Hi everyone,

I want to introduce you to Gloria. She is 81 years old and came into our lives through a caregiving service that supports independent living—helping with companionship, cleaning, meals, transportation, and the everyday tasks many of us take for granted.

From her very first day, Gloria stood out. She never stops moving, never cuts corners, and always goes above and beyond. She works harder than any caregiver we've had always sweating and moving. When she first arrived, we were hesitant because no one at her age should have to do this kind of work. But it quickly became clear that Gloria isn’t working by choice, she’s working because she has to. I’ve told her she could just come by, rest, and spend time with us while others handled the workload. But Gloria refuses to sit still. She has stated before that she is there to work and would feel bad if she did not help out. 

As you can see in the video, Gloria suffers from severe back issues, including a pronounced curvature that causes her constant pain. Like many elderly individuals, she faces multiple health challenges, but her back is the most debilitating. At one point, she couldn’t even afford the MRI needed to begin treatment. I stepped in to help cover the cost so she could receive steroid injections, hoping it would bring her some relief. I told her she didn’t need to pay me back but Gloria couldn’t accept that. Without telling me, she began quietly leaving money around the house to repay me, even while struggling to make ends meet herself. 

Sadly, the treatments didn’t work. Her pain remains, and she’s now back at square one, searching for options she simply cannot afford. Surgery isn’t realistic for her, not just because of the cost, but because she cannot afford to stop working, even for recovery. Gloria relies on her job to survive. Social Security alone isn’t enough to cover her basic needs.

She constantly has shown up for our family and has became a good friend of ours. Gloria cares for others and I am asking for help in caring for her.