Hello, My name is Patrica Steele. I’m 58 years old and I was diagnosed with Metastic Small Cell Lung Cancer in June 2021. I have spent the last couple of years in and out of the hospital with complications from my Cancer and with septic shock. I’m not good at asking for any help as I have worked hard all my adult life to provide until 8 years ago when I physically became unable to work due to having auto immune disease Rheumatoid Arthritis and it crippled my body. I was approved for SSDI and began receiving benefits in late 2015. My monthly benefits are under 1000.00 mthly. When I received my cancer diagnosis my world was scattered. Up until this time I had been able to live alone and care primarily for myself. This disease within a very short time took away all my independence and after my chemotherapy and 35 rounds of radiation, I was unable to be alone and had to give my home up and live with family and friends. I found myself still able to get to my appointments and such but it was getting harder for me because the vehicle I owned was older and not in very good mechanical shape, and all my appointments were not close to my home so miles were adding up. After awhile my little car (2003 Kia Optoma) couldn’t take the travel and finally stopped on me. With everything going on with it ,it was eventually going to cost much more than I had to start repairs and so I took what little I had saved up and bought another car ( 2013 Dodge Avenger) . I was thrilled, I finally had a AC and a car that the salesman promised would be dependable and get me to my dr appointments. Well unfortunately the car started having problems within 48 hrs of purchasing it. The used car dealer I bought from turned out to not be very reputable and I was basically told they were not going to do anything. I contacted an attorney but in my state ( Alabama) the lemon law does not apply to used vehicles, and the attorney told me that with my condition that I more than likely would not live to see it go to court, my family could benefit but the upfront cost was something I couldn’t afford. So I tried my best with trying to fix it every month when I could afford to but I would replace a part and then it would be something else. In June, it broke down 3 miles from home and before I could get back to try and get it home, it had been towed. When it got towed the lot was charging me an astronomical amount to get. I just financially could not afford to pay and still not know how much cost to repair, if it could be repaired would be. All this has happened in June of this year, I’ve not had a way to any of my Dr’s. Appointments since then. With all this happening I had been paying to live with a ” friend” but that arrangement hasn’t worked out due to theft of my things. So I have had to make the decision to leave my current living arrangement and by God’s grace an apartment became available but the initial fees to move in is a little more than I can handle all at once. I’m only asking for possible assistance with the rental deposit and the utility deposit. This is a total of 500.00.
So I have kindly requested this campaign to help me purchase a dependable use vehicle from a reputable dealership, and a a little extra to help pay the upcoming fees I need to move into the apartment. Any monies extra will be used to pay insurance on vehicle and buy necessities I need to start living on my own again.
I basically have nothing except my clothes to start off with. So I’ll will be needing a couple pieces of furniture. A bed being the main items that I’ll need on day one, everything else is not so important. But with my health this way, I spend a lot of my days in bed unless I have appointments. I hope I have explained to you all the purpose and need for this campaign. I live in a small town and I don’t have much family( 1 sister, and 1 brother) and neither are in a position to help me financially. Any donation will be so appreciated. Thank you all in advance for your consideration and prayers.