I've been injured (C4-5) for past 16 years and have been living with my mom the whole time. My mom is with me at night, and my aunt (mom's sister) does some of my care (both morning & night & drives me & pick me up from work) and I have an outside caregiver who does 4 mornings a week for 2 hours and 5 nights a week for 2 hours. I am able to pay them through 2 different programs available here in CA. My mom gets paid for 9 hours from a program called In-Home Support Services and my aunt and outside caregiver get paid through a state program, called In-Home Operations Program, or the Medi-Cal Waiver program and get about 7 hours a day from that program.
Since I always wanted to be a mom and had not met Mr. Right yet, my mom and I decided to become foster-adopt parents and we got my daughter when she was 16 months, who is now 31/2, and my son since he was 4 months, and is now 2. We adopted my daughter in January of this year, right before she turned 3 and adopted my son today. So I live with my mom and my 2 children and am still hopeful I will meet that right guy in the near future, who is willing to get involved with a quad woman and 2 children (not too much to ask for, right, lol). I am very fortunate to have a great mom, who is my best friend and was willing to co-adopt with me to allow me to be a mom and she's a great grandma to my kids. And I'm loving it being a mom. It's been a dream come true, despite it being much harder than I ever anticipated. But doesn't every mother say that, lol? My mom and aunt plan to leave me and the children our house if anything happens to them. I'll be 39 next week. Another reason why I wanted to adopt before I was too old! Sorry to get off topic, but just wanted to share my story with my good news today and if anyone out there wants to be a parent and is single also, remember you can do it, it's possible! By the way, loved Joan's story and wanted to say you are an inspiration to us all! Corie :-) ----- Original Message ----- From: [email protected] To: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, October 13, 2009 3:59 PM Subject: [QUAD-L] Living Arrangements I'm just curious as to everyone's living arrangements. Do you stay at home with a live in caretaker, do you live at home with family who cares for you, do you live alone with an aide who comes in for a few hours, do you live in an assisted living facility, or nursing facility . I'm just curious as to how other people manage. I live in my own home, but I do not have access to a shower and I need someone available 24 hours a day. I'm looking at assistant living facilities, but they are so expensive. Any suggestions? Naomi C-4 Quadriplegic, since July 2, 2005 Due to Transverse Myelitis
