It’s heartbreaking how the tragedy of 9/11 continues to affect families like mine, even decades later. It's so sad how people seem to have forgotten that horrific day and the lives it's still destroying. My father, John Samet, was a longtime NYC Department of Sanitation employee who never hesitated to help others. On that horrific day, he went to Ground Zero to assist with debris removal and the search for survivors. For two years, he continued working at the Fish Kill landfill, searching for remains and helping with the aftermath. His selfless service exposed him to unimaginable conditions, and now he suffers from eight 9/11-related illnesses, including a severe dementia-like disorder that isn’t yet officially certified for coverage.
My mother, Hope Samet, is struggling to care for him alone. She’s overwhelmed, unable to afford help, and facing financial hardship. As her only child, I live out of state and do whatever I can, but I’m not in a financial position to provide the support she needs. My mother is just 4’11” tall, and caring for my father has become physically and emotionally exhausting. He has disappeared on several occasions and become violent on others. She struggles to get him out of bed, to shower, and to keep him safe. The burden is immense, and I am deeply concerned for her health and well-being. She can not afford the treatment and rehabilitation services he needs because she lives on SS and a small partial pension. My father had to retire early do to his cognitive dysfunction, my mother had to stop working at 63 to take care of him. My mother is struggling to pay her mortgage in NY due to a huge tax increase. We need to pay off or pay down her mortgage so she can sell her home and move to Alabama to be by me, so I can help her take care of my father. If we can't pay down her mortgage there will be nothing left for her to even move by me.
I am desperately asking for help from Patriots and anyone who remembers the ongoing impact of 9/11. Your support will help my mother pay off her mortgage, recover from the financial ruin this has created, and hire part-time aides to give her a much-needed break. Even a small donation or sharing this page would mean the world to us. If you can’t donate, please consider forwarding this page or writing a letter to the commission that governs the certification of these illnesses, so my mother can finally get the help she deserves. Thank you for taking the time to read our story and for your attention.
