IN NEED OF A LITTLE SURVIVAL HELP

TOM and I BOTH wanted to put into our own individual words as much as we possibly could to try and articulate the situation.

1) From ROB RAMOS

The past several months (actually it has been a full year) have been very challenging financially. Due to my husband Tom's worsening orthopedic problems, I am the only income, and I have stretched it as thinly as I possibly can. We are living on credit cards we can't keep up with just to pay rent and keep the electricity on. I know we are not alone in this, but we don't have any backup resources. I have depleted every resource, and I can barely afford my insulin despite having health insurance, due to my high annual deductible. Tom Has applied for Social Security Disability benefits, but the process is long and torturous. He is now in level one appeal. Things are looking and feeling very BLEAK. If there is anyone who reads this who can see clear to giving us a financial hand, it would absolutely mean the world to us. I AS a person who doesn't give up...I always try to stay positive and believe that things will get better. However, I am running out of steam and I am really feeling the mental exhaustion that comes from the struggle. I need a hand. If you can lend that hand, it would absolutely mean EVERYTHING.

Thank you for reading this, and for not judging. Your compassion and consideration are so deeply appreciated.

LOVE ALWAYS,

ROB

2) From TOM NORDIN:

I have struggled with the idea of putting myself out there and being more vulnerable than I already feel that I am, for the last year. I'm at the point where I have to let go of pride and embarrassment and just put it out there into the universe. On December 21st, 2021, I applied for Social Security Disability benefits, after struggling for my entire life with the debilitating pain and decreased mobility resulting from the club foot condition I was born with. Despite childhood surgery and thirteen surgical procedures during my adulthood, wear and tear and advancing age have resulted in severe osteoarthritis and neuropathy, and my mobility has been seriously affected. I have been working closely with my orthopedic surgeon here in Columbus for several years now. Physical therapy, numerous medications including Lyrica, Gabapentin, Meloxicam, Clinical Pain Management, have all failed. I had some metal surgical hardware removed in 2003 and 2014 and those procedures brought no relief. Even an implanted SCS device - connected to spine implanted device and supposed to help pain--has been ineffective. Last year, I started experiencing back resulting from a worsening spinal condition diagnosed in 2014. I took number of physical falls, including one on the stairs which could have had a catastrophic result had I not quickly let my body go limp. After being told by my orthopedic team that we have "done it all", my doctor encouraged me to apply for disability benefits because all of this has caused tremendous financial strain.

My husband's steady full-time job can't adequately compensate for my inability to work.

This financial trouble has been an issue for quite some time, and became progressively worse when it became clear that I could no longer work and contribute to the support of my family (husband and two kitties). This has caused my anxiety and depression--for which I receive treatment--to become far less manageable. With ALL of this going on, I started the Social Security Disability process, undergoing functional capacity assessment and being told that I have NO MOTOR FUNCTION in my right foot, and decreased motor function in my left foot due to that foot having to do so much compensatory work for the right. I have a disability attorney representing me through the process, and in late April, I awaited my SS decision feeling confident with the medical authority of THREE doctors--including the Social security's own consultative doctor--stating that I can no longer work. When the decision came, it was a DENIAL. My attorney explained to me that the vast majority of disability applicants are denied on first application, and must endure the appeal levels in order to get the actual MEDICAL REVIEW needed to get a fair clinical decision on receiving benefits..

ALL of this leads to the question which is one I have tried to talk myself out of asking, but I know I have to...CAN ANYONE READING THIS HELP ME OUT FINANCIALLY, in order for Rob and I to continue to pay our rent and keep our vehicle current while waiting for a decision?

I know it's a lot to ask, but anyone who knows me knows how I feel about askIng. It is brutal. Any amount would be helpful, and give some hope when things feel so scary.

THANK YOU

LOVE,

TOM