PLEASE MEET JEANIE:
Jeanie spoke frantically from her car. My attempts to calm her only increased her frustration. Maybe it was my hokey optimism. Like telling her she matters. She gave me the occasional stink-eye, indicating that I didn’t get it. Then she ripped loose her head bandanna mid-sentence. Her sudden wide eyes popped from her bald head and messed up my trip. Fat tears followed. “This cancer never goes away, right? You can take a lot from a woman. But don’t take her hair. A woman’s hair is who she is…”
Remember Jeanie? Rex introduced her here a year ago. She had recently lost her mother. Mourning her loss while adjusting to homelessness, she lived in a U-Haul where she was mugged and beaten by thugs. Her belongings were dumped on the street and the vehicle re-possessed.
This community responded. Jeanie was grateful. But we recently discovered Jeanie again, living in her car. Now Jeanie is sick with ovarian cancer. She has been through chemotherapy and receives daily radiation treatments. We found shelter for Jeanie in a tiny house. But she drives long distances daily in a vehicle with a failing transmission to receive her treatments.
Though sick, Jeanie speaks with animation and purpose. Her story is a carnival ride of anxiety and joy. Rapid accelerations. Sadness juxtaposed against self-deprecation and dry humor. Spiritual moments, abruptly followed by shocking revelations and salty language. Your emotions can’t respond fast enough to transition correctly before the story takes another tight turn. Tears and laughter flow simultaneously as her busy face and big eyes span a spectrum of emotions. A few of her anecdotes cannot be repeated in this family forum, but left my guts hurting from laughter. Jeanie is a kick in the ass.
She won’t talk your ear off. Jeanie lets you off the ride easy each time with a whisper, “I love you Sweetie.” And we’re left with plenty to think about.
Outside a sick woman with a tragic story wears a bandanna and a shirt that says Only God can Judge. Inside, there’s Jeanie. She’s lonely these days. Needing help but employing every tool in her power to help herself. A woman who should matter. Though the world may have forgotten somehow.
Below is a list of Jeanie’s needs. In addition, we’d like to raise $1500 for gas cards for Jeanie. If you can help, click here: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=YW973AHMPB5EC
Items may be shipped to: Facing Homelessness c/o Jeanie 4001 9th Ave NE. Funds are used by Facing Homelessness to procure this ask. No funds will go directly to Jeannie and no funds go to Facing Homelessness. If there are funds remaining, they will go to another person who is in need.
Stand Up Walker
Electric Blanket- full size
Boulder Creek Fleece Winter Coat size 5X, Navy Blue or Black
Explorer Plush Fleece Pants, 2 pair, size 5X
Long Sleeve Thermal Long Johns
Cargo Pants- Knock Around Kind size 5X
Sneakers- Lace Up Downforce, size 10 womens
Copper Fit Energy Compression Socks, black, 2 pair
Kent Neighborhood| Damian
A QUIET THOUGHT - If you’re moved by the goodness of this community, please visit http://www.facinghomelessness.org/ and click on the ‘donate’ button and consider a “monthly recurring” donation of just $5 in support of the work. Thank you.
#Kindness #FacingHomelessness #JustSayHello
jeanieMATTERS
