Neediest Families Fund Drive: Medical bills, wrecked car weigh down local family
BY SHANNON MUCHMORE World Staff Writer
Sunday, December 16, 2012
12/16/12 at 8:49 AM
Give to the Neediest Families Christmas Fund and read all the stories in the series.
It's been one incident after another for the Morin family this year.
A wrecked car and numerous medical issues have wiped out any savings they could gather, and the bills are piling up.
"Every time we made steps forward, we got knocked back," Michael Morin said.
He and his wife, Lisa, have two kids, Matthew and Mike, ages 15 and 17, respectively. They've been married nearly 25 years.
When Michael Morin, who works for a utility company, was on the job recently at a customer's house, a dog severely bit the right side of his face when he was bending down.
He went to the emergency room and had to undergo surgery immediately. He will go back to the doctor early next year to see whether he is ready for more surgery to reconstruct part of his lip.
At about the same time, Lisa Morin was having back surgery. She had a cyst wrapped around a nerve, as well as two discs grinding bone on bone and two bulging discs.
She had two rods and eight screws put in her back. Now she wears a brace and isn't supposed to twist or bend and can't stand for long.
She has trouble following those instructions, though.
"I'm not a lazy person," she said. "I can't do it."
She has to go to the doctor about once a week for various checkups.
The family has health insurance, and workers compensation covered some of the cost of the dog bite, but they still owe thousands in medical expenses.
One of their vehicles was disabled by a wreck in April, and they're still working to get it fixed while they continue to pay it off.
They don't ever go out and they usually don't buy presents for each other on special occasions. They have to stretch their money for food by buying the same less expensive items, like ramen noodles and beans.
The children don't get much of what they ask for and go without a lot, Lisa Morin said.
"They hear a lot of 'No, no, no' from us and they get tired of eating the same thing," she said.
The couple tries to shield their children from the struggle with money, but they have to explain why they're always turning the children away.
They're just hoping next year will a better one, Lisa Morin said.
"Just bring me the light at the end of the tunnel," she said.
Neediest Families Fund donations total $191, 992
Donations to the Tulsa World Neediest Families Fund to date total $191,992.
Contributions from Tulsans include: GKJ Foundation Trust, $10,000; Jim and O.J. Bobbitt, $2,000; the Tobias Latham Family, $1,450; Ken Ray Underwood Law Office, $1,000; Tulsa Community Foundation, $1,000; Rick and Diane Hudson, $1,000; Ann Bartoloni, $1,000; Gardner Construction Company, $1,000; Tulsa Community College's Child Development Center, $771 on behalf of the children, families and staff of the center; Jan and Jack Alexander, $500; Richard and Patricia Lieser, $500; Susan and Porter Shults, $500; Bodies by Pilates, $500; Doug Fox, $500; Jill and Jeff Hough, $500; Marion and William Elson, $400; Ann Dunagan, $300; Robert W. Anderson, $300; Howard and Sandy Chambers, $300; Ed and Frankie Hamil, $250; Pete and Pat Stamper, $250; Mr. and Mrs. James Swindler, $250; Marsha Schmidt, $250; Michael and Debra Maurer, $250; Wayne and Mary Holeman, $250; Dona Morris, $250; Karen McCullough, $215; Herschel Wood, $200; Charlotte Schultz, $200; Ken and Kenna Skillern, $200; Jeff and Teresa Chism, $200; Tom and Mary Anne Marberry, $200; Malcolm and Paula Milsten, $200; Nancy and Lawrence Chism, $200; Jay and Rosemaree Leib, $200; Lucy Peevy, $200; Suzy Richards, $200; Robert J. LaFortune, $200; Dr. and Mrs. Robert Perryman, $200; Bob and Regina Decker, $200; Hershel and Elizabeth Stanley, $200; C and L Amusement Company, $200; John Tiefenthaler, $200; Rex and Allene Donley and Jeff, Angela and Xander Sexton, $150 honoring Jeanne and John Sturges, Dr. Amber Sturges and Dr. Allison and Branden Baxley; Jane L. Thompson, $150; Kathleen McGivern; Bob Bailey Family, $125; Scott and Jolene Sanditen Philanthropic Fund, $100; John and Betty Edmunds, $100; Judy M. Wood, $100; Sam Peek, $100; Edna Sesow, $100 in memory of Jeff and Patti Sesow; Skip and Anne Johnson, $100; Scott, Kristine and Matthew Sexter, $100; John R. Thomas, $100; Susan Savage, $100; Billye Glover, $100; Al and Leslie Higdon, $100; Joe I. Degen, $100; Charles and Mary Alice Claybaugh, $100; James and Sue Jane Rogers, $100; Carol Tippit, $100; Dayle and Diane Williamson, $100; Carolyn and Charles Wickstrom, $100; Craig Rainey, $100; Mila and Lien Alsup, $100; Gregory Bittick, $100 in memory of Bob and Dorothy Bittick; Kathy J. Bryan, $100; Nancy Haswell, $100; Paula and Ross McKay, $100; F.E. Swabb, $100; Judith M. Anderson, $100; Kathleen and Harry Hannigan, $100; Bess Livingston and Grant Hall, $100; Helen Feldman, $100 in honor of Virgal Berryhill; Paula Hubbard, $100; the Haesloop Family, $100; Robby Holliday, $100; Irving Fenster Family, $100; Charlene Wood, $100 in memory of Cynthia Taylor; Rick and Pam Krafft, $100; W.K. Zollinger, $100; Tom and Sandi Taylor, $100; Lynn and Wayne Greene, $100; Warren and Cissie Ross, $75; Brenda Rollins, $75; Rebecca and Ray Poudrier, $75; Leslie McGuire and Kathryn Albertson, $75; Al and Patti Forrest, $50; Terril and Janice Allyn, $50; Billie Teter, $50; Judy Averill, $50; Robert and Lamona McCallum, $50; Andy Johnson, $50; Kathy Horne, $50 in honor of Mary Fran Leming; Mr. and Mrs. James Mayfield, $50; Andrea Schlanger, $50; Kristen Oertel, $50; P.R. and Jan Soule, $50; Ron and Shari Graham, $50; Jan and Ken Underwood, $50 in honor of Diane Hambric; Doris G. Gallagher, $50 in memory of The Tulsa Tribune; Richard and Meg Hays, $25; Karen Ravenscroft, $25; Miles Judkins, $25; Louis and Susan Stackler, $25; Roger and Sally Frisinger, $25; Jimmie and Carolyn Nickle, $25; R.W. Willhour, $25; Jim and Ann Humbert, $25; Phil Day, $25; Michael Gray, $25; Pearl Wright, $20; Rosalee Westover, $20; Al West, $20; Christiane Thomas, $10; Catherine Atkins, $10; Ted Thompson and Edith Towns, $10; Patricia Verner, $10; Agnes G. Cox, $7.
