Her Will

Yesterday I went to visit Linda.  She has been through a lot since I last posted about her.  She had left the shelters and moved into her own home in a government subsidized project.  In her new place, she had seemed happy, talkative and open.  

After about four months had past, her health deteriorated.  Linda’s neighbor had found her on the floor unresponsive.  She had been there for two days.  She is now living in a nursing home for the time being.  When I went to find her, a nurse had to point me to her as I did not recognize her.  She lost so much weight, her frame is skeletal and she is now in a wheelchair.  The nurses say she is not eating much.

She and I found a place in the dining hall that was quiet to talk.  We sat there in silence for a long time.  If I asked her a question, her response was yes or no without elaboration.  When I asked her how is her will to live, she put her head down, chipped at her worn nail polish, and slowly replied “it’s good.” I gave her some updates about my own life and she listened intently.

We continued to sit in silence. Linda seemed so tired....


I mentioned that Etta James had died.  She asked who was she.  I explained that James sang a famous song called  “At Last."  Linda looked at me blankly.  Then I played it on my phone.  She closed her eyes, she smiled knowingly and began to hum along....

At Last 

follow more of Linda's story by clicking here: Linda

Linda

I first met Linda at The Emancipation Station, a day shelter for women.  Linda has been homeless since February.  She has been living in shelters from month to month.  Her only income is a few dollars support every week from her brothers and sisters.  She has been hunting for jobs weekly through Goodwill Industries and other organizations with no success.   After a relationship dissolved at the beginning of the year Linda became homeless at 47 years old.  She has an 19 year old daughter and a 2 month old grandson.  

The women at the day shelter describe Linda as a little lady with a big voice.  They enjoy her infectious loud laugh.  When others have a story to tell, she is the one who listens.  Linda is known to help women with their children when they need it and with getting chores done around the shelter.  

Recently, Linda has been diagnosed with Emphysema and COPD.  She has not laughed much in the last couple of weeks and has been in and out of the emergency room several times.  When I saw her Monday, she was very sick, was unable to do anything, very quiet.  

One would think she has a death wish because, despite her diagnosis, she continues to smoke.  She said smoking calms her nerves and her addiction to menthol cigarettes, the least expensive in the neighborhood, is "rough."  The doctor recommended the patch, but she cannot afford it.

Linda took a break for an emergency inhale of medicine at Kitty's Restaurant near the Emancipation Station.

In giving thanks this Thanksgiving, I want to recognize Linda, for being a genuine and beautiful person.

Nicole's Story

I have been working on a long-term photo project documenting different women's stories at Emancipation Station, a day shelter for homeless women.

I finished shooting the first half of Nicole's story and hope to find a place to publish it when I am finished editing.

Nicole, age 23, moved into an apartment last Friday with her three children after they were homeless for over two months.

Bearing Witness at the Emancipation Station, A Day Shelter for Women

Fearful dreams of the dark corridors that these people's lives inhabit are starting to dissipate into a conversation, a sharing of space.   Human beings, women and sometimes children, with real feelings, hopes and fears.  The same as anyone without a home or job and limited options.

 Each person has a story to tell....  

Emancipation Station

After visiting the Emancipation Station, a shelter for women, I thought about it a long time afterwards. I was in awe of Pastor Alice Pigee-Wallack who runs the center. Her strength for dealing with the difficult and hard stories of these women. Sometimes it is a story of mental illness, sometimes drugs, abuse, or just hard luck. Just recently "Pastor Alice" as they call her, told me that the story we did helped them earn a $5000 grant. It motivates me to go out and do more photography like this.

Link to article

If you or someone you know would like to help the Emancipation Station, contact the Janet Brown Moss at janetbridgeworks@sbcglobal.net or call 816.531.6577. To contact the True Light Family Resource Center, please call 816.561.1700 or emailtruelightfrc@hotmail.com.