Letter to the Editor

Concerned for friend

Sunday, February 27, 2011

To the Editor:

I am concerned about the little amount of help our government or state or city involves themselves with people in need.

A friend of mine has been trying to get help with her dilapidated house. She has completed all the paper work for all the grants or assistance to no avail and this has been going on for a couple of years.

I myself have called several places to try to help. I have called Habitat for Humanity and left several to no avail or response.

The answer is "you're on the list." I have seen more sincere help from good-hearted individual people, but the problem is too big for a single person and much too costly.

You have heard the saying, "You can't judge a book by the cover."

That's my friend. Her whole life she has been judged by her outward appearance and her southern accent. Most of the time when you're pushed down in the mud and repeatedly stepped on, it would appear undesirable, much like a rock you find in that mud, you decide to pick it up and wash it off and the beauty starts to appear and you polish it and unbeknown, you have found a precious stone with more worth, beauty and sparkle.

Then, its outward appearance becomes desirable to all who recognizes its beauty.

That's my friend.

To my regret, I have not always been worthy or kind, but she knows me and never forsakes me or abandons me. In fact, she always lifts my spirits. Next to God, she knows me better than anyone else and provides me with what I need at the very moment I need it.

She knows me because she never gives up on me. She perseveres for our friendship. She handles more diverse situations than I could even possibly think of, because of her loving and caring heart.

My friend is raising her three grandchildren alone. Her grandson is 2 and her two granddaughters, one is 5 and the other is 6. Her 6-year-old granddaughter was born with Cerebral Palsy. She cannot walk, talk or eat. She eats from a feeding tube. She is the happiest little girl.

My friend understands every single jerk, moan and movement she makes. My friend is only 5-feet tall and lifts her into bed, out of bed, into her wheelchair and onto her lap and holds her lovingly as she jerks and flails all while she reads or plays games with her other two grandchildren.

My friend has no furnace but she's on "the list."

She heats with space heaters and has to bathe the children in the kitchen as if matters weren't hard enough.

But she does it because she loves and cares for her babies.

I don't know how, but she always manages. My friend cannot work because childcare costs more than her wages and with a special needs child, no one wants to be responsible.

So with her tiny income and her dilapidated house, there's never enough to meet all their needs, but she manages with the grace of God and gracious individuals help.

No one should have to sacrifice so severely. But she does with amazing love and dedication.

I love you my friend.

Please, if there is anyone that could help my friend get her a grant or get her an electric furnace or anything to help her, I'm begging you to help.

I am not in a position monetarily to help, but I will do just about anything to help my friend.

God bless you all.

Sincerely,

Cathy Sanders,

Brazil