Pregnancy then kidney disease

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                 Then just when things appeared not capable of being worse, Patricia learns her mother has kidney disease causing additional concerns and burdens putting more pressure on their lives.

                 In Baltimore, child-care costs average $20.47 per hour. For Patricia working part-time, this is at least $500.00 per week or $2,000.00 per month. Their hope is that state and federal programs will help to close this growing gap between income and expenses.

                But first things first. Patricia needed to get through her pregnancy. As her pregnancy proceeded, she avoided the best she could the lifting of heavy objects trading tasks with co-workers when available. At seven months her supervisor asked her to bring in a note from her doctor setting forth her restrictions. 

                 Subsequently, because of the lifting restrictions, she was placed on unpaid leave despite her pleas to continue working only in a different section such as the deli section. 

                Patricia should not have to choose between her job and the health of her pregnancy, but this is what the policies of her employer compelled her to do.

                 Ethan and Patricia were advised by family and friends to sue their employer. One friend told them of a Supreme Court Case, Young v. UPS, in which employers who make accommodations for disabilities and on the job injuries while refusing to accommodate for pregnancy violates the Pregnancy Discrimination Act. Patricia was told to seek the help of the National Women’s Law Center.

                  In Laurel Maryland in a similar situation, a pregnant woman asked to be shifted to a cashier to avoid contact with chemicals during her pregnancy. Her requests were ignored and eventually she was fired.

Having heard of this story in Laurel, Patricia did not sue and continued her job as given to her.

                 Patricia did call her congressman for help. None came.

                 Not lost in this battle with her employer, the worry of caring for her mother weighed heavily upon Patricia and her husband, Ethan. Her mother lives alone, her father having died, and needs help in assuring medication safety, blood pressure monitoring, blood sugar control and dietary adjustments.      Encouragement of daily physical activity like walking and keeping appointments is critical. 

                    Patricia, with the strong support and love of her husband, Ethan, lives now with uncertainty and insecurity about the condition of her mother and their inability to manage it appropriately. Frustration and panic set in because of the lack of knowledge of how to care for her mother. Their inability to manage the disease leads to wariness.

                  Ethan and Patricia, being of intelligence, turned towards health care professionals for guidance and the type of care necessary in formulating a plan. Financial difficulties, even with the inclusion of Patricia’s mother’s income and savings, made accessing health services to be inadequate.

                  The burden on Patricia and Ethan is not only physical but psychological from uncertainty and anxiety linked to a lack of knowledge as well working the daily logistics. The needs of Patricia and her family with those of her mother are heavy.

                  Feelings of abandonment already creeping into their lives because of poor employment, rising bills, a child on the way, no longer creeped into their lives with the reality of caring for a mother with kidney disease. 

                 But never lost on this young couple and their mother giving them a sense of ease was their faith in God. The Covenant, dating back to Abraham with God, will not be broken.

                 (As a side comment, under Federal and Maryland law, Patricia’s employer is now required to provide reasonable accommodations limitations related to pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions, UNLESS IT CASUSES UNDUE HARDSHIP TO THE STORE. These last few words are intentionally highlighted pointing out the battle continues for the Patricias of this country. What is undue hardship, and who decides this?)