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Related: Culture Forums, Support ForumsEnsure Linda's dignity and care in tough times
Although it is not apparent from my profile, I have been a long-time member of DU going all the way back to 2008 or probably even earlier (I joined back in the era when GW Bush was President). My username back then used to be chemenger until the DU management (owners?) restructured this website back in 2017/2018 (?). I didn't bother to have my profile and username migrated over from the old DU since I was not a prolific poster. I just registered under a new identity (adamas) a few months afterwards. I'm still not a prolific poster here although I am on DU daily which I use for my primary news source. Plus, I am interested in and appreciate the opinions of the respondents.
My last post here on DU was back on March 6, 2025 when I asked for advice on how to unload some artworks I have and also on how I might pass on my father's photo album from his time in the Army during WWll. I'm telling you all this because I want you all to know that I'm genuine (I'm guessing that 'genuine' is an appropriate word to use here) and not some opportunist trying to take advantage.
Anyway, my friend and companion of 36 years, Linda (age 84), is facing serious health challenges. In just the past nine months she has broken both left and right upper arms and is dealing with osteoporosis and possibly bone cancer. Her only coverage is Medicare, which leaves her with overwhelming medical bills. Neither Linda nor I have any close family (it's just the two of us and our cat). The two of us are living together on fixed incomes (Social Security) and sharing expenses. I have been and am doing all that I can to help her daily however the load is getting to be overwhelming therefore Ive set up a GoFundMe hoping to help cover expenses for her care, medications, and rehabilitation. Any amount no matter how small will make a difference. And if you cant give, please consider sharing this post to spread the word.
https://www.gofundme.com/f/ensure-lindas-dignity-and-care-in-tough-times
In closing, I want you to know that I'm very, very reluctant to use DU as a means for soliciting donations however this is the only vehicle I have available for getting this out since I do not have Facebook, Twitter or any other social platform account (I don't believe in them).
Thank you so much for your time and your kindness.

Will do. So sorry to hear this.
Response to adamas (Original post)
Bayard This message was self-deleted by its author.
MLAA
(19,475 posts)
Why is it that oftentimes a Thank You just doesn't seem to be enough?
Iris
(16,632 posts)In-home care. Not sure how much has changed in recent years but it may be worth looking into
Iris, thank you for your suggestion. Linda is scheduled to be discharged from the rehab facility and will be coming home on Monday, the 15th. She also has an appointment with her orthopedic surgeon this coming Thursday morning. I'm thinking that we will know what he is planning to do about her left arm after that appointment. I plan on updating her gofundme account later in the day. Once she is home she will have a caseworker, PT and OT for a period of time. Right now, I think everything will hinge on what her surgeon wants to do.
adamas
(26 posts)I'd like to take a few minutes to update you on Linda. The rehab facility will be discharging her to our apartment this coming Monday so, between now and then, I will have to figure out what I need to get done around here before she comes home and then do it. This morning we met with her orthopedic surgeon and his PA. He was pleased with the outcome of the surgery on her right upper arm. She still has pain in her right shoulder but she does have some mobility and some of that arm. He then discussed what options she had regarding surgery on her left upper arm. It was at this time that it was confirmed (although, as Linda put it, this was an 'unofficial' confirmation coming from her surgeon) that she does have bone cancer. He told her to make an appointment with her oncologist. In the meantime, he is planning to contact her oncologist and confer with her and (I'm guessing come to a general consensus / recommendation regarding surgery on her left arm) before we meet with him again in two weeks. He did tell us that surgery on her left arm would be more difficult /risky because of the multiple breaks, the bones where the breaks occurred were skewed and the bone is, as he described it, "moth-eaten".
This afternoon Linda and I discussed what we learned from her surgeon this morning. She is leaning to not having the surgery done. I'm suggesting that she should and I gave her three good reasons: 1. It would reduce to some extent the pain she has in that arm, 2. The rod would stiffen / strengthen that bone to some extent and 3. She would have some limited use of that arm rather that not at all. We also spent about 10 to 15 minutes talking about the likely (final) outcome. Right now, she's more concerned about me and what I'm going to do after she passes on (so typical of her).
So I would like to ask ... if anyone here has had to prepare for a loved one's passing some time beforehand how did you prepare for it. I have no experience in a situation like this one. I was estranged from my family when my father passed in '94 (a family friend had to notify me). I was out of town at a remote jobsite when my mother passed in '99. Linda told me she was dead and buried by the time got back home.
So ... again, I thank you all so very much for your kindnesses, concerns and compassion.
Brian