When Our Community Showed Up: Support for Rachel and Lila

The Phoenixville Area Time Bank, like other human well-being focused organizations, encounters challenging situations from time to time. Often these situations are challenging because they do not fit the mold or the exact outline of the organization's mission. But- being human inspired and led, we want to meet the challenge and care for the persons involved. Such was, and is, a situation- no, a family- who have been in our community and the Time Bank for many years and who have been in acute need of our care and help quite recently.

Rachel and Lila R have been members of the Time Bank since its founding, and have lived in the Phoenixville area for over twenty years. For several years, life has been very tough, as aging for mother Rachel has brought with it health challenges and a weariness around dealing with finances, home care, and paperwork . Lila at fifty is a positive person but also in need of companionship, and some more specific health care, as well as her daily challenges with blindness and learning disabilities. On September 3rd, many issues came to a head as Rachel experienced pain and extreme fatigue and was hospitalized in Phoenixville. Her diagnosis of an invasive cancer has left her with a long hospitalization and several treatment possibilities, as well as the need to recover from a recently broken hip. Lila was also hospitalized for chronic breathing difficulties and a lung infection, at the same time. Rachel is now in Reading Hospital, transferred for her hip surgery, and Lila spent about ten days in Phoenixville Hospital, doing well at present and at home, with a group of visiting health professionals, supportive therapy and a peer counselor.

Not sure of the progress of the disease of Rachel or of the need for home care, the house in which they are renting two rooms and storing all of their belongings, needed to be prepared for possible return to home care. The call went out to the Time Bank and to friends and neighbors, and moneys, time, labor and care all came pouring in! Within two weeks, a plan to make the whole house more livable and clean from top to bottom was hatched and came to life! So many hands made the work, if not light, manageable, and for some it was a huge commitment of time and energy. The community as well as the Time Bank- showed up! Now we are prepared for whatever the next steps will be in both Rachel's journey and Lila's plans. Of course, more help and more funds will be needed, but it feels as if we are all pulling in the same direction.

I want to relate a funny and touching moment, early in Rachel and Lila's hospitalization about two floors away from each other in Phoenixville Hospital. I had been to visit and was speaking with the Rachel's floor nurse and the Palliative Care nurse for the cancer patients, "Mary Pat". Mary Pat asked me if the level of care that The Time Bank was providing during hospitalization would continue upon discharge, and if skilled nursing was a part of the Time Bank's "vault" of help and skills! I took a moment to compose myself, and said that if you need your lawn mowed, your cat sat, or a ride to the airport- we are your pals- but changing IV's and staying up all night with oxygen tank challenges- not yet! Yet I was glad that we came across as so caring and so competent. And I made both nurses honorary members of the Time Bank- right there and then!

The future is not certain, as it is not for any of us. Lila is well- placed in her home with a new room and a professional health team and friends nearby and involved. Rachel continues to receive cancer treatments and for her hip to heal. Family and friends keep in touch from across the country, and the Time Bank shows up as needed as well as many friends of long standing. Please think of, pray for, and visit these two brave souls as we continue on this journey together. More than ever, the Time Bank proved its responsiveness and usefulness, and positivity and open-hearts reigned above all. Community support truly is a special thing.