Quincy woman with disabled child and grandchild needs rent help. Can you Lend a Hand?
Editor's note: The names in this story have been changed at the request of the family.
When Jamie Smith’s husband died in 2008, life took a sharp downward turn. Smith suffered a crushing depression and said, “My life fell apart.”
She is responsible for a daughter and a granddaughter with severe disabilities. Still, Smith managed her household until she lost one of her two jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now she is six months behind in rent and prays Lend a Hand will help her so she can keep her apartment in Germantown.
Smith, 54, is the mother of three daughters and has four grandchildren, but she is the full-time caretaker for two of them who live with her: daughter Amber, 25, and granddaughter Shawna, 17.
“Taking care of disabled children is a full-time role,” she said.
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Amber has developmental disabilities due to 8P Deletion Syndrome, a chromosomal abnormality.
Smith took custody of Shawna, her granddaughter, when the mother could not care for her. Shawna has rheumatoid arthritis, and is blind in one eye from uveitis, a rare genetic disorder. Shawna also requires a G2 feeding tube to supplement her nutrition.
Her grandmother keeps two service dogs to help Shawna, who has trouble walking.
“I’m trying to get a rent reduction because I can no longer work,” said Smith. “Shawna’s condition is worse. She’s going blind in the other eye. We’re trying to get it under control. The medication they use is given like chemo infusions for her eyes, but it’s not cancer.”
Despite her condition, Shawna works at a pet supply store in Quincy, which brings in a little income, and she is active with service dogs.
Smith said, “Her mind is great, but her body doesn’t work. But she wants to get out.”
Due to COVID, Smith lost her part-time job at Target, causing her to fall behind on rent and bills. She’s now working three days a week and tries to pick up extra shifts at Coffee Break in Quincy.
“I like my job. Going to work helps de-stress me,” Smith said. “It’s great to take a break from the household just to breathe.”
While she’s working, 25-year-old Amber watches Shawna, but Smith said, “They can’t live alone.”
Smith worries about her own diabetes. “I do everything I can, but stress can make diabetes worse. I walk a lot, I park way back in the parking to walk to work, and I move around a lot.”
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She said therapy helps her tremendously and she goes weekly to Aspire Health Alliance.
“My counselor is amazing. She’s helped me to calm my worries and deal with my stress. I’ve learned not to take things personally. People are who they are, and you can’t change them, but there are ways to take care of myself so I can help my children more.”
How does she care for her own mental health? Family visits, taking walks, and having good conversations with friends.
But the possibility of losing their apartment is a heavy weight, especially during winter.
“I need rental assistance. I don’t have much money for Christmas, and I’m trying to scrape some together. The girls need jackets and boots because they have none. It’s hard for me to not be able to afford winter clothing for them.”
Email Suzette Martinez Standring: suzmar@comcast.net or visit www.readsuzette.com.
About Lend a Hand
Lend a Hand, The Patriot Ledger's annual holiday charitable program, began in 1998 and has raised more than $3.3 million for South Shore families and people in need. Working with three established community service agencies — Quincy Community Action Programs, South Shore Community Action Council and Aspire Health Alliance — Lend a Hand has presented compelling stories of people in need and invited readers to open their hearts and wallets to help.
Here’s how you can help Lend a Hand
Clip the coupon published in The Patriot Ledger, fill out all the fields, write a check or money order and mail it to:
Lend a Hand
The Patriot Ledger
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PMB #467
Marshfield, MA 02050
Call our friends at Ansaphone at 617-424-9825 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.
Donate securely online though PayPal. Search: Ledger Lend a Hand Foundation.
This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Quincy woman turns to Aspire Health Alliance to deal with stress
