Archives at Zinester: Starfish. Starfish:. Writing

Many years ago I met a woman and her daughter online who have done all they know to find a new beginning in life. Through this process I have come to learn that the resources in each state differ and the resources in Lagootee Indiana are limited.

I hope that there is someone who can help Susan and Rachel relocate. This would entail taking these two beautiful women under your wing and helping them to relocate and reestablish themselves.

If you or someone you know has an interest, please contact me, Teri Wilber at Missyt6597@aol.com.

Is your family happy? Are the basic needs of your family being met? Does your family have a roof over their heads...nice and warm and cozy? Does your family have food when they are hungry? Does your family have a warm bed when they are tired? Do you have warm water to bathe in?

These are the basic essentials that most Americans take for granted and many Americans see these as unattainable luxury. Most of the residents in our powerful, prosperous country do have the basic needs met; yet not for Rachel and Susan Richard who were born into poverty and illness. Perhaps those of us in this great country can reach out to help them to have the luxuries that most Americans consider necessities.

Imagine being a single mother to a child who has had many life long medical problems and always will. Can you imagine the challenge of constantly changing jobs because the businesses are being moved out of the country? While at the same time juggling medical appointments? Can you imagine the frustrations of being a single mother, trying to provide a roof over your child??冱 head, only to have your water and gas turned off? We live in the wealthiest country in the world, and yet, in Loogootee, Indiana, a population of 3,000, a mother and her young daughter live without the basic essentials.

Despite their living conditions, Susan and Rachel continue to have a positive attitude, a sense of humor, and the desire to reach out to help others. Rachel, at sixteen and enduring many disabilities, is tormented by her peers. Where are the teachers, those in authority? Sadly, they too find the need to torment Rachel. Yet Rachel with her strong spirit stands up for the underdog; defending her young friend who has cerebral palsy when he is tormented daily by the other children. She is by his side as the children try to knock his walker from under him, rather taking the abuse herself than seeing her friend suffer at their hands.

Add to all of this the reality that, as a mother, Susan herself suffers from painful medical problems. Susan has Neurofibromatosis (A Neurological Disorder that causes Tumors, Growth Problems, Learning difficulties, and a number of other health issues including cancer.) Susan lives with the fear that Social Services could take her child away from her because of her financial and medical challenges. Susan lives with the knowledge that Rachel might be better off financially if she were dead. What does a mother who adores her child do in a situation as such? Take into consideration that they were both born "into poverty and disease."

Where is the father you ask? God only knows ... the fact is, sixteen years ago, Susan made a very difficult choice. You see, Rachel is the gift of a most violent act, the act of rape.

Rachel, a young girl who is full of life, Love, and the strength to help others, is the result of a rape. Susan chose LIFE for Rachel. Though in a world where "the easy way out" is abortion, it was not an option for her. Susan also chose to be a part of that life as opposed to giving up this child that technically never should have existed to begin with.

It is evident that Rachel is God??冱 plan - God??冱 gift. Knowing that there was a fifty/fifty chance of passing her condition onto her children., Susan NEVER planned to have children of her own. If it weren??冲 for Susan??冱 Love and trust in God, Rachel would not be here today. Susan was put into a position of having to choose to terminate a possibly healthy baby or aborting a more then likely unhealthy child. Abortion, however, abortion was never an alternative.

At the tender age of sixteen, Rachel has endured many painful major surgeries (including Spine, Stomach, Sleep Apnea) and will always have health issues from having Neurofibromatosis. Getting assistance for help and finances has also been a LONG TERM struggle! What help they get they do appreciate but it is not enough ... not even enough to keep the basic needs paid for so now they have NO water and NO heat for their trailer.

Rachel was cut from SSI in September 2002; our government says Rachel is no longer "disabled enough" to receive such benefits, yet Susan continues to reapplying, doing the only thing she knows how to do. I am certain there are other means to help Susan and Rachel, yet they must know what is available to them.

One would think that our public schools would offer assistance, yet Rachel is tormented daily at school for being "different". Rachel wants to go to school and be around kids her age (where there are a few other disabled kids there that she has a bond with) Where are those who are in a position to help? Why are they turning their backs on this young girl?

Susan does not have much family to help as two of her siblings lost their battles at very young ages (16 & 25) to cancer as a result of also having Neurofibromatosis. Susan??冱 mother died last in May 2002 after battling life long health issues as well. Susan??冱 father, although disabled, has provided them with the trailer they live in. The only source of income other than Food Stamps in this household is TANF (Temporary Aid for Needy Families) which is a mere $229.00 a month and the bank keeps $2.00 for each transaction to get to that money. As you can see this is a very serious situation with the cold winter months settling in, and the lack of gas for heat.

Susan and Rachel were born into poverty and illness; in a country as great as America there must be a way to help them find their way into a safe haven. Can you find it in your heart to share the information they need to afford a better life for them? Rachel's Story

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