Fighting to Stay Independent: Help Betty & Her Rescue Pets Stay Together

Hello, my name is Betty Levy. I’m 76 years old and have spent the last 17 years adjusting to a life I never imagined—but one I’ve fought hard to live with dignity, love, and independence.

In 2007, I was injured in a workplace accident that left me permanently disabled and confined to a wheelchair. At the time, I received a settlement due to my employer's negligence, which allowed me to live independently in a small, ground-floor, wheelchair-accessible apartment and maintain the specialized care I need. That support has now run out.

I live on $1,767 a month from Social Security and limited assistance. My rent alone is $1,700/month. Add to that $250/month for insurance on my only means of transportation—a handicapped-equipped van—and $700/month in utilities, and I'm drowning. To make matters worse, the inability to get a Medicare-provided aide in our community has left me paying out-of-pocket for vital support—$26 an hour, 10 hours a week, for the last 3.5 years—just to help me do the basics many take for granted.

I'm now behind on rent. I'm on the verge of losing the life I’ve fought so hard to maintain.

But I’m not just fighting for me.

I have two cats and a sweet rescue dog named Mars. Mars has his own medical issues, and while the cost of his care has added to my burdens, I can't give him—or any of them—up. They are my family. They’ve been with me through the darkest nights, offering love when I had no one else. As the youngest of 11 children, I now have just one surviving sibling. I never had children of my own. My pets are my children. They’re my reason to keep going.

I’m sharing my story in the hope that someone out there understands what it means to be struggling—not for extravagance—but for the simple right to live independently, with your companions, in a place that is safe, accessible, and your own.

I don’t want to be forced into a facility. I don’t want to give up my pets. I just want to stay afloat. To survive. To live.

I know times are hard for many. But if you’ve ever:

• Faced life after a disabling injury…

• Loved an animal like family…

• Fought to stay independent in a world that forgets the most vulnerable…

…then I hope you can find it in your heart to help me.

Any amount helps. Truly. Your donation will go toward:

• Back rent and utilities to avoid eviction

• Ongoing care for Mars and my cats

• Medical aide costs Medicare no longer covers

• Basic daily needs to keep me independent

Thank you for reading my story. Thank you for seeing me. Please share this if you can, and know how deeply grateful I am for your kindness and time.

With love and hope,

Betty Levy