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Gillian Victoria hasn't added a story.
I have never asked for donations for a friend, but I’m asking now.
10 years ago, I met Glenna & Phil Downey through a cleaning agency I called when I was pregnant with Lily Rose, while living in Worthington, OH. I was so swollen and pregnant, and was busy chasing a toddler while freelance writing grants, and my Mom was very ill. They were heaven sent. Glenna and Phil worked harder than I have ever seen two people work, and because they were working for an agency, they took home very little pay – although they spent three hours each cleaning my home as if it were their own.
I was one of the first to suggest they take a leap of faith and clean homes on their own – which they did with great success, soon building an established and faithful clientele. They became like family. My children looked forward to seeing them, as did our dog Maya who adored them. Glenna wore knee pads to scrub my floors the old fashioned way, and Phil never missed a corner of my showers. Glenna and I bonded over our mothers, and shared family stories. We became friends. They are hard-working people, always with a smile to offer. When my mother died, Glenna was a great comfort to me. When her mother passed, I understood her loss better than most.
Several years into cleaning for us, Glenna started having some terrible internal pain, and the doctors couldn’t seem to identify it. It made cleaning homes very painful for her, yet, she had little choice but to continue her daily work. I felt badly having her come work, knowing she suffered with a smile.
After many years of seeing doctor after doctor, Glenna finally found out that she has a profound case of Internal Cystitis, or IC. IC is a chronic breakdown and lack of cell renewal of the protective bladder lining that keeps the bladder wall and its muscles and nerves protected from the acidity and toxicity of our urine. IC is a chronic invisible illness that affects every aspect of an IC patients’ life. The chronic pain is relentless and severely hinders Glenna from performing simple daily routines. All this, with no health insurance.
Glenna had to stop working, and applied for disability, and Phil carries all the burden now, working and caring for Glenna. They have worked hard all their lives, and are proud people. Glenna and Phil would never ask for a penny for themselves, but I want to ask on their behalf; I know for a fact that they haven’t been on a vacation in more than 20 years. Phil’s Dad is 90 year old and lives in New Port Richey, Florida. He has been very ill, and has been in and out of the hospital. Due to financial constraints, Phil hasn’t been able to visit his Dad in more than 10 years. Glenna is not well enough to make a car trip (I’m not sure their car could handle the trip either.) I would love to be able to buy them a pair of plane tickets to fly from Columbus, Ohio down to Florida to see Phil’s Dad, and have some money to live on for a few weeks while they are visiting him. I’m not sure how much time they have left to get there – and I’m sure it will be Phil’s only opportunity to see his father before he passes on.
I know there a thousand ways we can all spend a dollar, and that most of us have little to spare. This isn't a tax-deductible donation, but for those who know me, or know Glenna and Phil, can be sure this money will be used to get them to Florida. Any amount you are willing to share with them will make a dying man’s wish come true, to see his son once more… and you will be doing a good deed for some truly remarkable, deserving people.
Thank you in advance from the bottom of my heart for considering a small gift for my friends Glenna and Phil.
Love, Gilly
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