Sowing Seeds of Health and Hope
HERE ARE THE STORIES OF  JUST A FEW OF THE WOMEN BLOOM AGAIN HAS HELPED

Aracely was working as a housekeeper at a hotel in Santa Barbara when breast cancer caused her to have a double mastectomy followed by chemotherapy.  When she had to stop working because of the aggressive treatment, she was given only 5 days of sick leave.  State disability  payments of $418 monthly exceeded her $400 monthly rent and she sought out food banks to sustain her food requirements.  When she finally went back to work she was again able to manage her expenses, but then she found out she would be laid off on January 19th.  Although she will receive unemployment in February, and hopefully secure new employment, she doesn't have enough to make her February rent.  Through our donors, Bloom Again was able to pay for her rent with the hope that she will soon be back on her financial feet.  It's one less thing for her to have to worry about as she recovers from her treatment. 

 

Barbara is a 46 year old single mother of three, including one special needs child, who has worked her entire adult life.  She was diagnosed with breast cancer in February, 2009 and had to stop working due to complications from multiple surgeries. When she was finally cleared to return to work she learned her full-time position had been eliminated.  While she was struggling to find work, she broke her leg and underwent further surgery. When her caseworker contacted Bloom Again she was at risk of being evicted because she didn't have the $250 needed to cover her rent. Although she only asked for one month's rent, Bloom Again provided her with two so that she could focus on finding employment.     

 

Martha was emotionally, physically, and financially exhausted when she was referred to Bloom Again.  In 2003 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer she was employed as a loan processor for a major bank.  From there things went downhill as she went through surgery, clinical trials, and a second cancer diagnois in 2010.  She worked where and when she could to support her teenaged daughter, but finally she had to move into an inexpensive loft and apply for state assistance so she could continue her chemotherapy.  Martha needed $495 to pay for her loft until state assistance started.  Once again, Bloom Again donors came to the rescue. 

 

Juanita was employed full-time at McDonald's when she was diagnosed with breast cancer that required surgery and radiation.  As the single-mother of two teenaged boys, making ends meet was already tough, but for a few months they were able to get by with financial assistance from Cancer Center of Santa Barbara until she could return to work.  Returning to McDonald's she was informed there was only part-time work available.  Juanita needed a hand to pay for one month's rent until McDonald's would bring her back full-time or until she could locate a second part-time job.  Your generosity enabled Bloom Again to cover her rent so she could continue to heal and seek additional employment. 

 

Tatiana is described as "a very valuable employee" by her supervisor at Cedars Sinai Medical Center.  A 34 year old single mother of three children, she was diagnosed with MS several years ago.  As the condition worsened, she was hospitalized several times and wound up using all of her sick time.  When Bloom Again was contacted by the EAP at Cedars she didn't have enough money to pay for her rent, utilities or car payment.  Donations from generous  sponsors and individuals provided the financial assistance needed to bridge the period until her disability was approved. 

 

Danielle has prided herself on always being independent.  She built a dog training and walking business that allowed her do what she most loved.  But when she was diagnosed with Stage 3 ovarian cancer her life changed.  Hospitalized for a hysterectomy, her $500 daily hospital co-payments quickly used up all of her savings.  When she contacted Bloom Again she had just begun chemotherapy and was anxious to get back to work, but needed help with her upcoming rent payment.  Bloom Again was happy to help with a $720 payment to her landlord and the promise of one more month if needed. 

 

Chris had been in and out of foster care her entire life.  She had the good fortune to wind up at Rosemary Children's Service where, as an eighteen year old, she was given the opportunity to live in the transitional housing unit.  Just as she was starting to blossom a (she got a job working in a domestic violence shelter and was about to start college studying pre-med) Chris began having unexplained seizures.  One of these seizures took place while she was driving home from work and she was in a car accident, requiring the police to suspend her license until she was seizure free for six months. Bloom Again Foundation was able to help her get to and from work and school by providing her with a metro pass and taxi vouchers until she could find a place to live closer to her job and school.   

 

Heidi, a nurse, was hospitalized and in a coma in critical condition when her social worker contacted Bloom Again.  Heidi had no savings amd her mother was attempting to get state disability insurance for her, but that would take several weeks. In the meantime, there was no money to pay for the rent on her apartment and the landlord was threatening to evict her if the rent was not paid.  Generous Bloom Again donors allowed the Board to pay for her rent to stem the eviction. 

