Pay it forward
A week ago, I was beside myself with frustration sitting home alone, freshly operated on and without anyone to physically help. I am lucky because I have a husband who managed to do the essentials, and in a week my parents are flying in to help. When I cried on the phone feeling totally at a loss, (over quite trivial issues), but at that time I asked for help, there wasnt any. Im not a pensioner, and I dont have friends who turned up to 'DO SOMETHING FOR ME". Flowers and word are appreciated, but the housework and the shopping were a bit tricky!
I thought to myself, Im out of water, bread and my floors so covered in crumps I could rack them up! Wouldnt it be great if there were a pay it forward, free volunteer service, in your area where someone would turn up and do a job for you! Surely there are people who are on their own and just need a hand in the beginning! Ok, so I survived and my husband did find the energy to do one more job, but what about that little gap in the system?
Love to know your thoughts. Oh and Im well aware that people who go to church would have the church ladies turn up!
I would call it "The Magic Wand Volunteers", and now Ive got cancer, I understand, sometimes you need the little things done, that mean so much!
We have just moved to Launceston, and live 30 minutes out of the city - so its quite rural.
Was just an idea!
What do you think???
Bel Mc
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Hey Bel
I can relate very well to where you are coming from.
I think I mentioned to you before that I live rural. I have been in town for nearly 4 years. I worked from home so didn't get out and about much and mainly did my essential shopping in a big town 65klms away. Therefore I knew very few people in town. No family and friends to speak of in town and hubby worked away..
I agree if I had have belonged to a church or was known around town then maybe? only maybe I would have got some offers of help but I didn't.
Needless to say I was pretty much on my own. I have a big dog who loses hair rapidly and I have some chooks. Some days I struggled to get out of bed to care for them but I would make the effort but not at 6am which is what they were used to.
I really really would have loved someone to come in and clean my house (just vacuum and mop floors and clean bathroom)or weed the garden or do the washing or ironing or even bring me a cooked meal occasionally. Anything but unfortunately it wasn't forthcoming. People knew I was unwell but help just wasn't forthcoming. I do know the older people in town get meals on wheels and some help with housework and gardening etc.
I am not winging because I did survive and so did my animals hee hee and I am still managing on my own following treatment because I need to plan my day around the fatigue as when it hits all I can do is lay down. It is getting better but I have to pace myself and vacuuming the floors at present feels like a mammoth task which I have to psych myself up for. It is very slowly getting better each week but slowly slowly.
I did get $500 susbsidy through being in contact with Rural Cancer Nurse Coordinator which was through Cancer Council, this paid 2 of my bills for me which was great. Prior to getting sick I worked 3 jobs and then all of a sudden I couldn't work at all. Through this same lady she organised for a cleaner to come in for 1 hour as I needed it but only after she had visited me at home and seen that I wasn't coping and wasn't able to physically do these things myself.
I also found the breast care nurses through McGrath Foundation were fantastic. Plus because I had to do so much travelling for surgery and specialist appointments there is a place called PATS over here which subsidise a small amount for your travel.
With regards to my wig. I paid $400 for my wig because I needed to look good for my daughters Hens night at the "Duxton" and her lovely flash wedding while I was going through treatment. I bought my wig from a wig shop. I was given $75 voucher through the hospital (Charlie Gardiners) which the breast care nurses can help you organise plus my health fund HBF paid out the full $400 for my wig so I was able to get a lil cotton type thing to go under my wig to help with wig getting itchy and stuff to wash wig etc with the $75 voucher so that worked out really well.
Plus if you spend something like $1350 on scripts through your pharmacy in one year (prob will be from Jan to Dec but I not sure) you go on to PBS Safety Net where you then get your scripts for $5.80 (majority of scripts but not all). It is amazing how quickly your pharmacy costs add up. Try and always go to one chemist or I think you can get a form where pharmacist signs it or something.
Also if you spend $2000 on medical expenses in a tax year you can claim that back as well. It all needs to be documented in a list. Photocopy receipts from Pharmacy because they fade and become unreadable.
If you are having hardship with accounts such as electricity, water, etc. if you ring and explain your circumstances to the company involved then they may be able to put a payment plan in place for you. Not sure if you have a mortgage but your bank or society can probably help you out there as well.
I do live in W.A. so it may be different but it is worth looking in to all these things.
I hope that has helped in some way. If I think of anything else then I will let you know.
LOL, (lots of luv), Mich xoxoo
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Hi Bel,
What a great idea. Just "brain storming" as they say in the commercial world ~ would a Web page or Facebook page be the place to go to put your name down as needing assistance? That way anyone with spare time on their hands could check if there was someone in their area who needed assistance.
I believe in Jesus Christ and go to church and yes my church family assisted me with meals, encouragement, prayers, etc (my hubby works from home and did the house stuff with me). But you have got me thinking now and I think church's would like to help out people in their community regardless if they came to church or not. Ann
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What an awesome idea Bel! I was lucky enough to have my mum nearby when I was going through treatment but I am the "soldier-on" type of person & did way too much myself!! If there was some sort of organization that could help out it would make such a difference to so many people.
I think you would have to be very careful as to who you used in this organization though. Although I always like to think that people are doing the right thing, there are plenty of people out there who are willing to take advantage of someone who is unwell or unable to look after themselves.
Great idea though
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