Hello everyone. Thank you for visiting my page, and I hope today finds you in good spirits and better health. I live in the United States, but originally from the beautiful island of Jamaica. Some of my family members are still there, which included my father. I would say growing up in Jamaica, I've been in  some pretty horrible situations as a female, but still pretty fortunate that I was able to persevere, preserve, and still a work in progress to become a positive force for myself and anyone I encounter. I am blessed.

This is not a vacation trip, but a trip to visit my father's grave for the first time. My father unfortunately passed away in Jamaica while waiting for medical care in a hospital waiting room a few months ago. I have yet to come to terms. His youngest brother died two months before him  from cancer, and the brother after my father died three months later and will be buried this November. My father has two children, me and my sister...and he and my mother split up many years prior. My sister and I tried our best in order to give him a funeral service, and barely made it happen. I was also not able to make it to the funeral because of financial hardship.

Couple months later, I informed my manager that I would like to go to Jamaica to visit my father's graveside, since I was not able to make it to his funeral, which I felt really guilty and melancholy about. My manager basically told me she could not, to my amazement. I was told other employees were given time for the dates I needed. By the way, the healthcare system that I work for does not give bereavement time. Manager never came back to ask me about it. Meanwhile, I was still showing up for work, depressed and all...but still going above and beyond for cancer patients.

During this time, my mental AND physical health was not good. I was not given the time to grieve and go through my process. My mental and physical health started to deteriorate because of it, that and the fact that I still could not afford to go. My provider eventually put me on FMLA because of those reasons, so I could get myself together, and hopefully be able to visit my father's grave. I owe him and myself that. I need to come to terms. I need to accept...and I need to be there in person to grieve and have closure. I need some help to make this happen. 

Thank you with all my heart in and advance for your help. May you stay forever blessed.