Breathing. The very first unconscious reflex that we all learn. Something every human being needs to do to stay alive. Without breathing, there is no life.
For some, it is harder than usual to breathe. Meaning that life is harder than usual.
Long-time Kossack Fineena has COPD, also known as emphysema. The details of this medical condition are in the Wikipedia article linked; there were several sentences that stood out to me as I read it.
Areas with poor outdoor air quality, including that from exhaust gas, generally have higher rates of COPD.
Fineena lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, where most of the state is in the humid subtropical climate zone due to its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. What this means is that winters are usually mild, but summers are hot and humid. Think Florida, but a little less severe.
You can probably see where this is going already. Hot and humid weather often results in poorer air quality, because of the humidity and other pollutants from urban living together with the heat, which exacerbates the breathing difficulties caused by COPD.
No cure for COPD is known, but the symptoms are treatable and its progression can be delayed. The major goals of management are to reduce risk factors, manage stable COPD, prevent and treat acute exacerbations, and manage associated illnesses.
When the weather is hot and humid, and air quality may be poor, the first thing most people who are driving do is to roll up the window sand turn on the AC.
That’s not something Fineena can do with her car. In her own words:
I have COPD & no health insurance. I've had breathing issues my whole life. It is the worst when I'm hot - as in a car with no AC. Frequently, it causes me to cough to the point, I have to pull into a parking lot until it stops & can catch my breath. Inhaler is no help with that much coughing going on. … I worry that I'm going to pass out while driving or swerve while coughing & get into a wreck.
It’s not financially viable to fix the compressor in her car. That repair alone costs more than the car is worth, and there are additional repairs needed to maintain the car’s operating condition.
Her mechanic knows about her plight and has been on the lookout for a car that she might be able to purchase at an affordable price that also has a working AC system. He unexpectedly managed to get a lead on a 2006 Toyota Solara coupe with 125,000 miles, and he’ll go with her to inspect it. By all accounts, getting this car will allow Fineena to get around without incurring a coughing fit and placing herself in danger.
There’s a catch though.
Her mechanic can’t guarantee that the car will be available forever; there are others who are interested in the car as well and if they make an offer he won’t be able to easily turn it down. The asking price for the car is $3,000, money that Fineena does not have currently.
Fineena has been through some hard times; her business collapsed during the 2008 financial crisis and she lost her home to foreclosure. Recently, she had to have emergency dental surgery to extract 5 teeth, which was possible through the wondrous generosity of this community and for which she is grateful from the bottom of her heart.
She was unwilling to even think about getting a new car, both because she did not know how that would happen and because she was worried about having to ask again for funds so soon. On the other hand, an opportunity like this to get a vehicle that doesn’t exacerbate her health issues may not come by again any time soon.
On behalf of Fineena, I humbly approach this generous community to ask: will you once again help Fineena in her time of need and help raise the $3,000 she needs to buy this car and maintain her health?
How you can help Fineena
Fineena has PayPal, and her email address is palskaren at aol dot com.
She also has a page on the YouCaring fundraiser platform: Help Karen Get a Car
Funds sent through PayPal arrive immediately in her bank account without any fees, whereas YouCaring takes between 2 and 5 days to transfer funds and by default takes a percentage of any amount donated.
An anonymous Kossack has generously offered $100 in matching funds as part of this fundraiser. The first $100 that is raised for her during this fundraiser will become $200 if the match is met!
Donations through YouCaring and PayPal both count towards the match. If neither YouCaring nor PayPal work for you, you can Kosmail Fineena to discuss alternate options.
Any amount helps, no matter how small. Equally as important as donating financially, and arguably more so, is helping to get the word out. Recs, tips and shares on social media all help to keep this fundraiser going.
In these dark days, community is what helps us stay connected to one another. I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
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