Hating to Ask But No Place Left to Turn

 The man in the picture is my husband. He has used almost all of the retirement he worked SO hard for as an adolescent substance abuse counsoler for over 20 yrs. Which is an astounding amount of time in that field for low pay but he loved helping those kids. I start with that because my heart is racked with guilt that I've taken that money from him. His family has also pitched in. I have siblings that are raising families & have done what they could. I also have been blessed with a wonderful aunt Jackie whose supported me in so many ways.  I have an unidentified autoimmune disease. I have started with doctors to figure out what/why this is happening to me really back in 2006 but seriously addressing it in 2010. I've been to major hospitals such as Barnes Jewish & Mayo Clinic Rochester but they can not find the cause of what's happening to me. I tried but kept losing track of how many doctors & specialists I've seen. And therefore, you can imagine the piling up of bills. They call what I have peripheral neuropathy.  I've lost feeling in both my legs about up to my knees and from the tips of my fingers just past the wrists. I currently can walk very short distances with a cane but will need a motorized wheeler chair & a way to transport it.  There's not a cure, eventually it will shut down my lungs. That's the morbid but sad truth. The positive is that it could be another 10 years. I'd really like the opportunity to not leave my husband burdened. I was  37 when I went on disability with a Masters Degree educated mind & passion for the social work I was doing so that has added an element of extra anger I guess. I want to work but it's not possible due to the level & inconsistency of the pain I expierance & the medications I take. Not opioids (they do not help nerve pain.)  It is sort of "a given" that when one applies for disability, they will be turned down the first time they apply & it's recommended that you use a lawyer. I did it myself & was accepted on first application, which means to me they were able to very clearly see I was sick & would truly be unable to work. So with my disability income & my husband's (as he had a lung removed) we just have struggled. I know there are things happening around the world, natural disasters, the wildfires, well deserving nonprofits and other people's stories that are just as deserving for the donations of your hard earned money. Just know I will be forever grateful for any help you'd send my way.  Thank you for taking the time to read my story.