In May of 2009, I suffered a stroke affecting my right leg and arm. My speech did not suffer, but my cognitive function did. I have tremendous medical bills from that and the mini-stroke 1 had a week after I got home from the hospital. I have a mound of bills from that time for follow up, physical and occupational therapy and equipment. I have had 4 hand surgeries in the last 3 years and need a joint replacement for my thumb. I also have severe spinal stenosis and received multiple injections and physical therapy that did not help. I, also, need back surgery to correct this. I also suffer with fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, chronic hypertension, major depression to name a few. I need assistance with care after the surgeries and now, as well. I can't afford the back brace I need. To give you some history, I was a single Mother and worked hard to go to school and became a nurse. I worked as a nurse for 30 years providing care to those in need and in poverty. I have a passion for animals, wildlife and the environment. Before, my circumstances, I was active in animal adoption, rescue and bird/wildlife watching. I was in a position to adopt and care for my animals and even raised a developmentally damaged rescued squirrel from Hurricane Katrina. I was actively supporting charities and volunteered with the local ASPCA. I lived in Alabama until 2008, until I moved to Wisconsin. After 6 months in my new job here, I was terminated due to my medical problems of back disease, high blood pressure, stomach problems, etc. that required frequent doctor visits and physical therapy. I had a home in Alabama that went into foreclosure and my car was repossessed because I could no longer make the payments. I could not find a job, as there was a hiring freeze during this time and I didn't have a car or the financial resources to move back home or to even go and find a job in another city. The reason for the detail is I am alone in a rural county in Wisconsin. Paying for transportation is using so much of my money. I have no neighbors to help and the churches are very small and don't have the resources I need. Currently I am trying to pay my rent, utilities and food and keep my pets fed and comfortable. People will say "Get rid of your pets". But, I can not and will not do that. They are the only ones who loved and cared for me during all of this. They are who gets me out of bed everyday. I am all they know. They don't have much longer. Now, it is my turn to try to help them, if I can get the assistance. I don't want them in pain and even if they needed euthanasia, I wouldn't have the funds to help them. I was able to care for them when I got them and for all of their years. If you can't find a reason for me, please find one in your heart for my pets. Thank you so much for reading my story.