1997 Dodge Neon REPLACED TIMING BELT & WATER PUMP BUT S

Last week I was driving down the interstate in my 1997 Dodge Neon and the car just died and I had to pull off to the side of the interstate. This is the first trouble that I have ever had with this car. I have always checked & changed the oil regularly & I have always kept an eye on the water & coolant in the radiator and reserve resevoir. The car didn't want to start after sitting and letting it cool for over an hour and a half and when I opened the radiator cap there was some coolant & water that had already leaked out. When it died and I pulled off the road I am sure that it leaked out then as well. I always keep a 50/50 mix of good antifreeze and water and always keep extra in the trunk just in case. I had the car towed to the repair shop. They have had the car for two weeks. Can you believe that? They changed the timing belt and replaced the water pump. They also had a problem with the computer system. Before I took it in I found out that I had a recall from Dodge saying that a switch needed to be replaced that could cause the air bags to engage upon starting or stopping the engine. For two years before the speedometer just worked on and off and the check engine light also came on and stayed on and then would go off. I was told that there was a short in the electrical system and that the car was probaly ok. I drove it with that light coming on and off and the speedometer going crazy and sometimes the bells would ring occasionally but never did it cause any overheating problems or anything else with causing the car to not perform. At the mechanics they kept telling my sister that they were having a hard time with the computer system. I told her to tell them about the recall. I'm not sure if the replacement part that I needed had caused the computer problems. Could it have been when they changed the timing belt and it got screwed up then. I pay $500.00 today and before I got home the temp guage was moving radically up and down, the little oil pan light or radiator light (I'm not sure which one it is that lights up) kept going on and off. Then ding, ding, ding would start - This was already driving me crazy. Can someone please tell me what I am going to do? My sister had to follow me to carry the car back to the mechanic. I sure hated to have to take it back but I had no choice. Could the thermostat have gotten stuck or what could it be? He said that he thought that it has a partially blown head gasket. I don't know how that happened whenever I have taken such good care of the car. I knew when I got the car that I wouldn't be able to afford one for a while so I babied it as much as possible. I need my car to drive back and forth to work each day about 22 miles each way to and from work. Any suggestions guys. I really am impressed with your website. Keep up the good work. Thanks so much for your time. I do plan on sending you some money just as soon as I can see a way to do it. I unfortunately had to cut up all of my bank cards and credit cards due to losing my job but I will prevail once again. Please help!

Kind Regards,

Mark T.