Hi my name is Norma, I am trying to ask for help with family and close friends no one can help me I’m out of options and I feel I’m at a loss. So I’m currently homeless trying to care for my 3 cats and 2 dogs. I have been diagnosed with gout in my ankles, my knees are going out on me, I had been recently diagnosed with arthritis in my hips and my lower back, I have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure along with I was born with a heart defect/condition called Tetralogy of Fallot with VSD(Vesicular Spectrum Disorder) I believe that’s what it is called, I also was born with 1 kidney my other kidney did not develop (which it’s functioning between 45-50% it fluctuates never the same every 6 months I go in to get it checked. I also have had 4 open heart surgeries, a by pass and back in 2023 I had my recent heart valve replacement.

I am having major heath issues, I can barely get around for my doctor appointments they are getting harder and harder to make due to having mobility issues with standing or walking more than 10 minutes at a time before I get nausea, dizzy, I lose my balance a lot and at times it makes me throw up. Sorry so blunt. I have a hard time sitting for long periods of times and laying down I lose a lot of sleep cuz my hips and back hurts so much my shoulders are starting to give me problems because of me tossing and turning to find a position comfortable enough not to mention the cold and now the heat. I’m exhausted and tired. I’m depressed and I have anxiety. I have a lot of medications that I am taking (oh how I wish that wasn’t so) I have applied for SSI and SSDI, however, I have been told it’ll take some quite a bit of time to at least find out if I qualify. I do have a lawyer working on my case. I have a very hard getting around to make my appointments. I do not work I have no income coming in which it stresses me out so much that my body doesn’t want to work for me. I’ve talked about surgeries (which are no gos doctors don’t see that that’ll help but possibly my knees yes, but not my hips and back) and I’ve tried Physical Therapy but nothing seems to work it just gets worse and my PT person was at a loss.

I also worry about my fur babies anyone who is an animal lover like myself knows giving them up is not an option my fur babies are my rock my strength each and every day, they are what makes me get up and get myself going each day. I really need a vehicle to get around in so I can pick up food and supplies I need for them which I go to Street Dawgs every other Sunday to get help for my fur babies and myself. I do get Medicaid and Foodstamps, but that’s just not enough each month, specially since a lot of the stuff are snacks and junk food that now day prices are way out there.

Sorry for taking up so much of your time but thank you for reading my story. I know it’s long but I am out of hope and desperately need help getting into a vehicle, so I can make my medical appointments.