Merrimack Valley

Single mom struggles with painful illness

The Santa Fund
Published: November 18, 2008

Tricia lives her days in physical pain, as well as an emotional sense of worry.

The 33-year-old single mother struggles to put a well balanced meal on the table for her 5-year-old son and pay rent to live in her North Andover home.

Her biggest worry at this time, however, is Christmas morning.

"It's getting rough just to make ends meet. Everything is bouncing. My rent check just bounced. Anything extra is just undoable," Tricia said. "I just don't know how I'm going to do Christmas this year."

Tricia was diagnosed with degenerative arthritis, a form of arthritis that causes the gradual breakdown of the cartilage that cushions the joints, shortly after she gave birth to her only child. The pain, she said, has forced her out of work. Now she relies upon state support for her and her son, she said.

Tricia said she tries to hide her problems from her son, a kindergartner. But it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain a sense of normalcy.

"Everything is going up. My credit cards are going up, my rent, my prescriptions. Everything. Things are just spinning out of control," she said.

When times were not as tough, Tricia enjoyed helping others and giving back to her community.

"Even when I'm struggling, I like to help people. That's what makes me happy," she said. "This year, and I just can't do it. And it's killing me."

Tricia said she would like to do any sort of volunteer work in exchange for a little help this holiday season.

In a perfect world, she said, she would be able to buy her son a chemistry set for Christmas.

"He's really into science, chemistry, and all those 'boy things,'" she said. "I just want to be able to give him the Christmas he deserves."

— Kim Centazzo