For Alicia and her family, the start of the holiday season has been anything but a happy, memorable time. It has been marked by daily trips to the hospital.
Instead of planning for the upcoming holidays, Alicia’s grandkids have been worried about their grandpa.
Despite having a seemingly normal Thanksgiving, Alicia’s husband was powering through the effects of a stroke. On Thanksgiving morning, he woke up weak on one side of his body and slurring his words, but he didn’t want to ruin his family’s Thanksgiving.
It wasn’t until after his guests left that Alicia drove him to the hospital, where they found out he had suffered a stroke. He stayed overnight and was able to go home afterwards, but his situation worsened.
“That Monday, I came home from work and he was worse, so my daughter and I took him to San Antonio and he spent a week in the hospital in San Antonio,” Alicia said.
He had suffered another stroke and would stay at the hospital for testing.
“We’ve been going over there to see him and the kids are all worried about him, but it’s working out,” Alicia’s daughter, Sara, said.
Though his situation has turned around and he’s at the hospital in Kerrville now for rehabilitation, Alicia worries about any upcoming medical bills. It’s going to be a lot and their insurance might not pay for it all, she said.
Their change in income isn’t making it easier, either. Alicia has had to take a week off of work and without her husband’s income coming in, making ends meet has been tough.
Help Provide Hope for the Holidays
“I work in town from 8 to 5 p.m. then I get in the car and I drive to Kerrville and I just grab some fast food and go up to the hospital to see him. I haven’t been able to cook in a while; I haven’t been to the grocery store to buy anything, I’m just trying to kind of budget our money so we can pay our electric bill and stuff,” Alicia said.
Alicia had been to the Food Bank’s Mobile Food Pantry in Fredicksburg before when she needed the help. With her family’s recent financial struggles, she decided to go again.
“It’s been kind of stressful, but I’m trying to do the best I can. I hadn’t been here in a while, but I decided today that I needed a little extra help,” Alicia said.
With her grandchildren by her side, she went to the distribution to receive produce and non-perishable food items. She left with so much more - hope for the holidays.
At the distribution she received a turkey. Without the help from the Food Bank, Alicia would not have been able to afford one, she said.
“It’s so awesome, I don’t have to worry about Christmas lunch for the family and I’m hoping he’ll be home,” Alicia said.
Her husband’s condition has improved and the family is hoping he’ll be back home for Christmas to enjoy the turkey with the rest of his family.
“Thank you for everything, it’s making our Christmas a lot better. Merry Christmas,” Alicia said.
Everyone deserves to gather around a full table this holiday season. Thanks to a generous matching challenge provided by Beaumont Foundation and Texas Jacobson Aviation, your donation will DOUBLE THE IMPACT through December 31. That means a $10 donation helps provide 80 meals to families in need this holiday season.
