Today we’re going to hear from Mandy. Mandy’s life has changed drastically over the last few years because of her husband’s illness and she coupons and deal-shops as a way to continue to provide for her family during these hard times. I have to tell you what I told Mandy when she first emailed me – stories like hers make all this time I sit in front of my keyboard totally worth it!! She has the most wonderful outlook and I am so proud that she chooses to focus on the postive.
A little over two years ago my life was good. In fact, I would say it was fabulous! My husband and I had recently started a family – God blessed us with twins in October 2007, and we were further blessed that I was able to stay home with them for the first year of their lives. I went back to work a few months before they turned 1.
In July 2009 my husband was laid off of his job that he worked at for 11 years. We were devastated! But more devastating news would come in a few weeks, when I encouraged him to go to the doctor because I had noticed a drastic change in him. He began looking unhealthy, losing weight, and had bruises everywhere. We eventually found out he had a genetic disease called Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency, which had caused his liver to fail. The doctors told us he would need a liver transplant in the near future. He is now on the liver transplant list at MUSC in Charleston, SC.
Because of my husband’s illness and his unemployment, we obviously had to drastically change our spending habits. I will be honest – I wondered a few times where the money would come from to pay the bills and if we would lose our house. God never let us do without, though.
My life is often chaotic with 3 kids and a sick husband but I wouldn’t want it any other way. My family is the reason I do what I do and why I work so hard at saving money. Thank you, thank you, Michelle, for allowing me to do this for my family. My family means the world to me and they are the reason I do what I do everyday! God Bless You!
In July 2009 we also gained another son, though not biologically. God had always placed on our hearts to have another child, I just didn’t know it would be a teenager! Most people probably thought we were crazy taking in another child during such an unsure time of our lives but it has been an amazing experience. We gained official custody in March. We are now a family of 5!
Our friends and family have supported us through it all. We have had three fundraisers to raise money for my husband’s transplant. We have been prayed for and God has been good to us. Our neighbors have done amazingly nice things for us, people at work have been incredible and our friends have all pitched in to help out.
Like so many others, I started couponing about the time my husband lost his job. I have learned so much from this website about couponing and it has helped my family save so much money! We rarely ever spend more than $50 a week on groceries for a family of 5 thanks to this website and stockpiling. There are things I would never buy before because they were too expensive that I now stockpile thanks to good deals.We rarely eat out. I shop for Christmas and great bargains all year so that our family is able to have a good Christmas.
Because of everything that has happened, I have become accustomed to a different lifestyle but to be honest we have never done without anything that we needed, and I have this website to thank for that! I could not afford all of the groceries we get every week without Michelle’s website and coupon matchups.
Thanks so much for sharing with us today, Mandy! I am so touched by your story and your kind words, and I am so glad to know that what I do has such a positive impact! I know I speak for all my readers when I say that we will keep your husband in our thoughts and hope that a liver becomes available for him very soon!
My little ‘stockpile’ of Reader Spotlight stories is getting low so I’d like to ask for YOUR submissions! Your post can be about almost anything to do with couponing. You can tell us about a particularly good or bad situation you’ve dealt with as a couponer, about how you got into couponing or how couponing has impacted the rest of your life; you can make a list of things every new couponer should know…just about anything, really! If you think it’s interesting and it has to do with couponing, email me with your idea at contactiheartpublix @ gmail.com!
Mandy your story is simist friend’s story. Her husband also had something wrong in his liver and caused a drastic(even though that word doesnt seem big enough to describe the change) change in her/thier lives. She started a blog as a way to keep friends and family up to date on what was going on with him and it is such an inspiration to read her words. If you’d like you can go read it at http://prayingforbob.blogspot.com/ I suggest starting from the begining and reading through to fully understand.
I wish you all the hope and love and best as you go through this difficult time in your lives.
sorry. I meant “Similar” not simist. =)
Mandy…Good Luck with your husbands transplant. Many people dont know the importance of organ donation. My daughter had a liver transplant at 6 months old. Thanks for spreading the word and good luck with your family.
I follow Iheart publix via emails. I would like to enter the contest for the RCA camcorder. I would love to win, which would enable me to give this wonderful, gift to my daughter’s teacher. She started attending this school and has one of the best years in the school. Due to the economic times, the teacher’s school budget and innovative supplies have been cut drastically.
This teacher goes beyond the call of duty and asks for nothing from anyone. This would be an awesome opportunity for her to use in her classroom and use it as a teaching tool with the kids in her classroom.
My husband and I have had to cut our spending this year a good bit for others in our lives.
But I do believe the imporantace of Christmas is to give and not recieve. This is why I would love to be able to give this new innovative piece of technology to my child’s first grade teacher for Christmas.
Mandy,
Both my mother and her brother were diagnosed with A1A — my mom had a liver transplant just over 9 years ago — she became a grandmother this year turns 64 tomorrow!! My uncle had a lung transplant that extended his life by 12 wonderful years. I know the struggles you are going through and my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family!
oops — she became a grandmother this year AND turns 64 tomorrow… 🙂
I really love these stories. I have saved so much money couponing and have tried to get my friends involved as well. They are starting to come around, slowly but surely. Thank you for this website!
Thanks for sharing. What an inspiring story.
Michelle – thanks so much for all you do!
Mandy, I hope you are reading this. I know a person who had liver problems. This person approach a Doctor in Natural Medicine. It basically was drinking plenty of dark green juices like kale, spinach with ginger, garlic, lemon. And it help tremendously.
I will suggest to search for alternative medicine in your area.
Thank you for sharing Mandy’s story, Michelle. You and family are in our prayers, Mandy. One never understands the difficulties of a situation, any situation, unless they themselves go through similar ones. My family’s gone through similar situation. You can make it with your friends and family’s support and of course the support of lots of others out there. Don’t give up hope…