5.00 will contribute to my family making it through this hardship and contribute to lessening the burden.
I ask you humbly and with much respect to please help my family if you can.
Sape (it's good/ok),
Semana
@femsemee
atMissSemee Blog
Organiser and beneficiary
Lauren Markham
Organiser
Chandler, AZ
Semana Thompson
Beneficiary
