emergency room of our local hospital with severe abdominal pains, we both thought it was my appendix.  After an ultra-sound it was discovered I had a uterine fibroid tumor that had burst and spread infection.  I almost died.  After a lot of anti-biotics, a full hysterectomy and having my appendix removed I was allowed to go home after a week in the hospital.  I was weak but alive. 

When I was finally released by my doctors to go back to work (6 weeks later) I stopped in to let my employer know I would be back to work in a few days only to be told I had been laid-off.   It felt like I had been kicked when I was down.  I had a lot of medical and hospital bills rolling in not to mention the normal monthly bills we all have.  I had to close out my retirement, pay off what could be paid and sign up for unemployment.  Anyone who says they will “kick back on unemployment for a while” has no clue what little money that really is.  Plus we had to go on cobra for our medical insurance and pay the premium out of pocket, $500 a month.  Naturally I had friends and family who said I should hire an attorney and sue my former employer, but I just don’t believe in that.  Besides, why fight to work in a place you are not wanted or needed?  I needed another plan.

Florence is a small town so there is not a lot of job opportunities beyond minimum wage.  Most of the higher paying with benefit jobs are at Fred Meyer or Safeway as a checker.  I had a choice to make.  Do I at the age of 44 become a checker, or do I stay in the insurance industry and find a job out of town?  I really like what I do, so working at Fred Meyer or Safeway was not an option.  My husband and I decided that wherever I found my work we would move.  Eventually I was hired by an insurance agency in downtown Eugene.  This meant I have to drive 62 miles one way 5 days a week.  I am still driving after 3 years. 

At first we would look at homes and found they were over-priced and we were trying to keep within an affordable budget.  In September of 2007 my husband began chemotherapy for a treatable form of Hepatitis C for 6 months.  He worked for half of that time, but was finally unable to work at all. That really ate up any savings we had, so no more downpayment for a house, no moving for a while.  He has gone back to work, but currently the construction industry is not very busy.

I drive over 15 bridges and thru 1 tunnel each way, 5 days a week to work and back home to Florence.  If you have ever driven Hwy 126 from Eugene to Florence you know it is mostly a pretty bumpy road and windey.  Last winters snow made it even more special.  I need to move.  I need a home closer to my work. 

I am not trying to win this house for re-sale or a flip, I want a home to live in for a long time.  I don’t think I am more deserving than anyone else who has submitted their essay, we are all deserving in my opinion.  I am 48 years old and have never owned a home, and would really love to own this one.  It’s part of the American dream.  This home would improve my quality of life, I wouldn’t be so tired from the road trip every night, I would get home earlier, even be able to cook dinner during the week.  Spend more time with friends and family, those things I just don’t have time or energy for now.

Thanks for reading this and considering my essay.

Debbie

Dlight64@hotmail.com