The Story of Starlene Lichon
I lost both of my parents at a young age. I was in my mid 30s when I lost my Dad. Mom died when I was 41. It has been very hard to live without the two of them. I miss them more and more every day! My brothers and I took very good care of them when they were alive. We wanted to give them what they had given us, a good life.
When we found out my mother was dying, she only had a short time left. We helped Mom with her house and her bills. We did this so she wouldn’t have to worry about anything while dealing with her illness. Time passed and we knew she and my Dad were peaceful.
Because of the added financial responsibility of taking care of my parents, I put off going to the dentist. I couldn’t afford it for a long time. I finally went to the dentist where they gave me bad news. I had a disease which was causing me to get sick. I would eat but I wasn’t digesting the food properly. My teeth and gums were so bad that I was unable to chew my food properly. The dentist decided the best solution for me was to have all 32 teeth pulled, allow healing, and then replace them with dentures. I was so worried about how I was going to pay for this, not to mention having to miss work.
My friend Diana, a nurse at Bayonet Point Hospital, suggested I ask the HCA Hope Fund for assistance. She said they help employees like me who really need it. I submitted my request to them with my backup documentation. The Hope fund provided me $1000 towards the cost of the dental surgery and teeth. I don’t know what I would have done without them. My new teeth made a new life for me. Not only do I feel so much better physically, but I have gained new confidence in myself.
