Meet Ruth, a 35-year-old single mother of three beautiful little girls. In August of 2013, Ruth started a job as a caretaker for a young man who was confined to bed. She absolutely loved her job and knew from the very beginning that she wanted to dedicate her career to helping others as a nurse.
As Ruth was making plans to enroll in nursing school to earn her degree, the unexpected happened. On July 15, 2015, Ruth suffered from a stroke. On New Year’s Day, 2016, her second stroke occurred. After several doctor’s visits, Ruth was diagnosed with Moyamoya Disease, a rare disease that constricts certain arteries in the brain.
Because of her diagnosed neurological disorder, Ruth’s employment options were limited. “I felt like there was no hope,” Ruth commented. “I could no longer do any of the types of work that I had experience with. I was lost. But then I became involved with Union-Snyder CAA.”
Ruth was referred to Union-Snyder CAA through her county’s assistance office and quickly enrolled in the Work Ready program. After six months of working diligently with Carol, Union-Snyder CAA’s Work Ready Coordinator, Ruth met her educational goals and earned two certifications that helped advance her career. She also received assistance from Union-Snyder CAA’s Families in Crisis Fund via Community Aid’s Care Card to purchase required clothing for her externship. In June of 2017, Ruth accepted a part-time position as Operations Clerk for rabbitransit.
“I can honestly say that life has gotten much better for me. I have gained a newfound confidence in myself. I have learned how to budget my finances better, which makes it possible for me to occasionally do special things with my children. I now have a professional job with a company that believes in employee advancement.”
In addition to thriving in her new job at rabbittransit, Ruth also serves as a Board member on Union-Snyder CAA’s Tripartite Advisory Board. Ruth is going on two years stroke-free and is maintaining her health with the guidance of her neurologist in Hershey, but is still taking time to relearn some of life’s daily activities. “[After my strokes], I notice that I need a lot more time for things like processing conversations and reading. I just consider this a part of my life now. I’m feeling really positive about it all,” commented Ruth.
When asked what Ruth thinks of Union-Snyder CAA now that she is self-sufficient, she responded: “I support Union-Snyder CAA because they do so much to assist people in finding their potential. Because of Union-Snyder CAA, many people [in our community] are getting chances to improve their quality of life.”