Hope For Sheeda Fund
Donation protected
Hello. My name is Rasheeda Moore-Bennett. My husband and I are graciously and humbly seeking help to pay for my medical expenses.
About 14 years ago, I was diagnosed with Major Depression & Anxiety. I remember clearly when it happened. I was fine one moment, and then suddenly I didn’t know who I was, like I lost the concept of life. For some reason my brain could not process it and I felt trapped inside my mind.
It went on like this for 5 years, refraining from looking in mirrors, because I would “depersonalize”, overanalyze my face and get caught up in wondering “Am I real?” and “What is life?” Then the deep nauseating sadness came. At the time, I was working, but I spent most of my time in the bathroom uncontrollably crying.
Then one day on my way to work I swore I heard angel harps playing and thought I began to float up toward the roof of the car, believing I was about to die. I almost jumped out the car and ran down the street. After that was my first visit to see a psychiatrist. At the time, I was told my depression was caused by this pituitary gland tumor in my brain that I was diagnosed with prior to depression, and that crazy episode in the car was my version of a panic attack. However, I didn’t start having panic attacks until I starting taking the antidepressant he prescribed. An issue I thought would be resolved by a simple pill, turned out to be the start of a very long, painful and exhausting journey.
Over the course of the next 14 years, I have also been diagnosed with PTSD , Severe Anemia , Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding , Osteoarthritis in both knees, and decreased bone density in my left hip. Most recently, my endocrinologist suspects that the pituitary gland tumor may have grown and may require surgery to be removed. To confirm this, she has ordered an immediate MRI which I cannot afford.
Coping with all of these illnesses simultaneously for over 14 years has not only taken its toll on me physically, but on us emotionally and financially as well. Though we have managed to hold on for many years, the necessity for my husband to be unexpectedly available for me has cost him many jobs throughout the years. And when he lost his last job about a year ago we lost our insurance too. Thankfully because I do have Social Security Disability, I do have Medicare to help with some of the medical fees. However, I cannot afford to see all of the specialist that I need to see because it just way too expensive. In addition, Medicare doesn’t work like a HMO, even with being on a limited and fixed income. Medicare still takes a $100 monthly deduction from your check, charges a deductible every year and holds you responsible to pay 20 % of all your medical costs, and that’s if they cover your treatment at all.
With me needing steroid injections to control the bleeding,
knee injections for the arthritis that can range from $1,000 to $3,000 that Medicare doesn’t cover at all.
Blood transfusions for the anemia,
and constant visits to mental health professionals, we have exhausted all our savings and credit cards.
We are at the point that we owe the doctors so much that they are refraining me from making office appointments, thus I can’t get my medications either. In addition, we are behind on our electric bill, and how it is set up where we live, the rental office bills us for electricity, which is called “utility rent”, thus if we don’t pay it, we will get evicted.
Despite all of this, my husband is doing the best he can. He has done everything from cooking to cleaning to driving me to doctor appointments. He recently started driving for Uber and Lyft because they offer the flexible schedule he needs to be able work and care for me all together. However, what he is making is barely enough to keep food on the table at this point, let alone our other bills. Because of this, he has fallen months behind on his car note, which the lending company is threatening to repossess.
Nonetheless, he still needs his car in order to look for full time employment and continue driving for these companies so he can at least buy food, or we will be really in dire straits.
All of these illnesses have become increasingly debilitating. Though I haven’t depersonalized in a while, I am still often plagued with suicidal thoughts. It seems these medications make it worse at times and may be the cause of me taking attempts on my life a few times. Thank GOD my last attempt was about 4 years ago
,
But I do still wrestle with those thoughts regularly!
Though this is awkward to share, we need help getting back on our feet. Any funds raised will go towards
getting current with medical bills so I can continue seeing my necessary doctors and help with our electric bill to avoid eviction.
If you and or someone you know can make any donation, we would be so grateful. No donation is too small. Even a $5 and $10 donation can help us do laundry. We thank you in advance for any donation you can make and for sharing this with your family and friends.
Help spread the word by using our #hopeforsheeda !
Again, we are sincerely grateful for taking the time to read our story.
