(cont'd)

What could I do? I was about to give up after rushing my daughter to the emergency room on July 18, 2003. I had missed my admissions interview, I was certain that I would not be going to Monroe College in the fall of 2003. However, theses immediate events following this crisis caused me to make the best decision for my future and my daughter's future. The admissions Officer had rescheduled my interview, I received thirty transferrable college credits from Pace University, and because I was receiving very little income I was able to receive financial aid. In addition, I had support from my husband, immediate family, my neighbors and co-workers. I was a temp-employee at JP Morgan Chase and because of my current situation, I was only bringing in $99.00 a week. My husband cut his hours at work in order for me to attend college in the morning and he would go to work once I got home. My daughter spend her the first three months of her freshman year in home study.

In October I was eligible for foodstamps, WIC, and a NJ State Medicaid under the Horizon Family Insurance. Within the next six months to a year, I used these government assisted programs to my advantage. In November, I started working weekends on the graveyard shift which increased my income. My husband got a job closer to home. Eventually, he got a better paying job working at the Brownstone Diner. I was doing well in school and made it on the Presidents for all the semesters I attended Monroe College, earning a merit scholarship for each of those semester. We went through many trials and tribulations with my daughter's school. She attended Dickerson until her last year. She was forced out of Dickerson and under much objections, her only option was to attend her neighborhood school, Lincoln HS, in her junior year. However, her guidance counselor was very helpful and very aware of the MS symptoms. Meanwhile, I was hired by JP Morgan Chase as a permanent employee in July 2005. With the increased pay and benefits, I was able to get medical insurance for myself and my children. My daughter was finally diagnosed with MS in March 2006 and she received the best treatment at NYUHJD. My daughter graduated high school and was accepted to Chaminade University in Hawaii on a merit scholarship in June 2007.