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Medical help 4 Mari, a disabled Native American

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TL;DR: Disabled Native American has less than 30 days to pay back US Govt Disability for having earned “too much money” to collect disability (but not enough to live on). 

$4 and a share on your socials will save her life.

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Good news everyone! 

First, if you don’t know me, I go by “Mari” online. I’m a Native American disabled parent. I help support myself & my family by finding and sharing videos of cute cats or precious puppers, as well as Indigenous News. However, despite the rising costs of meds and specialists that I need, I’m about to fall off the US government’s Disability Care Cliff. My disability and illnesses will worsen. My child, spouse, mother, (an Indigenous Elder), and I could face homelessness if that happens! 

So, I hear you asking, what’s the good news?

You can end the debt with just $4 and/or a few friends! See? Good news! 

Yes, you read that right, just four American dollars and a few buddies. If you can’t give $4, then can you and your friends please share this campaign everywhere?

If enough people plunk down $4, it will close my federal disability case so the Social Security gang can give some other disabled person who REALLY needs intense medical care the help they need! As for helping me? This money would clear away debts that are preventing me from getting monthly treatment and prescriptions. A clean slate! 

To explain: When I started earning 2% more than my monthly rent, the Federal Government terminated disability benefits. Instead of telling me right away , they waited nearly TWO WHOLE YEARS until THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC to say (paraphrasing): 

“Hey now that you’re making a meager living, we the Federal Government decided that you’re no longer disabled for our purposes and you owe us 93% more than your monthly earnings! Also, we expect it within 30 days! Remember to get your flu shot!”

The pandemic is a terrible time to start playing Scrooge, even if it is the holiday season. Especially when my child (who has ADHD) AND my mom (who survived a stroke) play the Cratchits. 

As for me, I have Cerebral Palsy, Diabetes, Spinal Stenosis, Dyscalculia, cPTSD, Aphasia-patterned SPM, (e.g., I do not talk well out loud without meds) as well as a head full of other mental disabilities and illnesses you don’t have time for.

Have a break.

Ok. Back to it. 

Treating these conditions adds thousands of dollars to my medical costs. I was an inpatient at two hospitals three times within the last six years. The latest time was in early 2020 — don’t worry, that just turned  out to be normal, boring pneumonia, not COVID-19! 

Also, I just received a 90-day “First Bill” for Medicare for $590.10.

I can't fight these bills in court. It’s an SSA judge;it’d be their house , their rules , and my word  against theirs . I can’t pay for a disability lawyer without risking several months’ rent on my family’s apartment. (Let me stop you before you say it—the only legal aid in my state says I don't qualify for free help.) 

Without you, my Twitter followers, and friends, I don't know how to pay this stack of SSDI, medical & other bills I’ve got. I've started rationing critical meds & I'm REALLY not supposed to do that. But I can't see a doctor without paying the 20% Medicare gap. Which I can't afford. 

YIKES, right? 

The Social Security Disability department gets income data from my IRS tax returns. When I started earning more than $1,200 per month, the SSA decided I am no longer disabled, and am ineligible for benefits. But they waited two years to tell me that!

I have 10,100-ish followers on Twitter. Just $4 from each of them just once would wipe out this debt, the past debt from my teeth, and any processing charges. 

But we’re in a pandemic, so ouch everyone’s wallets. Some folks already have given, but I wanted to post an NPR-style fundraising thermometer on GoFundMe. However, that brings us to another problem … only 3% percent or so of my Twitter followers are also paying patrons, and I need way more people to donate $4 if I’m going to make any serious dent in this debt. 

Help me help others! Please give so I can get back to sharing important content about Indigenous peoples and awesome and funny pictures. And then tell a friend to tell a friend! Thank you so much.

Bamaapi! (Bye!)

Donate

Donations 

  • Anonymous
    • $20 
    • 2 yrs
  • Michael Churchman
    • $10 
    • 2 yrs
  • Gabrielle Graham
    • $50 
    • 2 yrs
  • Amy Gahran
    • $50 
    • 2 yrs
  • Anonymous
    • $20 
    • 2 yrs
Donate

Fundraising team (2)

Mari Kurisato
Organizer
Raised $4,801 from 110 donations
Denver, CO
Amy Vernon
Team member
Raised $140 from 4 donations
This team raised $25,716 from 682 other donations.

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