Flood Victims with Chronic Disease

By Sara Stewart, Reporter

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By Sara Stewart

Story Created: Aug 27, 2008 at 10:32 AM CST

Story Updated: Aug 27, 2008 at 10:32 AM CST

On top of living with a chronic disease, many people across Eastern Iowa lost everything they own in June's flood.

It's not only a hassle and emotional stress it's a huge financial burden.

"Without the dialysis I could die," says Mary Carnahan, a flood victim with kidney disease.

As if Kidney disease and heart conditions aren't enough; Mary Carnahan and her husband Carroll are trying to rebound from the flood.

"When we first got married we had nothing to start with and so it's like being married like this all over again. We have to start at the beginning."

Now, Mary and her husband are looking back at what they had.
Pictures are all they have left of a house that was home to 4 generations.

"Mother nature kind of redesigned it,” Carroll says.

The Carnahan's home, and everything in it, is damaged beyond repair. They can't even get into it. And this is on top of her medical issues makes for a tight financial situation.

"It's just something that was added on top of it,” she says.

But, she and her husband are getting help from the National Kidney foundation and other organizations.

"It seemed like each time we were going downhill that these organizations would show up and help us financially. So we'd be able to stay on top and not be so depressed,” Mary says.

After living in a hotel for two months, Mary and her husband Carroll bought a mobile home since their house will never be able to be fixed.

Their family has helped them gather a few furnishings.

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