To the editor:
I am glad to see the article in last week’s Aroostook Republican sharing about Debbie and Bob Jordan’s plight (Couple in danger of losing home finds help with Facebook-May 15, 2013).
I know Debbie and Bob and I can share in depth here on your viewpoint page just how serious this is. I am familiar with every aspect that has led them to this point. Bob has always been a hard worker and has always worked at full-time employment. But the accident in 2007 changed his ability to do so. And yet, even while working at the part-time job and drawing disability benefits, he still was managing with keeping the mortgage payments going out. It was their top priority.
Debbie has been tested repeatedly for multiple sclerosis because of her lack of balance. Nothing appears to have shown up on the tests, but she shared her symptoms on the MS Society’s Facebook page – and was told that it doesn’t always show up on tests, but that her symptoms are indicative in her having MS.
All of her symptoms required her and Bob to have their house renovated for all of this. They had to save up money for about four years as the renovation cost more than they had. In the meantime, she had to take only sponge baths for those three to four years. She is no longer able to step into a standard tub. They needed to get a roll-in shower bought and then installed for her, in addition to many other modifications.
The Jordans’ downward spiral really began in 2010 when it was discovered that Debbie had a cancer. She was referred quickly to Eastern Maine Medical Center where she was rushed through X-ray, CT scan, biopsy, MRI, blood work and then emergency surgery. It had been eating away at her sternum, the clavicle, beginning to eat her lung and had begun spreading. The doctors had to act quickly, saying that the window in saving her life was closing.
The Jordans then had to continue traveling back and forth to the hospital in Bangor every month during that entire year so that the doctors could keep watch on her for her treatment. This put them behind in the house payments; Debbie’s life took top priority.
Bob tried making house payments once the confusion and stress began to clear. The bank down state that holds their mortgage will not work with them. They sent the house payments back. When Bob asked about loan modification, putting the amount owed at the back and starting fresh with mortgage payments, the bank refused. Instead, they demand full payment of the overdue amount to be sent to them or else they have it planned to kick the Jordans out of their home. If this were to happen it would mean that Debbie would lose the needed accessibility that is already in place within the house, as well as the safety that she feels there. It would create a very serious hardship on her with her disability and her weakened health.
It is so good that social networking through Facebook has brought a little help their way. With my husband’s declining health, I’m not able to do much but I was glad in giving them a donation.
There are so many fundraisers going on throughout the County. Couldn’t some local organizations or local businesses put a fundraiser on to help this family save their home?
Dawn Frost
Caribou
