In 2011, I had my third episode of very significant mental illness. I had to take off of work for two months, clearly. I had previously been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, and this time it was called depression with psychosis. I was nearly in a catatonic state, my county nurse said, when she first saw me at the hospital. It's still something I struggle with often, but being admitted into the psych ward I believe was what kept me off the streets and able to return to work. A few months after being in the hospital, I received a hospital bill for $55,000 dollars because my condition was considered to be a pre-existing condition. I applied for Medical Assistance, with the help of my case worker in Minnesota, and have been denied. I have talked with the hospital about getting a large chunk of it dismissed, as they do at times for people that cannot pay their bills. However, I was not doing well for so long, I was in no sorts to do that right away, so when I talked with them it had been too long to enter into that program. So now, I'm hoping that some kind hearted folks will help me out.