$70 raised
Richard's Medical Expenses
Donation protected
This time last year, I was an independent young adult with a decent job at IBM, capable of taking care of myself. However, within 6 months of starting my job, I was getting chronic migraines. Symptoms included nausea, headache, extreme heat and cold and severe photophobia. First, they were a few times a week, then they developed to every other day, then to every day, then to twice a day. Despite being a stellar employee, I frequently had to leave home early because of these symptoms. No treatments seemed to help, and medical help was slow in Lansing.
In truth, I had suffered these symptoms before, however I did not realize that they were related to migraines and thus was pushed around by doctors starting in 2014. This accumulated medical debt that I was in the process of paying off, however, due to the fact that I was getting two migraines every working day, I simply could not continue my employment with IBM.
It is clear to me now that I will likely never be able to hold a job in the computer industry for any worthwhile length of time again - after a period of a few months, the symptoms always come back and are exasperated by fluorescent lighting, poor office air conditioning and computer screens. I can't drive anymore because the condition affects my vision and makes me have a very narrow field of vision in motion. I'm not even sure if I can hold an ordinary job again.
Furthermore, around this time, I realized that I came from an abusive household, one that eventually took its toll in the suicide of my twin sister. My father was rarely around while my mother was extremely physically abusive and violent. Furthermore, she was paranoid of both the pharmaseutical industry as well as other adults who could potentially identify the marks as abuse, and I never received proper medical treatment as a child. Despite being severely underweight and chronically fatigued, I almost never saw a doctor outside of serious injuries that would require a hospital visit, despite the family being very capable of affording treatment.
After realizing that my sister's death was directly at the hand of my mother's abuse, I had a mental breakdown. I realized that, despite being independent, I had no idea how to take care of myself properly, and I was getting sicker and sicker every day. My sister was unable to survive and I was quickly losing my ability to survive.
Furthermore, my mother cut us off from most of our family, making me completely unaware of family medical history. This lead to the shocking revelation in October after talking to my grandmother for the first time in nearly 2 decades - that my family had a long line of autoimmune and neurological conditions, and a laundry list of symptoms that correlated with my own.
My father also refuses to help.
Thanks to having to quit my job so suddenly due to my health and family issues, I have about $2000 in medical debt from me trying to get treatment. I still do not have an affirmative diagnosis and am going to be spending this year in trying to get help as much as possible, to try to get disability eventually. I don't want this to be a permanent solution but currently it is all I can do. Many days I'm in bed for the majority of the day, with barely enough energy to make my own meals.
In a last show of incompetent parenting and unwillingness to show any responsibility, my family refuses to pay a single penny while they drive in expensive cars and live in a 3 storey house. They have the audacity to tell me that they have no money while my room mate is footing the bill for these medical expenses that I would be paying myself if I weren't chronically ill. So I am asking the community to please help me get myself back on my feet.
My goal is to clear this debt so I can restart my life and follow my original passions of music, art and writing, as well as get on disability to help bridge not having income as I try to build a new career.
Graciously, I've been taken in by a good friend and he is currently footing a lot of the bill and I would like to help mitigate how much he has to contribute towards this debt.
The cost breakdown:
800$ in debt on my credit card, which I was using to pay off the debt before I had to quit my job.
600$ remaining on my hospital bill from may.
600$ remaining in other medical bills including old hospital bills.
Any additional donations will go towards future medical expenses. I am also accepting donations of winter clothing.
In truth, I had suffered these symptoms before, however I did not realize that they were related to migraines and thus was pushed around by doctors starting in 2014. This accumulated medical debt that I was in the process of paying off, however, due to the fact that I was getting two migraines every working day, I simply could not continue my employment with IBM.
It is clear to me now that I will likely never be able to hold a job in the computer industry for any worthwhile length of time again - after a period of a few months, the symptoms always come back and are exasperated by fluorescent lighting, poor office air conditioning and computer screens. I can't drive anymore because the condition affects my vision and makes me have a very narrow field of vision in motion. I'm not even sure if I can hold an ordinary job again.
Furthermore, around this time, I realized that I came from an abusive household, one that eventually took its toll in the suicide of my twin sister. My father was rarely around while my mother was extremely physically abusive and violent. Furthermore, she was paranoid of both the pharmaseutical industry as well as other adults who could potentially identify the marks as abuse, and I never received proper medical treatment as a child. Despite being severely underweight and chronically fatigued, I almost never saw a doctor outside of serious injuries that would require a hospital visit, despite the family being very capable of affording treatment.
After realizing that my sister's death was directly at the hand of my mother's abuse, I had a mental breakdown. I realized that, despite being independent, I had no idea how to take care of myself properly, and I was getting sicker and sicker every day. My sister was unable to survive and I was quickly losing my ability to survive.
Furthermore, my mother cut us off from most of our family, making me completely unaware of family medical history. This lead to the shocking revelation in October after talking to my grandmother for the first time in nearly 2 decades - that my family had a long line of autoimmune and neurological conditions, and a laundry list of symptoms that correlated with my own.
My father also refuses to help.
Thanks to having to quit my job so suddenly due to my health and family issues, I have about $2000 in medical debt from me trying to get treatment. I still do not have an affirmative diagnosis and am going to be spending this year in trying to get help as much as possible, to try to get disability eventually. I don't want this to be a permanent solution but currently it is all I can do. Many days I'm in bed for the majority of the day, with barely enough energy to make my own meals.
In a last show of incompetent parenting and unwillingness to show any responsibility, my family refuses to pay a single penny while they drive in expensive cars and live in a 3 storey house. They have the audacity to tell me that they have no money while my room mate is footing the bill for these medical expenses that I would be paying myself if I weren't chronically ill. So I am asking the community to please help me get myself back on my feet.
My goal is to clear this debt so I can restart my life and follow my original passions of music, art and writing, as well as get on disability to help bridge not having income as I try to build a new career.
Graciously, I've been taken in by a good friend and he is currently footing a lot of the bill and I would like to help mitigate how much he has to contribute towards this debt.
The cost breakdown:
800$ in debt on my credit card, which I was using to pay off the debt before I had to quit my job.
600$ remaining on my hospital bill from may.
600$ remaining in other medical bills including old hospital bills.
Any additional donations will go towards future medical expenses. I am also accepting donations of winter clothing.
Organizer
Roger Merryfield
Organizer
Southfield, MI