In November 2024, Anthony Caeton had total ankle replacement surgery on his right ankle after years of worsening pain from degenerative arthritis. As an automotive technician for Mercedes, being on his feet all day was part of the job—but the ankle pain, on top of his psoriatic arthritis pain, was become unbearable. The surgery was supposed to give him his mobility back, eliminate the pain, and get him back to work within about 5 months.

Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned.

After a few months of recovery, Anthony’s short-term disability ran out. His long-term disability claim was denied as the insurance company labeled his condition as “pre-existing,” even though the arthritis that caused his ankle failure wasn’t related to the prior condition. He appealed the decision, but while waiting, he has been left with no income at all. He also applied for unemployment, but was denied due to his disabled state.

In spite of ongoing physical therapy, and care according to the surgeon's orders, his ankle recovery stalled after a few months and was still too painful to stand or walk on for long. After six months of being unable to return to his job, he lost his employment along with his health insurance.

By August, tests showed that the pain was caused due to the ankle implant loosening. He now needs another surgery to replace it a second time before he is able to return to work. Until then, he’s living with severe pain and swelling that makes walking, or even standing, for extended periods almost impossible.

During this time his daughter underwent open-heart surgery for a potentially life-threatening heart defect, and he is going through a separation of his marriage as well. The extra medical expenses from the lost insurance, combined with lost income, have left him in an impossible situation. He’s now more than $100,000 behind, several months behind on his mortgage and car payment, and facing possible foreclosure and repossession, while being unable to return to employment. His only option remaining to be able to receive the second surgery he requires in order return to reasonable employment ,is to ask for help from his community.

He’s currently working with his brother to start a mail-in division of his sharpening business to help bring in some income, and he’s applying for SSDI, though that process can take many months to resolve.

Now, he’s simply asking for a lifeline to make it through this time — to save his home, keep his car, and cover basic bills until he can get the surgery he needs and return to work.

Every dollar raised will go directly toward:

Catching up on mortgage and car payments

Keeping utilities active

Covering essential living costs

Saving toward his upcoming surgery and recovery

If you’re able to give, no matter how small, it will make a huge difference. If you can’t donate, please consider sharing this campaign to help spread the word.

Anthony has always worked hard to provide for his family as a sole earner in his household, and rarely asks for help. But right now, he’s fighting to get back on his feet — literally.

Thank you so much for reading and for any kindness or help you can offer.

Update: Anthony's appeal for his LTD through NYLife was denied again. His SSDI application was also denied. He will be appealing this, with a lawyer, but this can be a months to years long process. He is still waiting to hear if his mortgage forbearance has been approved.