High Cost-Of-Living Threatening Health Of Kidney Patient

Story

Updated for May 2025: For the last decade-plus, I have battled a number of health issues, including End Stage Renal Disease and COVID (as seen in the picture above) and suffered financial reversals as a result of an inability to work. For an extended time, I attempted to use debt reconciliation to meet the challenge of my debts, but they were more interested in collecting fees than actually negotiating with my creditors and settling my accounts, so I left the program after two years and over $10,000 lost. All money raised by this GoFundMe previously went towards covering ever increasing monthly drafts to GFT/Huron that nearly surpassed my rent amount at one point and those donations were (and still are) greatly appreciated. Because my current income comes solely from Social Security Disability, legally I am protected from lawsuit collections in Illinois but the debts remain until my finances make a turnaround. While my Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security are still at potential risk from elimination or cuts, the real issue now are the tariffs and resulting higher prices which have made maintaining a healthy renal diet impossible. With my income mostly going towards rent and bills, there little to no money left for any food and trying to stretch those funds every month has become a daunting challenge. But you cannot get blood from a stone, and simply put: if I don't eat, I will die. There's no escaping that reality. Given the times, I know asking for any help is foolhardy. My hope is that there are still enough good people are still out there who are willing. At this point, that's all I have. And any assistance is, as always, greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time and attention. Timothy Christopher Joyce, Jr. May 2025