My name is Nichol Neto and I live alone with my 17-year-old adopted Siamese cat TyTy in Massachusetts. I am a 43-year-old, happily divorced mother of two adult children, my daughter, Cailyn is 25 and my son, Joshua is 19. I used to be very active in my community and helping others always came first. Unfortunately, I am too sick now and miss my days as a church deacon, and Sunday School Teacher. I always enjoyed cooking for the holidays and attending all of my friend's and familys events. I no longer get any invites as Ive had to decline for the past few years now. I miss the days when I was a second mom to many of my childrens friends (still am for a few) and I enjoyed hosting pre-game night dinner at Mama Netos house and making extra breakfast and lunches for them all. Knowing they would have the fuel needed for a productive school day was all the thanks I ever needed - I really miss those days! I also really miss working! I started working as a legal research analyst in Boston and left the industry after the birth of my second child. I started a cleaning business, a flower shop, and always had a second job to provide for my two children without support. I had started another cleaning business but could no longer do the work due to my back and legs worsening. So I found a way to work at home and started a thriving eBay business that I had to close in 2017 as I can no longer look at the screen for more than a few minutes at a time before Im bedridden with a migraine, vision loss, and vomiting. Watching television is often too much for my eyes now and reading books for enjoyment is a thing of the past for me. Almost all of my medical conditions are degenerative and progressive in nature. Having so many comorbid conditions at the same time has made working even part-time impossible for me and Ive lost everything. My medical history is as follows. At an early age, I suffered an injury to my leg and hip that was neglected by my parents. By the age of eight, the leg and hip pain had become so unbearable that getting to school became very difficult. My mother would boil towels and wrap my legs with them at night to help me fall asleep. Further investigation dictated a change in diagnosis to Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. I was then diagnosed with a double S curve Scoliosis at age ten. I was given a back brace and was warned that even with a brace I may still end up having an upper thoracic hunch in my elder years. In 2004 I was diagnosed with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) now more commonly known as Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome Type I (CRPS). A severe chronic pain condition of the central nervous system often deemed the suicide disease as the pain is so severe. In addition, I have had well over 20 surgeries and too many procedures to count. Ive been diagnosed with Degenerative Disc Disease, Degenerative Joint Disease, Lupus (SLE), Sjogrens Disease, Ehlers Danlos Hypermobility Joint Disease, and already have had one hip dislocation. My other hip and knees arent far behind. I survived Thyroid Cancer, Kidney Failure/Sepsis from a failed Lithotripsy, Stent, and Nephrostomy Tube surgeries from a kidney stone/blockage in my right ureter that put me in the ICU and hospitalized for two months ~ I wasnt expected to live. Yet Im still here!!! Adding to my extensive list I aIso have a Choroidal Nevus Tumor growing behind my right eye requiring surgery but Ill most likely be giving up my eye so Im holding onto it for as long as I can and keep putting off seeing my Retina Specialist. I have been diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Neurogenic Thoracic Outlet Syndrome requiring surgery, Uterine Fibroids requiring surgery, Protein S Type II Blood Clotting Disorder with two DVTs and 1 PE, Interstitial Cystitis, Chronic/Acute Urinary Retention requiring catheterization at times. Ive had a low-grade fever for 3 years now and also suffer from Migraines, Cluster Headaches, Anxiety, and Situational Depression. Throughout this time, I had been living with my daughter up until this past April when I began to notice a drastic behavior change in her which escalated into physical threats of violence and outright violence towards me. At times I had to barricade myself in my room in order to get away from her. I feared for my safety so I filed a restraining order against her and had her removed from the home. I had no options - I wasnt safe with her in the house. As a result, I have had no income to pay my bills, and pay my rent. My daughter supported the household and paid the bills and I knew with her gone it would be a struggle but it had to be done. I couldnt live with her using drugs - I wasnt safe and couldnt talk sense to her rage under the influence. In light of what happened, I am having financial difficulties because my Massachusetts disability payments were stopped due to paperwork my daughter filled out (incorrectly and without my knowledge) this past winter. It was shocking and had dire consequences. My disability was revoked because my daughter filled out the function report stating that I had no limitations and was capable of working. Currently, I am in the process of having it reinstated, however, its taking much longer than anticipated. The Social Security Administration and Department of Transitional Assistance have made the process more difficult and even with two social workers working with me, I'm still waiting for my benefits to be reinstated. There always seems to be a last-minute form that needs to be filled out, signed, re-signed or re-dated and the worker handling my claim isnt very nice to me and hasnt been helpful at all. It has been crazy-making, to say the least. Equally important to note, I was brought up on the premise that some days youve gotta pull yourself up by your bootstraps, and push on through no matter what. That doing things the right way first is the only way because cutting corners is just that - a piece and not a whole. My Grandpy taught me that life is full of hard days, hard work and that being honest, and helping others is the winning recipe in life! Now, my bootstraps are worn out and I am the one that needs help now. By and large, I am resolved with the fact that this is my new reality. It has been difficult to say the least. Im still hopeful because one day Im going to be a grandmother, and I dont want to be a picture on the wall. I want to enjoy that part of my life to the fullest. I want to play on the beach, hike mountains, go fishing, kayaking, and lobster hauling in Maine. I want to teach my grandchildren about God, and how faith and prayer does make a difference! I want to explore the forest with them and teach them all about plants and how to find your way home with nothing more than a compass, map, and god willing the sun or moon and stars. Most of all I want to help my family, friends, and community thrive and not be a burden on them or anyone else! Certainly, this is hard for me to spill my life out and ask for money, but nevertheless I am here asking for help - with no options. I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your help. Without it I couldnt continue in this state for long. Nichol Neto 10.27.19