Hello, and thank you for considering helping me get through this winter. I’m a 69-year-old woman who just sold her mobile home in April of this year. It gave me enough money to buy a truck and a travel trailer to live in. I’ve always wanted to explore our beautiful country. Mind you, I’ve never done anything like this before. Never driven a big truck or towed anything. So, wasn’t I brave? My first trip was to Alburquerque, New Mexico to visit and help a friend and her daughter, who’s a tween. I got to ABQ on April 29th. On May 2, 2022, I was a passenger in her little Honda Element as she was driving her daughter to school. She was driving and I was the passenger. I don’t know the city, but I do know that the traffic was crazy. It was very busy stop and go and she decided to make a left turn across 3 lanes packed with cars. At this point I don’t have any memory, because we were t-boned by a large SUV going way too fast for the conditions. It flipped the car we were in on its side and really messed it up. I’ve seen pictures and the traffic cam. It’s amazing anyone made it out alive. We were taken to the hospital. She was allowed to go home the same day. I, on the other hand, was there for 2 1/2 days. That’s when my memory started again. But I was left with Traumatic Brain Injury, and crush injuries to my right hand which has really impacted my life. Writing, grasping things, playing the piano, holding a fork or knife, and so much more. Because I started my travels from Yakima, WA to ABQ, Yakima is where all my doctors are. I was advised by all the emergency doctors, and people that treated me to come back to Washington to be treated because they are familiar with me. After 6 weeks of healing, I drove back to Washington. But, since I no longer had a home in Yakima, there was no place to put my travel trailer. Absolutely everything was full and wait-listed. The closest place that I could find and afford from Yakima, was in Dryden, WA. That’s how I ended up here. Now, another rub. I had to get new insurance because the one I had isn’t carried in Chelan County. So, new doctors, Physical therapists, Occupational Therapists, etc. Expensive, as no money has come from insurance from the wreck. So … here I am quite buried by the snow. It’s very hard to keep the snow shoveled as I can’t hold the shovel with my right hand. I need to be able to hire someone to help me do that. Also, with the temperatures dropping so low, my black water tank has frozen, and all the valves are stuck so I can’t empty the tank. Makes elimination very interesting. I have the little fireplace that came with the trailer, and an electric heater to keep it warm. And that was working until it got so cold. I’ve had to use the propane to keep it livable, and the water pipes from freezing. It’s very expensive and has used up the reserve funds I had. I’m not sure how I’m going to make it through the winter. On top of all of this, the check engine on my truck has come on and I need to get two things fixed on it before my engine is damaged. This is why I need help. To hire someone to help with the trailer getting thawed out, remove the snow, and get my truck fixed. Anything you can do will be so very appreciated and I promise I will pay it forward. Thank you, and please have a good holiday season.
