Surgery & Help Needed ASAP
Donation protected
Thank you for reading my story. This is not something I ever thought I would have to do but red tape forces me to turn for help to anyone kind enough and so inclined to do so.
I've been on Permanent disability since 2003.
In 2000, an 85-year-old man hit me and ran when my eldest child was just 8 weeks old.
The man died before the case and it took until 2003 for the lawsuit, and disability case to be won.
I spent those first three years in bed, getting well through torturous and debilitating treatments.
One left me leaking spinal fluid for ten days and I nearly died. I turned instead to yoga and to the resolve in myself. To be the kind of mother a child needed meant being a rock - no matter what.
I examined my choices. I read a lot. I went back to school. I grew and I grew strong. I did what was required and then I did more.
By 2010 I was living, traveling, and challenging myself to climb (little) mountains in Canada.
Forward to 2016- I fell in love, got re-married to my soul mate (who is Canadian, who I met then, and who we are still trying to get Naturalized so he could work and drive here), and had another child in 2012.
We were happy and on our way.
I felt like it had all been worth it.
We built a successful media company from our home studio. It offered more in way of opportunity than income but our sweat equity was beginning to pay off as we were invited to guest panel on morning television and had interviewed many important people.
I was three semesters away from a film degree. He took care of the kids and I studied and worked until he was legally able.
But it was a post-National mortgage crisis and no one would work with me because my main and steady source of income was Disability.
We lost what would have been our second child together and then we lost our home - the one I'd bought with the money from the accident, and that I dearly loved, but had been forced to refinance in 2011 when my mother who we cared for there became ill and died.
We packed our car before the trauma of an eviction and moved down South.
We stayed in a hotel for two and a half months while I worked out a settlement of child support from my ex that allowed us to rent a very modest townhouse. It's only two bedrooms but my disability payments cover the rent and where we would, at least, never have to worry about losing a home again.
Since no one can live on $750 per month for a family of four, I had to go back to work.
Over the last two years, I've worked as much as I could -mostly from home doing tech support - and, until May 2nd, for Apple through a project staffing agency.
It was a great job. They accommodated my medical needs, of which I have many secondary to the treatments and getting older, and paid me weekly.
Then on March 27th, 2019, disability informed me that my permanent benefits are terminated (apparently I made $104 per week too much for their $1,220 per month allowance in the time I was working for Apple).
I called and appealed right away, I could never afford to lose my medical coverage as I have a pending surgery for two hernias that prevent me from sleeping or breathing just now, I told them.
To my relief, they assured me if I resigned from Apple, had the surgery and found only a part-time job after I recovered, my benefits would continue.
So, that is what I did.
I resigned on May 2nd and the following Monday Disability assured me I would receive my benefits for May. I applied for food help to get through until after the surgery, which won't be here until June 19th, but at least I wouldn't have to worry about the rent.
The day my May disability payment should have been deposited came and went. I ventured to my local SS office where they told me that, "No. You are terminated but you can appeal the decision. It will take at least 30 days".
I was devastated.
As I was on an only "paid when you work" system with the Apple project, I was forced to sell our wedding rings last week to keep us afloat for two weeks.
I have since begun working with a disability advocate on that appeal and am always applying for work. Even if I began tomorrow, however, I wouldn't be able to keep the power on as I have nothing coming in.
I'm here because, ideally, if I can find help with expenses for 6 weeks, I can have the surgery and recover while the appeals process for disability goes through and I can find part-time work.
Rent is $595 per month
Car is $300
Power is $192
We can get by on $150 per week for food + $10 for the dog and cat.
Then, whatever is left over for needs and eventualities.
Since they terminated disability, I have also been unable to get my pre-surgery prescriptions and had to cancel all appointments with my surgeon.
I don't know what life will be like after, should I be able to have the same day surgery but, given that I work from home, if a job calls I will crawl from my bed to the desk and do the work.
It is only we four here. I have no one's door to knock on. I've tried local churches but they don't have discretionary funds for this and they are out of money for help with the power bill post-winter and pre-summer. *Update: They will have funds beginning July 1st if I can get Duke to extend the grace period
As you can imagine from what you've just read, this has been the hardest thing I've had to write.
Despite all I have been through in the last twenty years I've considered myself blessed and am usually the person responding to things like this. It is never a question helping those short at the market, donating whatever we don't need anymore, doing what we can.
I'm asking only for what we need to get through this next six weeks while those advocating on my behalf can help.
If it were only me I wouldn't even ask.
If I had done this, I wouldn't ask.
But we were really just starting to be okay again and if there is any measure I can take to ensure these kids are secure and well, I will. My feelings don't matter.
As I've pursued every single avenue possible before now, all the bills are naturally due and I'm running out of time. The added stress is exacerbating my condition and every night I'm awake, all night, sleeping standing up so I can breathe. I just want to go to the hospital and have this surgery.
I'm 49 years old. I'm not a quitter and I don't intend to die until my family doesn't need me anymore.
But they need me now and I don't know what to do with this pain that there's nothing I can do.
I, again, thank you for reading my story. While I don't know how this works, therefore don't know if I'm allowed to reply or send notes of thanks, I will certainly endeavor to do so if possible.
My teenager has rallied and also set up a for small or more immediate access for food and prescriptions, etc.
Thank you.
