Christmas Fund: Health problems have kept Annie away from her friends, her children

Annie doesn’t want to take any health risks during the pandemic, but that means she has missed the opportunity to see her friends’ children grow up.

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Annie says she was born sick.

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When she was a child, she had leukemia. She won her battle with cancer and, as an adult, discovered her calling working in catering. For a decade he worked and loved being in the kitchen. Then he suffered a brain tumor, followed by four strokes, and it changed his life.

“I’m in bed. I don’t go out at all,” Annie said. “I have to write everything down on my calendar, because now I have memory problems.”

You are permanently disabled, unable to work, and receive disability welfare. But when it’s vacation time, all you want to do is give back to the people in your life. Annie has no immediate family, but remains close to her friends from high school, and wants to keep up the tradition of buying Christmas gifts for her friend’s two children. She is always thinking of them.

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“My friend’s kids are growing up a bit, at that age where they are interested in technology,” Annie said. “I have no money for that and my friend tells me not to buy anything because of my situation, but there is no way he will not come with gifts this year.”

On a normal day, it is a challenge for Annie to leave home, but due to the pandemic it has been even more difficult. He goes out in moderation and mostly only leaves his place for doctor’s appointments. She uses public transportation and stays away from others. Given your health, you don’t want to take any chances. As a result, she has missed watching her friend’s children grow up at a formative time in their lives, to the point where she can hear them mature with every phone call. It reminds you of everything you are missing.

“It’s difficult,” Annie said. “But I tell myself, ‘Get over this day so you can get to the next.’ “

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