Help Mike in his time of need
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My friend Mike Herron is in trouble, please help if you can! Here's his situation, in his own words:
So my friend Derek, having heard all about the latest mayhem to enter my life suggested I write this up for a GoFundMe he was setting up to help out.
Hi, I'm Mike,
Former Computer Programmer, sometime Web site designer, I also do some Photoshop and Illustrator, RPG gamer, Science Fiction nerd and just all around geek. I was born with a genetic bone disease called Osteogenesis Imperfects type 3. If you're interested in more information you can click to here .
O.I. Causes a form of dwarfism because of the changes to bone growth so I'm 3'3” and never been able to walk.
Before I was 21 I had broken around one hundred bones and had 17 surgeries. I use an electric wheelchair to get around since I've never been able to walk.
At some point about 10 years ago my breathing issues, including sleep apnea, got worse so I applied for and received Social Security Disability. It sucked to have to go on Disability especially since I worked for 9 years as a computer programmer, but my breathing issues made it to hard to do it anymore.
Anyway, recently Social Security decided to “Reevaluate” my disability claim, I guess to make sure my O.I. Hadn't spontaneously cured itself and I grew to 6'2” and was now running marathons. It's going to be a couple months before my re-certification is complete, but in the mean time my disability checks have been suspended so I'm without a way to pay rent, pay for groceries or much else.
When I was told my checks were being held until the reevaluation was complete I was a tad bit angry... Ok... I was hopping mad since I have no other income, as meager as it is.
Added to that I'm going to be needing a new wheelchair soon since my current chair is 9 years old and I use it to go everywhere. Medicare will pay for 80% of the cost, but since an electric wheelchair can cost upwards of $15,000 for a good reliable chair, I'm looking at a few thousand dollars to get a new chair and that doesn't count the added cost of the lift seating system I need to be able to do daily activities like shopping for groceries and such. The lift seat system is considered a luxury so medicare/medicaid won't pay for it. I really try to do as much as I can daily and having the lift seat would make things so much easier.
Derek said he'd create a GoFundMe to help me pay bills til my disability is reinstated and once I'm reinstated I'll get reimbursed for the checks being held. Then I can use the money raised to allow me to pay for the new wheelchair and the lift seat addition.
Once I've paid for the new chair we'll be donating any left over money to Chicago ADAPT. This is a disability rights organization that works to improve the lives of the disabled. They do work placement, housing, and work with State and Federal legislators to help those with a disability live as independently as possible. You can learn more about the national arm of ADAPT at adapt.org.
So my friend Derek, having heard all about the latest mayhem to enter my life suggested I write this up for a GoFundMe he was setting up to help out.
Hi, I'm Mike,
Former Computer Programmer, sometime Web site designer, I also do some Photoshop and Illustrator, RPG gamer, Science Fiction nerd and just all around geek. I was born with a genetic bone disease called Osteogenesis Imperfects type 3. If you're interested in more information you can click to here .
O.I. Causes a form of dwarfism because of the changes to bone growth so I'm 3'3” and never been able to walk.
Before I was 21 I had broken around one hundred bones and had 17 surgeries. I use an electric wheelchair to get around since I've never been able to walk.
At some point about 10 years ago my breathing issues, including sleep apnea, got worse so I applied for and received Social Security Disability. It sucked to have to go on Disability especially since I worked for 9 years as a computer programmer, but my breathing issues made it to hard to do it anymore.
Anyway, recently Social Security decided to “Reevaluate” my disability claim, I guess to make sure my O.I. Hadn't spontaneously cured itself and I grew to 6'2” and was now running marathons. It's going to be a couple months before my re-certification is complete, but in the mean time my disability checks have been suspended so I'm without a way to pay rent, pay for groceries or much else.
When I was told my checks were being held until the reevaluation was complete I was a tad bit angry... Ok... I was hopping mad since I have no other income, as meager as it is.
Added to that I'm going to be needing a new wheelchair soon since my current chair is 9 years old and I use it to go everywhere. Medicare will pay for 80% of the cost, but since an electric wheelchair can cost upwards of $15,000 for a good reliable chair, I'm looking at a few thousand dollars to get a new chair and that doesn't count the added cost of the lift seating system I need to be able to do daily activities like shopping for groceries and such. The lift seat system is considered a luxury so medicare/medicaid won't pay for it. I really try to do as much as I can daily and having the lift seat would make things so much easier.
Derek said he'd create a GoFundMe to help me pay bills til my disability is reinstated and once I'm reinstated I'll get reimbursed for the checks being held. Then I can use the money raised to allow me to pay for the new wheelchair and the lift seat addition.
Once I've paid for the new chair we'll be donating any left over money to Chicago ADAPT. This is a disability rights organization that works to improve the lives of the disabled. They do work placement, housing, and work with State and Federal legislators to help those with a disability live as independently as possible. You can learn more about the national arm of ADAPT at adapt.org.
Organizer
Derek Daniels
Organizer
Chicago, IL
