Many of you know that I work at our local Council on Aging, and thus, I work with seniors. The majority of seniors that we work with are very poor, and many have no family in town. My job is to help raise money for the agency, and to do the marketing and PR. I do not get to work one on one with the seniors as most of our other employees do. However, several years ago, around Thanksgiving, one of our seniors fell and was found by our transportation director. The senior had broken her back, and ended up in a long term care facility. Her only family was a brother living in another state. So I would go visit her, taking her the things she needed. And another staff member and I took turns going to her house to check on it and to take in the mail. She was finally released to come home, and she and I stayed in touch with one another. I helped her with her Medicare D, and I would go over bills for her when she had concerns or questions. She always fed the stray cat that hung out on her porch. She often had little money to feed herself, but the cat always had something to eat! What I am trying to say is not that I need praise for what I did for her, but that she and I built a bond and a friendship. I last saw her on August 7, and she wasn't feeling well. Our In-Home Services Director had been trying to reach her all week to tell her that her house was chosen for the United Way Day of Caring and that a crew would be out to do some work next week. When I found out yesterday that she had not been able to reach her, I got a very bad feeling. Sadly, she was found dead in her home yesterday afternoon. I feel so sad that she died all alone, and that she layed there for, well, no one really knows for how long. I am just heartbroken and I feel so bad for her. I couldn't sleep last night, as I kept thinking about her. I doubt that there will even be a memorial for her, as she had no family in town, and very few friends. Please, will you say a prayer for my friend, Maria? I will miss her greatly.
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