In her mother's own words

My Disabled Daughter

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UPDATE 10-11-06

Another ministry bought the $9,000.00 specialized wheelchair, and they have moved Lauren from the Hydro facility to Tuttle Care Center. Her mother said the nurses are "very caring."

IHNM sent her a $100 for incidental needs.

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Except for one day since her injury occurred on 2/27/06 she is still completely unable to speak. When we visited her on Father's Day, we sobbed and rejoiced as, without the slightest hint it would happen, she actually spoke to us (!!!), in volumes and making perfect sense the entire day! No longer did she have that brain damaged look, the constant progression of which was so incredibly painful to watch. We thought our girl was back! For the first time since her accident we actually felt hope and happiness. 

But upon returning two days later, we found her back at square one and very "Terri Schaivo" looking, unresponsive and didn't seem to know us. Very disheartening indeed, although we're told with brain injuries you just never know.

I find myself in a brutal daily struggle just to hold onto my faith and believe in my heart my baby girl will recover. The day Lauren was "back" was the most wonderful day of my life; two days later one of the most heartbreaking.

The most immediate need: Lauren requires a $9,000 Tilt and Space wheelchair, for which there is no Government aid.  She currently doesn't have one and remains unable to walk or swallow.

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HELP THIS MINISTRY BY TELLING A FRIEND -

http://www.inhisname.org/help2.html

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Without the help of God and my wonderfully supportive husband, I know I would not survive this ordeal. It has been so long. The past two months I've truly been terrified. I now find myself constantly fighting the urge to end my life. Only to realize how very much my daughter needs me, and that she MAY indeed know when I'm there with her but simply cannot express that she knows.

Background

After loosing his job, my husband, Wade, is still seeking employment, and we have only one vehicle, which hampers not only his job hunting, but also getting to and from once he is hired. 

Lauren was accepted by and relocated to Maple Lawn Manor nursing home in Hydro, OK, on 6/16/06.  While she is certainly much closer to OKC now than when she was in Little Rock, with Wade out of work we are still struggling with a few items. 

Less urgent but still very pressing: We are currently driving w/o car tag or insurance.  The cost of gas is approx. $15 per roundtrip from OKC to Hydro.

Without current tag/insurance, we are very afraid in making the drive that we might be pulled over and ticketed, which would only create more financial distress. I am 46 years old and have a clean driving record, but my car insurance runs $115 per month because I was forced to file bankruptcy in 2003 and my credit report is factored in.

We traded for this car when Lauren was moved from the hospital in Ft. Smith (6 hrs. roundtrip) to the rehab hospital in Little Rock (14 hrs. roundtrip). Despite seeking a solution, we cannot afford the TT&L and are now going into our third month, our fingers crossed while driving that we are not ticketed.

 

Also we are a few months behind on rent ($385 per month). While our landlord, John Vaughan, is thus far extremely understanding, we know he is quickly losing patience.  Having this cheap rent in such a good area, we hate the thought of giving up our place to seek shelter elsewhere.

 

What I now so humbly ask is for possible assistance on car insurance and/or some gas for the car, and perhaps a portion of the back rent. It is very embarrassing for me to still need assistance, but I don't know what else to do.  Please pray for us and especially for Lauren -- we are so desperately trying to hang onto hope day to day.  At the same time we fully realize many people have situations much worse than ours. May God bless you and your ministry as you provide people with much needed hope!