 

Natasha's ex-husband shot her six times, leaving this single mother of a ten year old and four month old with a collapsed lung and bullets that cannot be extracted from her body for some time.  A Russian immigrant with no family in the United States, she was working on state-funded projects striving for independence when she became the victim of this hideous crime. Her primary concern was care for her four month old during her period of recuperation. Bloom Again provided her with $800 in child care assistance.    

 

Tina was working as a sales clerk at a specialty kitchen shop when she learned she had a recurrence of breast cancer that required a double mastectomy. What was supposed to be just a few weeks off of work, turned into several months when the surgery caused a serious infection requiring yet another surgery. High insurance deductibles left her with over $15,000 in medical bills and on State disability with an income of only $1,200 monthly.  Donations to Bloom Again  enabled Tina to receive a gift of $900 to pay for her rent until she could get back on her feet.    

 

Ci'Monique was a flight attendant out on disability leave when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  In the midst of her treatment, she was laid off from her job and left with no insurance and no income.  In one short year she went from being fully employed to losing her home and being forced to move into a guest house.  With a $900 gift from Bloom Again she was able to pay for one month's rent while she sought employment. 

 

Irena works on a lunch truck earning minimum wage. In 2009 her husband lost his job, went to San Francisco seeking work and left her with their six children. He never returned and Irena got by supporting herself and her children until she slipped and fell at work. She wasn't able to work for several weeks and, in the meantime, got behind in her rent. She was about to be evicted and placed in a shelter with her children when Bloom Again Foundation was contacted. Through the generosity of Bloom Again donors, a gift of $1,730 enabled her to catch up on her back rent and pay for an additional month so she could get on her feet again.

 

Marcie and her husband sell churros on a street corner in East Los Angeles. They've always been independent but recent surgery prohibited Marcie from making the churros. As a result, their income declined and they were not able to pay the power bill in their modest home. Contributions from our donors enabled Bloom Again Foundation pay their electric bill of $101.00.

 

Barbara is the mother of two young children living in subsidized housing.  She works several jobs to make ends meet, but the economy has reduced the number of hours available to her.  When she went for medical tests it was discovered that she was severely anemic.  The doctor asked her to rest and not work for several months.  He was amazed that she could do as much as she does with anemia.  Generous donors made it possible for Bloom Again to pay $114.00 for Barbara's utility bill.  When asked if she was going to need help the next several months she insisted that she wouldn't, because she would work a day or two a week in order to make sure she could pay her bills, even though her doctor advised her otherwise.

 

Ana, a kindergarten aide earning minimum wage, has been plagued by health issues.  While awaiting surgery for the removal of an ovarian tumor, she was struck on the back of the head by a patient in her mother's nursing home, dislocated three discs, and now needs back surgery as well.  She is hardworking and conscientious but these medical situations have caused her to miss work and requested $500 to pay for her rent.  Bloom Again was happy to be able to help Ana and her family stay in their home. 

  

Rosie, the mother of four children (one a special needs child) and a domestic abuse survivor, was working as a seamstress in the textile industry in downtown Los Angeles when health issues forced her seek other employment.  She then worked as an assistant restaurant manager, earning minumum wage, when surgery for ovarian tumors caused her to have to leave that job.  Although Bloom Again could not help to pay all of her outstanding bills, we were able to provide $1,480 to cover her rent and $210 for her utility bill until she gets on her feet again.

 

Renee was working as a school crossing guard when she was caught in the middle of gang violence.  She was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Shot in both legs, she was forced to leave the job that provided for herself and her six year old daughter.  Despite the fact that she continues to work with rehabilitation specialists, social security denied her disability application. Renee was about to be evicted from her apartment when Bloom Again stepped foward with $1,000 to enable her to remain in her residence. 

 

Dana was working as a home health aide when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.  While going through radiation treatment was unable to work and fell behind in her half of the rent of the apartment she shares with a friend.  Bloom Again paid $412.50 to help her get on her feet again. 

 

Elena works in construction and when leaving mass one Sunday morning another car hit hers, sending her to the hospital with a broken leg.  Her car was impounded after the accident and since she couldn't drive, there it remained there for several weeks.  When she finally was able to return to work she needed $1,074.76 to get the car out of impound.  Generous donors to Bloom Again enabled her to retrieve her car and start working again.