When we married, we knew he had a chronic illness, but we built our lives around the hope that his hard work and education would provide stability. He graduated college, secured a good job with benefits, and we planned for the day when I could stay home to care for him as his illness progressed. Unfortunately, in 2008, we lost everything due to a corporate bankruptcy. He eventually found another job, but it was lower paying and offered no benefits. When his health declined further, he had to stop working and apply for disability.

Recently, the State of Nevada ruled us ineligible for Extra Help, even though both SSI and Medicare say we qualify. This huge cut in our income, along with rising prices for everything else has made it impossible to keep up with basic necessities. We have already given up all non-essential expenses. Every attempt I make to work outside the home puts my husband’s health in serious danger. Just this year, after I worked for five weeks, his illness became so severe that he nearly died and is still recovering.

Yesterday our landlord informed us he is raising the rent next month. We now have no hope of being able to continue to exist in this city. We will have to give up the specialist doctor and clinic who have kept my husband alive and simply hope we can find another real healer someplace that we can actually afford to live. At this time we can no longer afford food, medication, or basics of living.

I am not above tossing what we can into the back of our little Fiat and leaving. But I would much rather be able to at least rent a van and keep the things that make my husbands life worth living. His walker, alone, nearly fills the back of the car. If you have never cared for someone with a life threatening illness - think about how much you have to take when you take a baby and x4 that. Think about how difficult it is to travel with a baby and x4 that, too. My husband worked hard all his life, planned for being ill and an early death, and he does NOT deserve this. We are refugees in our own country.