With deepest gratitude and warm regards,
kateTaylor~
I've been on Permanent disability since 2003.
In 2000, an 85-year-old man hit me and ran when my eldest child was just 8 weeks old.
The man died before the case and it took until 2003 for the lawsuit, and disability case to be won.
I spent those first three years in bed, getting well through torturous and debilitating treatments.
One left me leaking spinal fluid for ten days and I nearly died. I turned instead to yoga and to the resolve in myself. To be the kind of mother a child needed meant being a rock - no matter what.
I examined my choices. I read a lot. I went back to school. I grew and I grew strong. I did what was required and then I did more.
By 2010 I was living, traveling, and challenging myself to climb (little) mountains in Canada.
Forward to 2016- I fell in love, got re-married to my soul mate (who is Canadian, who I met then, and who we are still trying to get Naturalized so he could work and drive here), and had another child in 2012.
We were happy and on our way.
I felt like it had all been worth it.
We built a successful media company from our home studio. It offered more in way of opportunity than income but our sweat equity was beginning to pay off as we were invited to guest panel on morning television and had interviewed many important people.
I was three semesters away from a film degree. He took care of the kids and I studied and worked until he was legally able.
But it was a post-National mortgage crisis and no one would work with me because my main and steady source of income was Disability.
We lost what would have been our second child together and then we lost our home - the one I'd bought with the money from the accident, and that I dearly loved, but had been forced to refinance in 2011 when my mother who we cared for there became ill and died.
We packed our car before the trauma of an eviction and moved down South.
We stayed in a hotel for two and a half months while I worked out a settlement of child support from my ex that allowed us to rent a very modest townhouse. It's only two bedrooms but my disability payments cover the rent and where we would, at least, never have to worry about losing a home again.
Since no one can live on $750 per month for a family of four, I had to go back to work.
Over the last two years, I've worked as much as I could -mostly from home doing tech support - and, until May 2nd, for Apple through a project staffing agency.
It was a great job. They accommodated my medical needs, of which I have many secondary to the treatments and getting older, and paid me weekly.
Then on March 27th, 2019, disability informed me that my permanent benefits are terminated (apparently I made $104 per week too much for their $1,220 per month allowance in the time I was working for Apple).
I called and appealed right away, I could never afford to lose my medical coverage as I have a pending surgery for two hernias that prevent me from sleeping or breathing just now, I told them.
To my relief, they assured me if I resigned from Apple, had the surgery and found only a part-time job after I recovered, my benefits would continue.
So, that is what I did.
I resigned on May 2nd and the following Monday Disability assured me I would receive my benefits for May. I applied for food help to get through until after the surgery, which won't be here until June 19th, but at least I wouldn't have to worry about the rent.
The day my May disability payment should have been deposited came and went. I ventured to my local SS office where they told me that, "No. You are terminated but you can appeal the decision. It will take at least 30 days".
I was devastated.
As I was on an only "paid when you work" system with the Apple project, I was forced to sell our wedding rings last week to keep us afloat for two weeks.
I have since begun working with a disability advocate on that appeal and am always applying for work. Even if I began tomorrow, however, I wouldn't be able to keep the power on as I have nothing coming in.
I'm here because, ideally, if I can find help with expenses for 6 weeks, I can have the surgery and recover while the appeals process for disability goes through and I can find part-time work.
Rent is $595 per month
Car is $300
Power is $192
We can get by on $150 per week for food + $10 for the dog and cat.
Then, whatever is left over for needs and eventualities.
Since they terminated disability, I have also been unable to get my pre-surgery prescriptions and had to cancel all appointments with my surgeon.
I don't know what life will be like after, should I be able to have the same day surgery but, given that I work from home, if a job calls I will crawl from my bed to the desk and do the work.
It is only we four here. I have no one's door to knock on. I've tried local churches but they don't have discretionary funds for this and they are out of money for help with the power bill post-winter and pre-summer. *Update: They will have funds beginning July 1st if I can get Duke to extend the grace period
As you can imagine from what you've just read, this has been the hardest thing I've had to write.
Despite all I have been through in the last twenty years I've considered myself blessed and am usually the person responding to things like this. It is never a question helping those short at the market, donating whatever we don't need anymore, doing what we can.
I'm asking only for what we need to get through this next six weeks while those advocating on my behalf can help.
If it were only me I wouldn't even ask.
If I had done this, I wouldn't ask.
But we were really just starting to be okay again and if there is any measure I can take to ensure these kids are secure and well, I will. My feelings don't matter.
As I've pursued every single avenue possible before now, all the bills are naturally due and I'm running out of time. The added stress is exacerbating my condition and every night I'm awake, all night, sleeping standing up so I can breathe. I just want to go to the hospital and have this surgery.
I'm 49 years old. I'm not a quitter and I don't intend to die until my family doesn't need me anymore.
But they need me now and I don't know what to do with this pain that there's nothing I can do.
I, again, thank you for reading my story. While I don't know how this works, therefore don't know if I'm allowed to reply or send notes of thanks, I will certainly endeavor to do so if possible.
My teenager has rallied and also set up a for small or more immediate access for food and prescriptions, etc.
Thank you.
With deepest gratitude and warm regards,
kateTaylor~
Organizer
Kathryn Taylor
Organizer
Hickory, NC
