Jessica

Good people don’t plan for bad things to happen. Jessica Dwyer never planned for a debilitating disease. She never planned for a flooded basement that resulted in the loss of her family’s belongings. She never planned to lose her job. She most certainly didn’t plan on Santa skipping her house last Christmas. In August 2011, Jessica was diagnosed with interstitial cystitis (IC), a severe bladder disease which limited her work. The disease went undiagnosed for years until she couldn’t take the pain anymore. Ongoing doctor’s office visits and surgeries made it difficult for her to work. Two months after the diagnosis, her basement flooded and the majority of her family’s clothes were lost. Jessica felt like she couldn’t catch a break.

And, just when she thought things couldn’t get worse, her disease forced her to lose her job. Michael, her husband of 18 years, then became the sole provider for their family making it difficult to provide for their two children, Austyn, 14, and Harmony, 9. With Christmas just around the corner, Jessica wanted to make sure that both of her children had something underneath the tree. So, he researched where she might be able to get Christmas assistance. In early December, she reached out to several organizations, but they all turned her down, citing either cutoff dates or children’s age limits. “I understood they had cutoff dates, but was shocked when organizations wouldn’t provide gifts for children over the age of 12,” she said. “Just because you have a teenager, it doesn’t mean they don’t deserve a Christmas, too.”

“No mother wants to think about not being able to give her children Christmas"

Jessica kept faith in God and found The Salvation Army. Two weeks before Christmas, The Salvation Army Dearborn Heights Corps Community Center provided toys, clothing and financial assistance... with no cutoff dates or age limits. “No mother wants to think about not being able to give her children a Christmas,” said Jessica. “It broke my heart thinking what a sad morning it would have been, but the support I received was amazing. The Salvation Army unconditionally welcomed me and made me feel loved .” The Salvation Army has inspired Jessica to do the most good for her community. Her goal is to get healthy and have her family participate as bell ringers during the next Red Kettle campaign. She is also developing a community donation drive with her church to help older teens so they won’t go without at Christmas.

The Salvation Army has lifted Jessica and her family’s spirit. Jessica didn’t choose to lose her job. She didn’t choose to be diagnosed with a painful disease. But, Jessica did choose to make sure her kids had a wonderful Christmas and The Salvation Army of Metro Detroit chose to help them.

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