Fun107 and The United Way of Greater New Bedford are excited to launch Holiday Wish week for the fifth consecutive year. Holiday Wish allows us to help several SouthCoast families in need, in hopes of making the holidays a little brighter. Our family this morning comes from Fall River, and this is Julie Martin’s story.

Martin was a full-time dialysis technician for 18 years. In her later years, she began suffering from epilepsy, often having seizures at work. Martin was instructed to get a doctor’s approval before returning to work, but when she had allergic reactions to many of the seizure medications, she was terminated from her position.

The hits kept coming. Martin contracted COVID-19. After she recovered, she got her vaccinations, but due to her condition with seizures, she began dealing with paresthesia, which is an all-over numbness.

“You could punch me in the stomach, and I wouldn’t feel a thing,” Martin said.

Martin said she managed to recover from COVID, but still deals with respiratory troubles and is wheelchair-bound due to the severe pain of the paresthesia.

When it comes to her wish list, it’s simple.

“I’d love to watch a movie with my kids, but I can’t get off the (bed),” said Martin, fighting back tears. Her days are mostly spent in bed, away from her children and the outside world.

From getting out of bed to showering, simple tasks are now daunting.

She hasn’t left her house in months because she cannot safely get down her front stairs, and since she cannot take care of herself alone, her mother has stepped up in a big way.

Her mother is now her caretaker, helping her in and out of bed, and paying off the medical bills that seem to never end.

“It would mean the world to me if somebody would help,” Martin said.

Here is how you can help Julie Martin and her family.

Text to Donate to Holiday Wish

Text WISHES21 to 243725. You will be sent a United Way e-link that allows you to make a donation via credit card to this family when you select the day and date of which family you wish to help from the drop-down menu.

Donate By Check to Holiday Wish

Make checks payable to the United Way of Greater New Bedford and in the memo line, write HOLIDAY WISH and the day and date of the family you wish to help. Checks can be mailed to United Way of Greater New Bedford, 128 Union Street, Suite 105, New Bedford, MA 02740.

Donate by Credit Card to Holiday Wish

You can make a secure donation to the United Way via credit card HERE. Select the day and date of the family you wish to help from the "Please Select a Family" drop-down menu.

All of our families are pre-selected through the United Way of Greater New Bedford. If you are in need of assistance, please contact the United Way directly.

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