Brook Ilges - Writer, World Traveler, & Wife...
I was born Brook Cheriee Maxwell in the great state of Virginia, in a small town called Winchester. My parents, Gary and Donna Fernandez were loving and devoted all throughout my childhood . That bond strengthened as I matured and became not just a daughter but a friend. It wasn't until I got older did I look back and realize just how much they prepared me for the real world. I have always enjoyed helping people but without their thoughtful guidance, literary influence and giving natures, I would not have been as open as I am today.
I grew up happy in a state where little of that was afforded. Ohio did not lend much to the sunny disposition I had been born with but it did open my eyes to all the pain and suffering in the world. I volunteered as much as I could with school and a job. I did my best to give advice when it was asked...and even when it wasn't. I always seemed to be the shoulder to cry on or the ear that listened. I hope that this continues throughout my life.
Jeremiah came into my life when I was twenty-four. I had just finished up the year at Clark State Community College with the hopes of obtaining my Degree in English. The written word has always been and will always be my greatest passion. Through writing I found my voice, my ability to express my closest secrets and deepest sorrows. I am currently in the process of putting a collection of poems together and also finishing my first book. Under stress I do not focus well unfortunately so I do not have a date as of yet when either will be published. It was love at first sight. Madly head over heels for each other on our first date. Within months of us knowing each other he proposed and then two months later we married. The best day of my life was when he repeated I do. He had started showing signs of declining health throughout that summer but it was not until November of 2010 that we realized we needed to move out of Ohio at the urging of his Oncologist. We put the house up for sale, had three garage/moving sales and closed up his business. By this time he was barely able to get out of bed every day. Finally, a year later, me moved to Florida. Moffitt Cancer Center was waiting for us.
Here is where everything starts to go down hill.
They did several blood tests, Bone Marrow Biopsies and conferences with other Hematologists. Within a month they determined that Jeremiah desperately needed a Bone Marrow Transplant. I started rallying everyone I knew, every avenue I knew to advertise for people to register with BeTheMatch.com. Everyone was so willing to help we were overwhelmed with all of the support. On a sunny morning in late August we got the call that a match had been found. Tears streamed down our faces. We, everyone, had hoped, prayed, begged and pleaded that a match would be found. There is no way financially we would have been able to afford the transplant. He had not been working for over year now, had no insurance and all of our savings had been eaten up with all of the transfusions he required. Going on disability and medicaid was the only way. Medicaid though was not willing to extend more help to him than Medically Needy Medicaid which is still a share of cost program. The share of cost is double what disability is willing to give. This situation has put us in dire straights. The amount of stress on him is insurmountable. I am unable to work outside of the house due to him needing someone with him 24/7 and the constrictive parameters of disability guidelines.
I have never met someone as strong as Jeremiah. No one more willing to help or go the extra mile for a friend in need. Even going through all the procedures, pain and tests he still has a smile on his face and laughter in his heart. If anyone can make it through this I know that he can. With the support of my family including my Nana and Papa, Great Aunts Linda and Brenda, Aunt Cinda, my loving parents,my brother and our friends/business associates I know that he will prevail. Please take some time out of your day to send him healing energy, warm thoughts and prayer. Now more than ever he needs us supporting his spirit, for his body is no longer in our hands.
I grew up happy in a state where little of that was afforded. Ohio did not lend much to the sunny disposition I had been born with but it did open my eyes to all the pain and suffering in the world. I volunteered as much as I could with school and a job. I did my best to give advice when it was asked...and even when it wasn't. I always seemed to be the shoulder to cry on or the ear that listened. I hope that this continues throughout my life.
Jeremiah came into my life when I was twenty-four. I had just finished up the year at Clark State Community College with the hopes of obtaining my Degree in English. The written word has always been and will always be my greatest passion. Through writing I found my voice, my ability to express my closest secrets and deepest sorrows. I am currently in the process of putting a collection of poems together and also finishing my first book. Under stress I do not focus well unfortunately so I do not have a date as of yet when either will be published. It was love at first sight. Madly head over heels for each other on our first date. Within months of us knowing each other he proposed and then two months later we married. The best day of my life was when he repeated I do. He had started showing signs of declining health throughout that summer but it was not until November of 2010 that we realized we needed to move out of Ohio at the urging of his Oncologist. We put the house up for sale, had three garage/moving sales and closed up his business. By this time he was barely able to get out of bed every day. Finally, a year later, me moved to Florida. Moffitt Cancer Center was waiting for us.
Here is where everything starts to go down hill.
They did several blood tests, Bone Marrow Biopsies and conferences with other Hematologists. Within a month they determined that Jeremiah desperately needed a Bone Marrow Transplant. I started rallying everyone I knew, every avenue I knew to advertise for people to register with BeTheMatch.com. Everyone was so willing to help we were overwhelmed with all of the support. On a sunny morning in late August we got the call that a match had been found. Tears streamed down our faces. We, everyone, had hoped, prayed, begged and pleaded that a match would be found. There is no way financially we would have been able to afford the transplant. He had not been working for over year now, had no insurance and all of our savings had been eaten up with all of the transfusions he required. Going on disability and medicaid was the only way. Medicaid though was not willing to extend more help to him than Medically Needy Medicaid which is still a share of cost program. The share of cost is double what disability is willing to give. This situation has put us in dire straights. The amount of stress on him is insurmountable. I am unable to work outside of the house due to him needing someone with him 24/7 and the constrictive parameters of disability guidelines.
I have never met someone as strong as Jeremiah. No one more willing to help or go the extra mile for a friend in need. Even going through all the procedures, pain and tests he still has a smile on his face and laughter in his heart. If anyone can make it through this I know that he can. With the support of my family including my Nana and Papa, Great Aunts Linda and Brenda, Aunt Cinda, my loving parents,my brother and our friends/business associates I know that he will prevail. Please take some time out of your day to send him healing energy, warm thoughts and prayer. Now more than ever he needs us supporting his spirit, for his body is no longer in our hands.