I have never done anything like this before, being a naturally private person, but never before has the need been so dire.  So here it goes…

 

The short version.

 

My name is Kollias Panagiotis and I have become the undead.

 

By undead I don’t mean that I have died and come back like a zombie.  If that were the case I would probably have my own TV show.  What I mean is that I haven’t actually died, but I wouldn’t call what I do now actually living exactly either.  I survive.  I persevere.  I struggle each day to the most basic of tasks and to keep my spirits up only to get up the next day and do it again.

 

You see, in 2013 I got sick.  Well, knowing what I do now, I was probably getting sick for quite a while before that, but in 2013 I got too sick to work.  I had a really good job with good insurance coverage and through receiving SDI for the first year and as a result of the amazing generosity of a few friends, I was able to keep my insurance coverage and still have a little money coming in.  This was especially important as I went through test after test and saw different specialists as the doctors tried to figure out what was wrong with me.  My husband works full time and makes enough to cover our basic living expenses, but we’ve been supplementing his income with credit cards for extra expenses like car repairs, vet bills, home repairs and lately, doctor visits and medications.

 

Now we have come to the crux of the problem.  We will run out of all of our available credit this month. 

 

My medications alone cost $640 a month with my insurance.  My wife and daughter also have to take monthly medications.  However, I currently owe $6,972 in back insurance premiums that need to be paid this month or my insurance will be cancelled.  Another insurance payment of $1,743 will be due on December 1st if my insurance isn’t cancelled.  Even if I ignore all the past due amounts and let the debt go to collections, there simply is no more money available to pay for my medications going forward.

 

Without my medications, the very limited life I experience now will seem like a walk in the park.  Without my medications I will become completely non-functioning.  My risk of heart attack, stroke, and a plethora of other lovely complications goes up immensely.  Not to mention the risk of death.  The risk of my dying goes up exponentially.

 

I have applied for a disability retirement from my job, if and when that is approved I will begin receiving a pension and can have my insurance reinstated.  However, from this point in the process it could be up to six months before I get a decision and another four to six weeks before I get a check, if it is approved.

 

I simply will not last that long without help.  So, I’m putting this request out there, for good or ill, and hoping for the best.