About 8 weeks ago, I was admitted into the hospital for chest pain/discomfort. After some testing, I found out my heart was in an irregular rhythm called Atrial Fibrillation Cardiomyopathy. This is a gene mutation that both my brother and I inherited from our mom. That's her in the picture with me. She passed away 20 year ago from this gene. A week into my hospital stay, my doctors decided I needed to have an ICD implanted.(Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator) This bad boy keeps my heart rhythm in check. For instance if my heart starts to beating too slow or too fast and doesn't stop on its own, the ICD sends a shock to my heart to restore the normal rhythm. Down the road I will have to have a heart transplant , but in the mean time this ICD will help. In addition, I have to keep my sodium intake under 2000 mg a day and my liquid intake to only 2 liters a day. From the day I was admitted, I was out of work for over 2 months. At that time I was the only cook at my restaurant . So in turn, the restaurant had to close and my girlfriend who also works there, was also out of work for weeks. She and I (along with her daughter) share the the rent for our home along with all of our other bills, which have started to pile up tremendously. We are both back to work but very limited hours and a HUGE decrease in business due to COVID. While I was out of work, I applied for food stamps, unemployment and short term disability and was denied everything. Yes, I could look for another job, but with being limited to what I can do physically now, it would be really tough. I am just thankful for a great, understanding boss who has held my position and worked with my situation. So with that said, that's what brings me here now Its a last resort. Bills are piling up. I have to get my head above water and not put more unnecessary stress on myself. Any donations will go to past due rent, power water bills, etc. and... to my medicine cost each month, which is not very cheap. Any remaining donations will go towards someone else in need. The support I've received has meant the world to me . I know this year hasn't been easy on any of us, but if there's anyone that can find it in their heart to help it will be GREATLY appreciated. Everyone stay safe out there in these crazy times.