starsNrain
New Member
Background: prior to 2005, I was a single mother of one child, living wirh my parents, and attending nursing school with above average grades and a totally clean criminal record..
In April 2005, my downward spiral began.. I was in a near fatal car accident which has resulted in 16 surgeries, multiple hospital stays, life threatening complications, the loss of function of my left arm/wrist/hand, and which forced me to abandon my schooling, and has killed any chance of holding down a job. I have no income, and am not eligible for disability due to my lack of work credits.
I now am the caretaker of my parents due to health problems. My mother suffered a brain bleed in 1999 which has left her somewhat unstable. My father's kidneys failed a few months ago and he is now on dialysis eo survive.
I care for them, as well as for my 7yr old son. Our only income is their meager monthly SS checks.
I turned to shoplifting. I make no excuses, and take full blame. I am now on probation for my second offense. A few days ago a warrant was taken out on me for yet another charge. This time, however I was not stealing.. in fact the store kept over $100 of food I purchased with food stamps.
I am willing to do anything to avoid prison time.. including getting mental health care (which my medical doctors have been pushing for since the car wreck), accepting house arrest, or doing weekends in jail. What can I do? My family needs me to care for them. It has been suggested that I suffer from post traumatic stress disorder due to my car accident.
Is there anything I can do to help myself? Lives are depending on me, though that sounds dranatic.. it is very true. Before the shoplifting charges, I've never even had a speeding ticket. Please help...
~stars
In April 2005, my downward spiral began.. I was in a near fatal car accident which has resulted in 16 surgeries, multiple hospital stays, life threatening complications, the loss of function of my left arm/wrist/hand, and which forced me to abandon my schooling, and has killed any chance of holding down a job. I have no income, and am not eligible for disability due to my lack of work credits.
I now am the caretaker of my parents due to health problems. My mother suffered a brain bleed in 1999 which has left her somewhat unstable. My father's kidneys failed a few months ago and he is now on dialysis eo survive.
I care for them, as well as for my 7yr old son. Our only income is their meager monthly SS checks.
I turned to shoplifting. I make no excuses, and take full blame. I am now on probation for my second offense. A few days ago a warrant was taken out on me for yet another charge. This time, however I was not stealing.. in fact the store kept over $100 of food I purchased with food stamps.
I am willing to do anything to avoid prison time.. including getting mental health care (which my medical doctors have been pushing for since the car wreck), accepting house arrest, or doing weekends in jail. What can I do? My family needs me to care for them. It has been suggested that I suffer from post traumatic stress disorder due to my car accident.
Is there anything I can do to help myself? Lives are depending on me, though that sounds dranatic.. it is very true. Before the shoplifting charges, I've never even had a speeding ticket. Please help...
~stars
