Posted by kim on 9/12/2005, 9:46 pm
I am writing this from my hospital bed at the Don Monti Cancer Center in Huntington Hospital.. I am a single mother of 4 children. The department of social service has been providing me and my children with "EMERGENCY HOUSING" since this past May. (one of my children was having "SPECIAL NEEDS" during this time and the Dept of Social Service classified me as work exempt so I could stay home and see that he got his counseling, attended school and took his medication on a consistent basis.. . My Children and I currently reside at "Haven House." Haven House is a wonderful non for profit organization that is loaded with kind, caring compassionate staff. But unfortunately the funding is so very tight for them, that they must follow all orders given by the department of Social Service or social service cuts off payment.. I was hospitalized on 8/31 because of severe pain in my my side and stomach and yesterday my diagnosis was confirmed to be cancer.. I have several masses on my liver, but my cancer did not START in my liver, it possibly started in my lungs or breasts. Aside from the fact that I am on 24hr pain management, at this time my doctors are insisting that I remain in the hospital until they locate the primary source of this cancer.. I have several tests scheduled to take place this week, but they all need to be done on an in patient basis.. Unfortunately that is where the problem lies.. On my behalf, the staff at haven house has contacted Social Service to inform them of my situation in the hopes that we could appeal their decision, but they have refused to commit to anything past September 11th 8pm..
The Department of Social service has told "Haven House" that they will only pay for my housing until September 11 which means that if me and my children are not home (at the shelter), by Sunday, 8pm as per the Dept of social service, the staff at haven house will be forced to pack my belongings and I will be completely dropped from the shelter program..So not only will my children and I be homeless, but I will not be able to get the medical care I need to survive, my cancer will have to be put on the back burner so I can worry about finding a place to live for me and my children. Haven House has KINDLY agreed to "hold" my housing for just a few a few more days while I appeal to the community for some assistance.. .. My doctor is aware of my situation and is performing all the tests I need as quickly as possible. PLEASE HELP MY BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN... I have 4 children that deserve stability especially while we are all trying to come to terms with my diagnosis.. My children are very afraid for my physical health, but they are also dying inside knowing that we may lose our housing. I am BEGGING you for your help... If you can't help me, could you direct me to someone that can?? I would like to get this letter out to as many people as I can because my time is very very limited.. Is there ANYONE with some influence at the dept of social service who could help? Are any of my fellow long Islanders, New Yorkers and Americans in a position to help me? At this point in time, my children and I are taking one day at a time, but the clock is ticking and I don't know what to do. I am hoping that a large scale circulation of this letter will either change the decision that the department of social service has made or that this letter reaches someone in the community that is in the position to help me and my children.. My family has always been kind, caring, supportive and generous and they have done everything they can do to help me, short of losing their own home....I haven't been told what my prognosis is yet, but I do know that Cancer is not the flu, and I have a long road ahead of me.... I am 38 years old and I have a 17 yr old son, 16 yr old son, 10 year old son and a lovely 3 yr old little girl, and short of signing myself out against medical advice and risking my life, I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO....PLEASE HELP ME AND MY BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN SO WE CAN REMAIN TOGETHER AND HAVE PROPER HOUSING..
Eternally Grateful,
Dawn Abinette
I can be reached at Huntington Hospital 631-351-2000 room 122 bed 2
if you do not reach me immediately I may be away from my room for testing or may be resting, allowing my pain medication to do its job. If you can't reach me, feel free to call my sister who is handling the things that I cannot handle from my hospital bed.
My sister Kim can be reached at 631-561-5482. Lucy7189@aol.com
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