Rasheeda Moore-Bennett & Willie J. Bennett II
About 14 years ago, I was diagnosed with Major Depression & Anxiety. I remember clearly when it happened. I was fine one moment, and then suddenly I didn’t know who I was, like I lost the concept of life. For some reason my brain could not process it and I felt trapped inside my mind.
It went on like this for 5 years, refraining from looking in mirrors, because I would “depersonalize”, overanalyze my face and get caught up in wondering “Am I real?” and “What is life?” Then the deep nauseating sadness came. At the time, I was working, but I spent most of my time in the bathroom uncontrollably crying.
Then one day on my way to work I swore I heard angel harps playing and thought I began to float up toward the roof of the car, believing I was about to die. I almost jumped out the car and ran down the street. After that was my first visit to see a psychiatrist. At the time, I was told my depression was caused by this pituitary gland tumor in my brain that I was diagnosed with prior to depression, and that crazy episode in the car was my version of a panic attack. However, I didn’t start having panic attacks until I starting taking the antidepressant he prescribed. An issue I thought would be resolved by a simple pill, turned out to be the start of a very long, painful and exhausting journey.
Over the course of the next 14 years, I have also been diagnosed with PTSD , Severe Anemia , Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding , Osteoarthritis in both knees, and decreased bone density in my left hip. Most recently, my endocrinologist suspects that the pituitary gland tumor may have grown and may require surgery to be removed. To confirm this, she has ordered an immediate MRI which I cannot afford.
Coping with all of these illnesses simultaneously for over 14 years has not only taken its toll on me physically, but on us emotionally and financially as well. Though we have managed to hold on for many years, the necessity for my husband to be unexpectedly available for me has cost him many jobs throughout the years. And when he lost his last job about a year ago we lost our insurance too. Thankfully because I do have Social Security Disability, I do have Medicare to help with some of the medical fees. However, I cannot afford to see all of the specialist that I need to see because it just way too expensive. In addition, Medicare doesn’t work like a HMO, even with being on a limited and fixed income. Medicare still takes a $100 monthly deduction from your check, charges a deductible every year and holds you responsible to pay 20 % of all your medical costs, and that’s if they cover your treatment at all.
With me needing steroid injections to control the bleeding,
knee injections for the arthritis that can range from $1,000 to $3,000 that Medicare doesn’t cover at all.
Blood transfusions for the anemia,
and constant visits to mental health professionals, we have exhausted all our savings and credit cards.
We are at the point that we owe the doctors so much that they are refraining me from making office appointments, thus I can’t get my medications either. In addition, we are behind on our electric bill, and how it is set up where we live, the rental office bills us for electricity, which is called “utility rent”, thus if we don’t pay it, we will get evicted.
Despite all of this, my husband is doing the best he can. He has done everything from cooking to cleaning to driving me to doctor appointments. He recently started driving for Uber and Lyft because they offer the flexible schedule he needs to be able work and care for me all together. However, what he is making is barely enough to keep food on the table at this point, let alone our other bills. Because of this, he has fallen months behind on his car note, which the lending company is threatening to repossess.
Nonetheless, he still needs his car in order to look for full time employment and continue driving for these companies so he can at least buy food, or we will be really in dire straits.
All of these illnesses have become increasingly debilitating. Though I haven’t depersonalized in a while, I am still often plagued with suicidal thoughts. It seems these medications make it worse at times and may be the cause of me taking attempts on my life a few times. Thank GOD my last attempt was about 4 years ago
,
But I do still wrestle with those thoughts regularly!
Though this is awkward to share, we need help getting back on our feet. Any funds raised will go towards
getting current with medical bills so I can continue seeing my necessary doctors and help with our electric bill to avoid eviction.
If you and or someone you know can make any donation, we would be so grateful. No donation is too small. Even a $5 and $10 donation can help us do laundry. We thank you in advance for any donation you can make and for sharing this with your family and friends.
Help spread the word by using our #hopeforsheeda !
Again, we are sincerely grateful for taking the time to read our story.
Rasheeda Moore-Bennett & Willie J. Bennett II
Organizer
Rasheeda Moore
Organizer
Rahway, NJ