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For City Resident, Family Supports Her Through Everyday Struggles

For one Jamestown resident, every day is a struggle.

A childhood accident left Denise Mealy disabled. She regularly suffers from osteoarthritis and bulging discs. Mealy’s home and car also sustained water damage in two separate incidents. However, her strong faith and support have helped maintain her spirits.

Mealy was literally taken for an unexpected ride at age three when her brother placed her in an oversized swing and while also sitting on it gave her a strong push. She flew 10 feet into the air and landed another 10 feet away onto the bricks of a nearby street. She doesn’t remember how she landed or anything immediately afterward.

Initially, her family was sure she wouldn’t survive. Her eyes were in the back of her head and her skull was visible. She also had severe head trauma and internal bleeding. The only thing that saved her life was that the blood flowed out of her left ear, preventing clots from forming on her brain.

“My dad said he didn’t think I was going to make it,” Mealy said.

She was in recovery for 4 1/2 months. Because of her young age, she never received hip replacements at that time. Her doctor advised her in her twenties that she would not need them until her early 50s.

“They wanted me to wait until I became 52,” Mealy said. “But I ended up getting them at 48.”

That’s because on April 29, 2017 she suffered a severe injury while working at Applebee’s in Warren, Pa. She collapsed after her shoe caught on a carpet. During that fall, her left leg buckled causing her hip to rapidly come in and out its socket.

During her recovery she received separate hip replacements on Aug. 3 and Nov. 8. Both times, her doctor found bone on bone arthritis spanning both sides of her back. It was described as the size of a basketball.

“I don’t even know how she was walking,” Mealy said the doctor told her daughter in the aftermath.

Unfortunately, she had more pain that didn’t decrease with therapy. A further investigation revealed she had bulging discs in her lumbar region requiring spinal injections. Mealy was out of work 16 months. Her job was held for a year, but her injuries prevented her from returning.

Mealy has not received Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. Normally applicants in New York go through a 18-month waiting period before benefits start. Mealy’s current status is 19 months. Previously she was denied employment benefits following her accident, and her lawyer filed for a hearing. Her case is still pending.

Earlier in December, Mealy was taken off of work by her doctor after she was found to have bone spurs in her hips. According to Mayo Clinic, spurs occur when osetoarthritis breaks down the cartilage between bones. To compensate for the loss of cartilage, the body creates more bone near the damaged area.

“Depending on where the ball is in my hip it causes the bone to tighten and the degree of the spurs depends on the pressure on the hips,” Mealy said. “If I were to work now, it would create more spurs, weaken and cause more damage.”

Under federal health care laws, the date of surgery can’t be revealed. However, Mealy told The Post-Journal that she will be notified when the time comes.

“I will be told by UPMC-Erie about two weeks before the surgery about the date,” Mealy said. “After surgery, I will have about four to six weeks in physical therapy.”

In addition, damage to her home and property loss have plagued Mealy since last year. While recovering in November 2017, a rapid snow melt caused water to leak under her roof’s flashing and into the house. The result was a collapsed ceiling. Subsequent rain compounded the issue. In lieu of Mealy’s absence, her insurance company denied her claim. She now has blankets covering the hole.

At the same time, her car was in storage at the home of her daughter, Tiffany Parmenter. The garage housing it, flooded with 3 1/2 feet of standing water. Because the engine and electrical components were damaged, the vehicle was totaled.

Home foreclosure and back taxes have also affected Mealy. Altogether she owes approximately $18,419.

Mealy also owes 2 1/2 years worth of back taxes. If she does not pay the estimated $3,419 by Dec. 31. her house will be foreclosed upon. The estimate is a combination of Mealy’s property taxes owed in 2017, 2018 and what will be owed in 2019. Her welfare of $305 a month does not cover the amount she owes.

In making her mortgage current, Mealy has made a repayment plan of $505 a month with her bank, and received help from the Mortgage Assistance Program at Chautauqua Opportunities. She still owes approximately $15,000.

Presently, Mealy’s family has helped support her anyway possible. Her daughter Ashlyn lives with her and helps at home.

Mealy credits her courage in her struggles to her friends and family.

In particular, her late father inspired her to face her challenges head on. She likens her present situation to what he taught her.

“My dad brought me up to where you could lose everything and you can start over,” Mealy said. “If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.”

For all her heartache, Mealy has had many joys in life. Living with her daughter she sees her granddaughter every day. In spending time with her she enjoys watching TV, teaching her how to cook and playing board games.

In April, Tiffany Parmenter gave birth to a son. Mealy sees him twice a week. Parmenter is expecting another child in March of 2019. In addition, 45 area businesses have stepped in to help Mealy.

Anyone who wants to help Mealy can donate by visiting gofundme.com and searching for Denise Mealy. Three accounts have been established. One is care of Parmenter, and two are care of Mealy.

Money orders can be made care of Parmenter at any Northwest Savings Bank location. To mail checks, send them to Tiffany Parmenter P.O. Box 185 Cherry Creek, N.Y. 14723.

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