Anything is Appreciated

First of all, Thank you all for reading my story.  I’m normally a very upbeat, happy, outgoing and loving person.  Right now I’m nervous, scared, and worried but using every moment to pray for positive things to happen.  Thanks Ahead of time for all of your prayers and anything else you may send my way.  

I was born in December of 1973.    After my mom spent 22 hours of very painful labor, I finally decided it was time to come out.      At first, I was breech, then after an emergency C-section, I was born.    The first thing wrong was that both of my hips were dislocated.    I went right to surgery where my right hip was surgically repaired and thankfully my left hip was manually placed back in its socket.     The first 6 months of my life, I was in traction where pulleys and ropes were used to keep my legs bent properly so that hopefully my hips and legs would grow properly. 

By the time I was 4 years old I was in a wheelchair and had already had multiple surgeries.   Thanks to my amazing parents I started school when I was 5 and went to a mainstream school.  My parents refused to send me to a school for only disabled kids.   Deep down in their hearts they knew that I’d eventually overcome any ridiculous goals that the Dr’s had set for me.   They knew it’d be a tough battle but they had amazing attitudes and thankfully quickly taught me that this was how it was and we would go way beyond any expectations any Dr. had ever said of me. 

When I was 13, I was given 6 months to live due to having a 76 degree curvature of my spine.   My scoliosis was so severe that my lungs were being crushed by the rest of my upper body due to my spine not being able to support me.   I ended up having “Harrington Rods” fused to the spinal cord in my back and thankfully after being in a body

cast for 3 months and missing 5 months of my 6^th grade year, I was back to being as normal of a 13 year old boy as I could.

Over the years I’ve had some amazing opportunities due to being wheelchair bound.   I always tried my best to surround myself with positive people.  

I graduated HS in 1992 and was chosen by my local Rotary Club to become the first Exchange Student worldwide to go to a 3^rd world country for 10 months.   I went to South Africa and had the time of my life.  I spoke at many events and many schools about why disabled children should not be segregated from mainstream schools.  It was a wonderfully, successful 10 months abroad.  

In the fall of 1999 I was offered a seasonal job with Target in Hickory, NC.  I took the job in the electronics Dept. and had the time of my life.   I was around people 8 hours a day and selling Electronics, both of which I loved.   Within a year I was the Dept. manager. 

After spending 6 years in Hickory, working for Target, I had the chance to move to Nashville, TN and work for a brand new Target store.     Since I’ve always loved Nashville and since my parents lived 100 miles from there, I decided to make the move.    Everything was going so well.   

In the Fall of 2008 I was driving in a new neighborhood to visit a friend.    I spotted a beautiful Ranch style home for sale.   When I enquired about it and discovered it was already accessible and set up for a disabled person, I knew It was meant to be.    Thinking that my job with Target was 100% stable, I went ahead and purchased my new home.    It was perfect for me and I was so thankful.  

Unfortunately after almost 11 years of working for Target, In February oF 2010, I along with 8000 other employees were given a one week notice that our jobs were being terminated due to the economy.  It was devastating news as I had recently purchased my accessible dream home and suddenly wouldn’t have an income to pay for it.   

Thankfully I was able to apply for Disabilty and after 6 long months I was approved.  This income helped but I was now counting on my parents to help me pay my monthly mortgage.   I was able to eventually get a roommate and for the time being, my financial issues eased up a bit.  

Unfortunately, after a few different roommates, It was pretty apparent that finding someone trustworthy, honest and who didn’t try to walk all over me wasn’t going to be easy.   Unfortunately, it was back to my parents to help me pay for the house.  

Recently, my body hasn’t been feeling good at all and after waiting for 2 full years for health insurance in the state of Tennessee, on August 1^st I finally received it.   On August 2^nd, I went to see an Orthopedic Specialist where I was told that the extreme pain I was experiencing in my right hip was due to the bone no longer getting the blood that it needed and therefore the bone had died.  I was told I need a complete hip replacement.   As of now I’m able to walk very short distances alone but was also told by the Dr. that due to my nerves never growing the way a normal person’s would grow,  there was a chance that I’d never be able to walk again at all on my own.    This news was devastating.  

So far, 2012 has been a year I’d love to put in the past.  Not only do I not have a roommate to help pay the bills, and that I’m facing major hip surgery.  I find out my insurance will only be covering 80% of it.   Since I make less than $1000 a month in disability income, the surgery seems like it’ll be impossible to have.  It seems like lately all roads I am going down have dead end signs when you get to a certain distance.  I’m also very concerned that my parents who are both retired and only receiving minimal retirement income each month are now stuck helping me monthly paying my bills.   I’m well aware that this can’t continue for more than 3 to 4 more months before I’ll have to put my house up for sale because of quickly diminishing funds.    I’m 38 and at this point I can’t continue to ask my parents for so much financial help when they have their own bills to pay. 

Today is November 19^th and I am updating this letter.   In the last 10 weeks I have had total Hip replacements in both hips.   My right hip was completed on Sept 5^th and my left hip on Oct 19^th.   Things were going well and I was healing up nicely and living temporarily at a Rehab center just south of Nashville where I receive 3 hours of therapy a day.    Unfortunately on November 9^th,   my left leg broke.   The femur bone snapped half way in between my thigh and knee.    As of right now, it looks like this will be another 4 to 5 week set back.  Not good news at all.

I guess if you’ve read this far, you’ve taken an interest in who I am and what I am all about.    All my life, I’ve tried so hard to be a very giving person.    Hopefully good Karma will pay off because now I’m need of financial help that I never anticipated needing.   It bothers me to ask for help but at this point I really don’t have any other choice except to let everything I’ve worked for in life disappear a million times quicker than it took to work for it all.     If there is any way you can help, I’ll be forever grateful.

Since this site only allows me to post one picture, I’ve set up a facebook page that shows many pictures of me from a baby till now.   Here is the link if you’d like to see it.   https://www.facebook.com/AnythingIsAppreciated

Thanks Again to each and every one of you for your help and prayers………     David