GOOD NEWS PART 2

      It’s been an emotional rollercoaster of a week,but then again not many weeks haven’t been. When those two caseworkers told us “You can start looking for apartments in Ulster County now” I honestly thought I was dreaming. I don’t think Karen fully grasped the statement at first. How could I blame her? So many things have been promised, suggested,teased,or outright taken from her. However,when they walked out the door,we fell into a gigantic embrace and cried together. We kept whispering to each other “Is this true?” “Did this actually just happen?” We kept having to tell each other it did. We each grabbed a kitty and hugged them (one against his will 😂)and told them. “we’re getting a home,boys!”

        Yes,the battle is going to continue to keep Karen alive no matter where we are. However, I know her mindset will be so much more positive when we have an actual address. We’ve talked every night even before we knew we had to move from the old house about what our hopes were for the future. Our dream was to only have a small, possibly bungalow type place, that’s clean,cozy,comfy,and we can call “Our Bear Family Cottage” Nothing fancy needed. Just to feel safe and peaceful,to feel like home.

      For those of you that might not have had a chance to read from the beginning, I want to tell you exactly how we THOUGHT things would go after we were forced to move last August.

     We NEVER imagined that it would take over a year to even have the opportunity to find a permanent residence.We believed that we were going to recieve the little 33 percent proceeds from the house sale in one lump sum. We figured we could maybe find a mobile home and either rent (in which case since we don’t have credit we’d offer to pay the first year rent in advance) and try to get an agency to help us during that time.

      When we discovered we would only get the proceeds in dribs and drabs,the only option was this hotel. It was close to all of Karen’s doctors,and since we filled out almost a dozen housing applications in August of 24, we thought for sure given Karen’s illnesses we would be able to obtain at least one of the options we applied for. Everyday we called every agency that is supposed to help disabled people with low income, eventually getting in contact with every service agency in the entire Hudson Valley. We constantly told “Be patient,the waiting lists are long” or “there are housing shortages” Then Karen started dialysis,and that’s when we started to realize that the money was running out,and fast. Almost $600 a week to stay here and the weeks seemed to move by faster and faster.

     Then what seemed like the opportunity of a lifetime popped up presented to us by a family of people who were so involved in our daily lives that we believed we could trust them. One of them actually works in the hospital where Karen has gone for the transplant consults. We could’ve centralized all of her care in Westchester 10 minutes away from the hospital. Then,with the last $2,000 of the proceeds in their hands,that was supposed to be half going to the apartment we were to live in downstairs from them,they took off August 2, promising they’d come back in 2 weeks and promising they’d pay us back. Well,they didn’t,and at some point I will get justice for that,but that was close to being a death knell.

      Since August 2,I have been in a state of sheer panic,trying to keep that smile on my face and positivity so Karen wouldn’t give up. Going to bed some nights not knowing if we’d be out in the street. So many of you stepped up and made that burden lighter,and kept us alive and fed. Yes,I made desperate pleas for money,but only because I didn’t have anyone else to turn to,wishing that phone call would finally come where they’d tell us our turn was here. In between all of that stress, Karen’s infection and bladder stone for 2 months. Selling the car for junk $. Watching everything you hoped would happen and planned for disappearing in front of your eyes. Wanting to give up. Hating myself for not being able to do more. Each and every time,one or all of you were there to pick us up. It kept me going, because if you weren’t giving up on us,I wouldn’t either.

     So here we are. 14 months later. Now it’s time for us to continue to fight for Karen’s life. However,we have tools now. Moving will be the biggest relief. We are going to stand on our own. It is with that spirit that I am telling you no more fundraising efforts will be made after Friday morning. We have nothing until Friday at 1 AM. I have to pay the rent Sunday one last time. We need to survive 6 more days. We only need a couple of hundred dollars to get to that point. After that,our solemn vow is that all the currency we want or need is your prayers. We are going to move forward,and once we can,will also pay everything you did for us forward. We never wanted any of this to drag on this long. However, I’m feeling empowered now. I know we will do this. Karen is having her fourth surgery on her arm October 22. We will find out about her liver transplant status in about 10 days. We have a realtor assisting us in finding a home. We’re ready to go.

    I will not stop blogging our journey. Just so I have an outlet,and if anyone needs help as a caregiver and can get any help from our journey, that’s all I care about. We love you OPL FAMILY .

And for the FINAL TIME EVER I’m writing the pay platforms here. I ask if you can to just help us survive the next 6 days…Bless you and thank you

CASHAPP $BFN73

PAYPAL BN11473@GMAIL.COM OR BRIAN NEAREY

VENMO KAREN-NEAREY-1 (BUT PLEASE LOOK FOR THE PICTURE OF KAREN AND SCOOTIE THERE ARE 2 KAREN NEAREYS)

There will be more stories to write,and I hope you read them. We treasure you all. Thank you for going on this journey with us.

Brian