My name is Dan Rogers. To say that this past year has been a challenge for me and my family is putting it mildly. In June 2024, at 67 years old, I was diagnosed with adenoid cystic carcinoma, requiring surgery and some nasal cavity bone removal, followed up by radiation treatment every day for 15 minutes for 33 days. I tried to keep working during this time until it became too much. While my cancer is in check right now, it is guaranteed to return; it’s just a matter of when.

At the same time, my partner Linda Yager was diagnosed with fast onset Alzheimer’s in November 2024. Linda is a very young 71 years old, and as a result, she is already nonverbal and needs 100% assistance in walking, eating, and all functioning. We had to sell her business, in which she sold hair supplies to salons all throughout New York State, and have drastically altered our lives to ensure she has the care and monitoring she needs.

Originally, my plan was to retire at the end of 2025. Needless to say, because of Linda’s needs, I had to pull up that date so that I could be there for my love.

In this past year, we have purchased a chair lift for the house, a walker, and now a wheelchair for mobility. We are currently retrofitting her caravan and pursuing bed mobility assistance and a whole house video camera system to ensure her safety is guaranteed. We go every week to speech and physical therapy, as well as a neurologist visit every six months for check-ups. Just basic caretaking costs above and beyond the implements purchased run $500/week. Unfortunately, just a fraction of all of this is covered by insurance.

Linda’s on Medicare now; however, I’ve been told her entry into Medicaid assistance could be as far off as a year to a year and a half. I promised Linda I would do everything I could to keep her in our home as long as I physically and safely could. I’m asking for assistance in doing just that, bridging that gap between now and Medicaid, to ensure I have the ability to have her cared for during the few times I need to go out and take care of us or my own medical needs. Any help is appreciated.