Helping Matt Blum living with MS
Donation protected
My name is Matt Blum and like many others on this site, I never thought I would be asking for your help, but now I need help. I’m 73 years old and have advanced M.S. (Multiple Sclerosis) and never thought I had the chance of getting it.
I served in Vietnam and like a lot of others was exposed to Agent Orange. Came home and got on with my life. I used to be a 'jock' and soccer was my game of choice, plus golf, plus sailing and fishing for Marlin. Laughing and loving life.
But, at 63 MS came into my life. It starts out slow and then takes over your body. I’m in a skilled care nursing home, but due to my MS, I need 'Special Personal Care' each day – to help me get out of bed, to have a bath, help me get dressed and get me into my wheel chair. My legs no longer function. I have limited use of my arms as well. Everything seems to be getting worse on a daily basis...but I have a good attitude.
The Veterans Administration, VA, has been very good to me since the beginning in 2007. As time went on, when I had to move into a Senior Care Facility, I started to need 'Special Personal Care'. In 2016, My 'Special Personal Care' hours grew to 20 hours a week that was paid for by the VA. In December 2016, I decided to move to a less expensive Senior Care Facility in Solano County California. In January 2017, I discovered that the VA in Solano County only provides 9 hours a week of 'Special Personal Care'. I had no idea that VA hours for 'Special Personal Care' varied by which county you live in throughout the USA. I learned from the VA that the 'Special Personal Care' weekly hours are either 20hrs, 9hrs or 6hrs depending on what county you live in. For the last 8 years I have lived in Marin and Sonoma Counties in California. The Vets in these counties get up to 20 hours of 'Special Personal Care' a week. In Solano County it is 9 hours per week.
There are many local Senior Assisted Living Agencies. Since I now get 9 hours a week for 'Special Personal Care' paid by the VA, I now need a Senior Assisted Living Agency for 11 hours a week for a total of 20 hours a week. The cost for the 11 hours a week x 4 weeks is approximately $1700 per month.
Yes, I am humbly asking for your kindness and support to please help with the additional costs. Please help me survive. Thank you for reading my story.
Matt Blum
I served in Vietnam and like a lot of others was exposed to Agent Orange. Came home and got on with my life. I used to be a 'jock' and soccer was my game of choice, plus golf, plus sailing and fishing for Marlin. Laughing and loving life.
But, at 63 MS came into my life. It starts out slow and then takes over your body. I’m in a skilled care nursing home, but due to my MS, I need 'Special Personal Care' each day – to help me get out of bed, to have a bath, help me get dressed and get me into my wheel chair. My legs no longer function. I have limited use of my arms as well. Everything seems to be getting worse on a daily basis...but I have a good attitude.
The Veterans Administration, VA, has been very good to me since the beginning in 2007. As time went on, when I had to move into a Senior Care Facility, I started to need 'Special Personal Care'. In 2016, My 'Special Personal Care' hours grew to 20 hours a week that was paid for by the VA. In December 2016, I decided to move to a less expensive Senior Care Facility in Solano County California. In January 2017, I discovered that the VA in Solano County only provides 9 hours a week of 'Special Personal Care'. I had no idea that VA hours for 'Special Personal Care' varied by which county you live in throughout the USA. I learned from the VA that the 'Special Personal Care' weekly hours are either 20hrs, 9hrs or 6hrs depending on what county you live in. For the last 8 years I have lived in Marin and Sonoma Counties in California. The Vets in these counties get up to 20 hours of 'Special Personal Care' a week. In Solano County it is 9 hours per week.
There are many local Senior Assisted Living Agencies. Since I now get 9 hours a week for 'Special Personal Care' paid by the VA, I now need a Senior Assisted Living Agency for 11 hours a week for a total of 20 hours a week. The cost for the 11 hours a week x 4 weeks is approximately $1700 per month.
Yes, I am humbly asking for your kindness and support to please help with the additional costs. Please help me survive. Thank you for reading my story.
Matt Blum
Organizer
Matt Blum
Organizer
Vacaville, CA