Couple fights illness, layoffs

Illnesses, injuries and job layoffs have taken a toll on this couple.

The wife is a registered nurse who cannot work due to injuries that occurred while she was caring for hospital patients. She also suffers from Crohn's disease, a condition that causes inflammation and ulceration of the digestive tract.

The last few years of their 40-year marriage have been particularly trying, especially since her husband's company laid off most of its employees and outsourced their work.

"The few positions left went to 20-year-olds at minimum wage, so there went our home, the one we raised our children in," the wife told Christmas for All. "I can't say we live paycheck to paycheck. It's much worse than that."

For more than a year, her husband was out of work. Since last spring, he has been at the only job he could find, working at minimum wage for a company 20 miles from their home. The hours and shifts change regularly, and he's usually not given more than 20 hours per week. Often less, she said.

They are living on about $900 per month, in a tiny, rented place. With their limited income, they often have to pay for doctor and hospital visits, and medications she needs to treat her illness.

"It makes me feel so bad that just by living, I put added pressure on my poor husband," she said.

Her husband has his own aches and pains, including an arthritic knee that swells to twice its normal size by the time he arrives home from his job.

Because of his knee, they can't get to their Christmas decorations, now stored in the rafters of a friend's garage.

"That I will fix ... gather some pine cones and greenery, make it look like Christmas around here," she said. "I try to be as resourceful as I can."

She said her eyes well up when she thinks about how hard her husband is working. He never complains, although he needs a winter coat. She said she worries the car will break down while he's traveling to or from work, and he'll freeze.

"I'd love a few apples to bake him a nice apple pie for Christmas. Apple pie and ice cream is his favorite," she told Christmas for All. "It would be so nice to put something in his lunch bag other than peanut butter."

She said she doesn't need a thing for herself this holiday season; she just wishes she could something nice for her husband.

"He tries so hard and has always cares for me when I'm sick," she said.

With our readers' assistance, Press Christmas for All works to brighten the holidays for people like this - the jobless, homeless, those who are barely making ends meet, individuals with disabilities or illnesses. Many are alone this holiday season.

Each year, our generous readers' donations allow us to assist thousands of Kootenai County families in need. Each day until Christmas, we will share the stories of those whose holiday memories will be a little happier because of Press Christmas for All.

Donations are collected, then distributed in the form of gift cards to Kootenai County residents in need.

Press Christmas for All is a holiday charity now in its 27th year. It is managed as a nonprofit by The Hagadone Corp. Because it is run by volunteers from The Hagadone Corp. and their partners at Kootenai County Fire and Rescue, with assistance from North Idaho College employee volunteers, every penny raised is distributed in the form of gift cards from Shopko or Super 1 Foods, local retailers who also generously support the program. The cards can be used to buy food and gifts but not alcohol or tobacco products. All contributions are tax deductible.

To give, please send a check to:

Press Christmas for All 201 Second St. Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814

You can also call (208) 664-8176 weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. and donate by credit card.

Donations can also be made securely online at www.christmasforallcda.com

Recent donors: John & Judy Ferguson; John & Carla Hauer; Jean Hjort; Alastair & Joyce Summers; Dave & Kathi Halpin; Anonymous; Kerri & Kathy Domenichelli; Renee, Karen, Beverly & Jolee (In loving memory of our mother, Lois Riggs); Leichner Family; Craig & Jill Dee Foss (In memory of Jesse Foss); Patrick & Beverly Tebo; David & Patricia Hoskins; Anonymous; Sharon Dunning; William & Carol McCarty; Shirley & Paul Binfield; Joseph & Susan Heath; James & Toni Christy; Shirley Wastweet; Patrick & Renee Miller; John & Linda Boughton; Barry & Diane Jarstad; The Glynn Family; Faye Shartzer; Todd: Dawn & Kurt Lunblad; Grant & Helen Corey; Richard Gerhard Jr & Lynette Gerhard; Raymond Gotz; Eleanor Lyon; Clinton Sanders; Elizabeth Gibbons; Virginia Teeter; Anonymous; Richard Nordstrom Logging, Inc.; Beverly & Joe Bloomsburg; James Baillie; Kenneth & Bernita Carlson; Douglas Magnuson; Joan Day; Thomas & Kathleen Schaper; Muriel & William Stamps; Doug & Dorothy Schedler; Kathryn & Earl Sanders; Anonymous; Keith & Sandy Matheney; Anonymous; Ken & Diana Smitheman; Robert & Mary Drummond; Anonymous.

Notes from our donors

On behalf of my wife and me, please accept this donation for the Press Christmas for All. I would like to give this in loving memory for my wife's mother, Marilynn Sachtleben, who spent countless hours in her community helping those in need. I hope and pray that it will make a difference to some of the families in our community who are struggling to make ends meet. Thank you for making this a yearly ministry for our community.

- Dr. Kevin R. Chang

Enclosed is a check to help those less fortunate than my wife and I. We both hope this will help your organization help all those people who are unfortunate, to have a nice Christmas. Thanks to all of you for helping all these people at this time of year.

- Dave and Kathi Halpin

This check represents what we would have spent for Christmas on our two granddaughters, Carly and Caity Gardipe. They have plenty so we do this and they think it's "cool."

- Judith and Wendell Gardipe