Some people just leave traces of themselves in our lives, without ever knowing what an impact they’ve had. Our ZenTrainer is one of those people.
She’s been dancing her way through DK since 2006 and has left quite a mark. Go take a look at her legacy of 300 diaries and over 17000 comments. She belongs to more groups than I even knew we had!! She is fierce in her defense of those who have no one, and just as fierce in speaking Truth to Power. Plus, this woman has a wicked sense of humour that delights me even while it makes me think! And that’s just what’s visible.
The Pootie Peeps know her for her Wednesday Woozle Diaries (Dogs, to the rest of you) and her knack for charming our socks off and giving solid advice about the care and training of our beloved furkids.
Training? She knows training! And the utter joy of being a woozle!
She also knows a thing or two about love.
As for the less-than-visible things….they are far too numerous to mention. She is one of those women who is so busy doing for others, that she forgets that she needs help from time to time, too. “Oh, I’ll be alright.” Not this time.
Tracy is a breast cancer survivor. That, in itself, is a miracle. She has gone on with her life, supporting herself and her crew of critters, working like a Trojan, and asking nothing of anyone. A little of the current story, in her own words:
I have been sick a lot this year so I have no savings at all. For my last 2 surgeries the only restrictions I had were that I couldn't lift anything or vacuum. I clean houses and train dogs for a living so I just had a friend drive me to work and he vacuumed. I did a lot of Vicodin and did all the cleaning.
This time though, I can't clean at all, not even wipe a counter for 6 to 8 weeks! Because something like a "seroma" (not sure that's what it's called) could occur and at that time I will have no insurance coverage.
What I will need is my mortgage and expenses covered for that time.
….
Recovery sounds like a whole lot of NOT fun. I won't be allowed to lift my hands over my head or bend over for a few weeks. I won't be able to drive for that long either (stick shift).
And I can't go to work for 8 weeks. Oddly, they also mentioned that I can't play soccer. (I have never played soccer in my life.)
I am going to have to have someone help me bathe for 4 days or so and for a few weeks, help with my pets.
I have to sleep propped up for a few weeks also. They give lot's of advice like "prepare your meals in advance and freeze them" etc. I laughed this morning because I have a little refrigerator (I was hoping it would make my kitchen look bigger) and I can reach the freezer without lifting my arms above my head.
You know, I am fiercely independent and hate asking people for anything. I once took a car service home from the hospital after a hernia surgery. The hospital didn't want to let me go, but I am also pretty stubborn.
This surgery will be a bit worse that that one because I won't have the use of my arms for a bit. There is supposed to be less pain than my first 2 cancer surgeries and they advise strongly to set up a table with water and a TV remote control; they really want you to lay around doing nothing for as long as possible in order to heal.
I think I can do everything they want and follow the restrictions. I am concerned about my cats jumping on me. If I knew how to stop them from doing that I'd be a millionaire.
I'm not though, so I think what I need is $4,000 to cover my 2 months off work. That's the money I would make plus some cushion for any extra stuff. I know there are some surgical garments I will have to wear and I think there is a protective device I can wear for if/when the cats jump on me. [note from SaraR — Tracy is really lowballing here and not including hired home health care or follow up care after her insurance expires so I am suggesting $7500]
And boy do I feel like a loser for having to ask, but I'm stressed enough as it is, I don't want to stress about losing my house. When I first got cancer, I missed 2 payments on my house and B of A jumped at the chance to foreclose. I was able to get a mortgage modification then. It lowered my payments to almost affordable by extending the loan to 40 years. I'll be 94 when my house is paid off!
Tracy spends so much of her time and energy doing for others and asking nothing for herself. So I am asking. Please help us help her. A woman who has spent so much of her life giving to others….and not always in tangible ways….needs the help of the community she has enriched beyond measure.
♥♥♥ Sara R’s ZT diary from Wednesday is here. ♥♥♥ Murfster35’s diary from Thursday is here ♥♥♥ You can find asterkitty’s diary from Friday here. ♥♥♥
As of Friday night, we are less than a third of the way to our goal.
PayPal: send using the “family and friends” option to zenpaws AT msn DOT com
Check: make to Tracy B. Ann and send to P.O. Box 293372, Nashville, TN 37229
Please also send cards and any other recovery treats (gluten-free if edible) to the address above.
All help is gratefully accepted, including positive energy, prayers, good wishes, chocolate (oops! did I say that out loud??) and offerings to the Ancient Gods.
Thank you so much!!