I had thought I was a reasonably healthy 70+ year old. I was a motivated working writer covering the arts. Little did I know how severe my diabetes had become.

Then at the end of April, I suffered a diabetes crisis and went to the hospital. During the next two weeks, I went through many tests, finally landing in a bed for two days as they tried to stabilize me, raise my fluid levels and get me on insulin.

Once I came out, I started a rigorous dietary discipline and a regular regimen of medication and insulin injections. But something else was discovered — an enlarged prostate and near-damage to my bladder and kidneys. I couldn’t urinate normally so I had a catheter inserted and now must use a bag for collecting my urine before expelling it [tmi?].

All of this has made my life full of stress and drained energy. Diabetes is quite enervating as well. Then I got a secondary infection.

But life must go on, bills must be paid and work must be done.

Nonetheless, as a result of my condition, it has taken months to adjust to my new state, and I have gotten behind on bills and work needing to done.

I am slower to act and find it harder and harder to get basic work done. Thankfully, I still have some writing accounts and since I can write anywhere, I am able to get work done whether at home or waiting to see a doctor.

I hate to ask for money, but this crisis has created a budget crunch and every effort to catch-up so far has been thwarted by one setback after another. I am hoping that once I have my prostate operation, I can get back to normal. But I still have a serious cash flow problem, so I need some kind of a bridge to pay off expenses and avoid any further late fees. As those fees continue to build up, it threatens my living situation and further adds stress to my physical state.

If you can find it in yourself to help me through this crisis, I hope in some way you’ll be rewarded through my successful efforts to do the writing I am meant to do.