Getting into the Basement
With all the craziness of the last week, I wanted to pass along a wonderful story about something that happened – on Facebook of all places!
I have a dear friend whose husband is covid-injured. He was a LEO somewhere in one of the states with the worst records for treating covid patients – one of the states that benefitted greatly from the government’s covid-positive medical bribery schemes.
The whole family came down with the virus last October, but Dad was hit the worst. In fine manly fashion, he waited until he was gravely ill and barely able to breathe, to seek help. He ended up admitted through the emergency room and quickly entered the machine that was ‘the accepted treatment’. Mom and the kids recovered fine at home.
I didn’t know they had the virus until after he was admitted to the hospital and there was nothing I could do to help. His wife couldn’t see him except by FaceTime calls and getting a reasonable doctor in to see him was impossible. We all know this story.
He ended up in a medically induced coma on a ventilator for 40 days and was given a 2% chance of survival. The whole CDC protocol was used; he’s lucky to be alive. But he is left with permanent damage and will never be a law enforcement officer again.
Unless he gets a bilateral hip replacement (and the doctors have a slew of reasons why they can’t do this now) he won’t ever walk or bend normally. He won’t ever drive again. He also had a stroke sometime while he was in the coma, kidney damage, and his left carotid artery is blocked. The treatment left him completely dependent on his family with limited to zero mobility.
At their home, the office, workout room, shop and playroom are all in the basement and he hasn’t been able to access them in the last year. So, his wife (my friend) was on a mission to find a way to get him down those stairs. She had to quit her job to take care of him full-time; money is tight.
He’s still a big guy so carrying him down isn’t an option. A ramp? Ha! Can you imagine the incline? A stair chair lift would be ideal, but insurance won’t cover it. It would cost more than $7,000. to have one installed! She began to search for a used one – on Facebook Marketplace. I personally don’t use this, but I know many people find this a great place to buy and sell used items.
Within a week, she found one! Just the one she needed! The right size for her stairs and for her husband and it was less than an hour away! The price? $225. A little steep for a now limited-income household, but surprisingly less than expected. Installation won’t be free, but the law enforcement community is a tight-knit group. She’ll have volunteers lending their time and labor.
She messaged five sellers on Facebook Marketplace. Only one replied, but it was the right one. She made the road trip to take a look. It was indeed gently used – just over a year old and in excellent condition. This one would work perfectly. Much to her surprise, they gave her the lift for free!
A few days later she messaged me to tell me the whole story. Here’s her snip of the message:
Never stop believing in angels! It’s been a very tough year for this family and good news has been scarce. With her husband regaining some mobility just in time for the holidays, things are looking brighter!
This story so brightened my week. I hope it brightens yours! If you have any similar good news stories, just drop them in the comments.