LIMA — There is a closed door in Shelly’s house, one that, for the time being, she cannot open.
The door leads into her daughter Kaydance’s room, where her bed, clothes and toys remain. That room is not, however, where her 9-year-old daughter sleeps, as a recent police operation lead to a broken window and Kaydance’s room saturated with tear gas, with shards of glass embedded in the carpet.
Coupled with the fact that Shelly’s husband died suddenly this year, leaving Shelly living off disability payments, the room is still unsafe for Kaydance, as Shelly has not been able to get the room properly cleaned. So far, she has only been able to replace the broken window with a single pane of glass.
“Right now, we share a back bedroom because it didn’t get any tear gas in it,” she said. “I don’t know if her room is salvageable. I can still go in there and rustle things around, and I swear I can still smell it.”
Shelly has some family members nearby to help her, but that help can only go so far, now that Shelly finds herself to be a single parent.
“Being alone and facing all the financial issues [is difficult],” she said. “I mean, I’ve got property taxes coming in February.”
So far, thanks to disability payments, a survivor benefit for Kaydance and help from family, Shelly has been able to get by, but that does not leave room for much in the way of Christmas presents for Kaydance. After losing her husband and the damage sustained to her daughter’s room, Shelly’s desire is to at least end the year on a good note for her daughter.
“I’m just worried for my daughter,” she said. “I just want her to be okay.”
Shelly said that Kaydance needs a bed and she is hoping to find a way to get that carpet either professionally cleaned or replaced. She has replaced some of Kaydance’s clothes that were ruined, thanks to help from family, but she could use some shirts and pants for her, both in size 10-12. Kaydance could also use some size 4 shoes and snow boots. Other needs Shelly is experiencing include a clothes washer breaking down and issues with brakes on her vehicle.
In the meantime, Shelly and Kaydance are continuing to adjust to what is their new normal.
“I just put my faith in God at this point,” she said. “Without God to lean on, I can’t imagine how much more lost I would feel.”
.neFileBlock {
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
padding-bottom: 5px;
padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
font-size: 85%;
}