Contributions from outside Tulsa include: Midwest Mechanical, Inc., Coweta, $1,000; James and Robyn Redding, Coweta, $1,000; Judith A. Postier, Vinita, $1,000 in loving memory of her father, C.J. Postier; Alan and Janna McElhaney, Broken Arrow, $1,000; Pete's Feed, LLC, Inola, $500; Metal Specialty Company employees, Broken Arrow, $500; Lee and J.D. Stigall, Broken Arrow, $500; Barry and Rita Janssen, Broken Arrow, $500; Wesley and Lorie Shaklee, Jennings, $400; Richard and Deborah Bailey, Ketchum, $300; Terry Bryan, Broken Arrow, $300; John E. Guttierrez, Jenks, $250; Dale and Elaine Feldmann, Broken Arrow, $250; Tom and Bev Herring, Bixby, $250; Ken and Rheta Haddock, Bixby, $250; Roger and Vonda Snodgrass, Sand Springs, $200 in loving memory of their parents, Leon Jelly Hayes and Yvonne Hayes and Roy R. Snodgrass and Dorothy Snodgrass; Wayne and Jill Miller, Skiatook, $200; Merril and Mildred Stott, Pryor, $200; SKB Energy Inc., Broken Arrow, $200; J. Steven and Susan Clark, Broken Arrow, $200; Bill and Ann Owens, Owasso, $125; Dorothy Hixson, Sand Springs, $100; Jim and Martha Martin, Pryor, $100; Ken and Nansi Lemaster, Skiatook, $100; Jenny and Derek Dixon, Bixby, $100; Rema Dawson, Catoosa, $100 in loving memory of Donald L. Dawson; Mike and Jo Farrimond, Broken Arrow, $100; Bob and Terri Shoup, Owasso, $100; Ged and Linda Wright, Broken Arrow, $100; Monte and Karen Gartner, Owasso, $100; Susan and Larry Woodson, Broken Arrow, $100; Gigi Wemhaner, Jenks, $100; David Dickerson, Muskogee, $100 in memory of Porter C. and Jewell Dickerson; Barbara Jones, Broken Arrow, $100; Janet Bingham, Broken Arrow, $50; Chloe Smith and Mimi, Bixby, $50; Richard and Karen Dooley, Cushing, $50; Thomas and Jeannie Carlile, Park Hill, $50; Mr. and Mrs. Gary Manzeschke, Broken Arrow, $25; Judith and James Campbell, Broken Arrow, $25; Mary E. Harper, Owasso, $25; J.E. and Peggy Montgomery, Claremore, $25.
Anonymous donations to date total $90,129, including $1,000 in memory of Ed Beshara; $500 in memory of Freda Cox; $25 in honor of Marilyn F. McDaniel.
About the Neediest Families Fund Drive
The Neediest Families Fund Drive was established in 1928 to provide assistance to families in need during the holidays and the coming year.
This year's goal is to raise $300,000 by Christmas Eve. Last year's goal was exceeded; $334,888 was raised.
Each Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday through the holiday season, the Tulsa World will spotlight families chosen by The Salvation Army to receive help through this year's fund.
None of the money raised is used for administrative costs.
Cash is not given directly to the families. They are given vouchers for specific needs.
To help families such as the one featured today, send a check or money order to the Neediest Families Fund Drive, in care of the Tulsa World, P.O. Box 1770, Tulsa, OK 74102.
Donations are tax-deductible, and donors can be anonymous.
Original Print Headline: Expenses pile up for local family
Shannon Muchmore 918-581-8378
shannon.muchmore@tulsaworld.com
Associated Images:
Neediest family Lisa Morin (left); Mike Morin; Mike Morin III, 17; and Matthew Morin, 15, are seen at their home in Owasso. MICHAEL WYKE / Tulsa World
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