One of the benefits of having a parish nurse program is having the ability to check blood pressures of parishioners who are so inclined.
This is very important because hypertension is a quiet killer. Untreated, it eventually leads to other more serious things such as congestive heart failure and may on the way lead to a stroke, heart attack, renal failure and other sundry medical ailments, including death.
When it comes to losing a job, or being between jobs, this too, if left untreated, can lead to other serious things such as the inability to pay rent, utilities, medicines, food and ultimately homelessness.
Recently, a single mother who is between jobs came to us in need. I previously met her four years ago when she was a homeless mother on the run from an abusive man who was pressuring her to abort their unborn child.
She now rode to our offices on her daughter’s bicycle. It was a Saturday afternoon. As it turns out, she needed help with multiple things because with time they just ‘piled on,’ as one thing lead to another.
As the story unraveled, I discovered she needed help with her prescription drugs including insulin, needles to inject the insulin, and her anti-hypertension pills for her high blood pressure, as well as food and diapers. She wisely paid her rent first with the funds available, so as to avoid homelessness once again. We were able to help her with the items mentioned above with a promise of a vehicle, preferably a van, when she obtains another driver’s license. She informed me she will be looking for a job. Thankfully, she has an older son who is now working. She rode away happy and content.
One of the courses not offered in the seminary is ‘Fundraising 101.’ It’s not always the easiest thing to do, but I never feel awkward asking for money or material items because I know donations received are for those in need and not for myself.
Every once in a while we receive a donation we are told is a ‘one-time’ gift. As with all gifts, we are grateful for them, but try our best to convince people to make us one of their favorite charities for, “The poor you will always have with you” (Mt 26:11), and “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me” (Mt 25:40).
In other words, the need is always there, and when we help someone, we are helping Christ Jesus.
In addition, we can only help individuals and families to the extent of which we are able, based on the funds and items on hand. That said, I have always loved the adage of Mother Angelica, “Keep us between your gas and electric bill!”
Using this column as a vehicle, please permit me to use it to thank all of our benefactors who donate furniture, appliances, kitchen items, vehicles, other material items, and monetary gifts which enable us to fulfill the gospel mandate to love our neighbor as ourselves. Please know that all of our supporters are in our daily prayers. And please, get your blood pressure checked and if there is someone out there who has been affected by hypertension unawares, please let me know!
