Never wanted to have to do this, and I still don't, but that doesn't really matter. I shouldn't have waited this long but waiting any longer is only going to allow things to get worse.

As many of you know on 3/11/21, I was struck by a motor vehicle while cycling. As many of you also know, the driver only had minimum insurance, which didn't even cover expenses up to the first surgery. Next month marks the 3rd year anniversary and we are still, and will forever be, dealing with the fallout from this incident. Although I worked for a brief period thereafter, Mary has worked multiple jobs to carry everything since.

Every year we meet our out of pocket maximum, plus additional expenses well beyond for things either...

- denied by insurance

(add'l physical therapy sessions beyond our allotment; also certain medical procedures such as injections)

- not covered by insurance

(multiple therapies, treatments, and testing, especially pertaining to mental health; certain medications)

- incurred outside the realm of insurance but still directly attributable to the accident

(various expenses to do with ergonomics/adaptive equipment, cryotherapy/massage, additional costs/considerations when traveling, etc)

I can't tell you the exact financial impact this has had on our family, but I can tell you that the overall strain from the physical, mental, and financial tolls has pushed us to the breaking point as a family.

I don't know how to set a "goal" for this. To be quite honest this is basically what we have already paid out of pocket, and doesn't even consider stuff on the horizon.

Everything has essentially gone through us and our insurance, so anything helps to ease the burden right now. We still have not gotten approval for any backpay from disability, so there has been no financial relief there, and we don't know if or when there will be any in the future. It's time to stop trying to tough it out and ask for help.