Kerri's Ship is Sinking fast
Donation protected
It is so hard for me to imagine, having to reach out for help. I've tried my best to hide from Jake, the fact that I am completely out of money. Possibly having to move in with his Father and his one bedroom apartment, just to avoid homelessness.
Just a few years ago, we were sitting comfortably. I working at Perbacco, a job I liked to go to and always was made to feel appreciated to be working for their Restaurant. Jake, thriving in Baseball and an Honor student as well. A nice flat in North Beach, now get this, with a garage. Never did we have to go without anything that was needed. Life was good...
I had over 120k in savings, Jake's College fund with 40k and close to 40k in credit on cards that I have always paid off at the end of the month. Not rich but never had to worry about money. Sitting pretty...
And then just three years later, except for the welfare, that I finally broke down and applied for a few months ago, my only income is $320 in food stamps and $580 for all other expenses. It's to bad that rent (luckily rent controlled) alone is over $1000. But thankfully, as a single Mother, Jake and I qualified for the much needed Medi-cal.
That and with Matt's loan's of many, many dollars, is the only reason we are still in our home and not living in the car.
How did this happen? That is easily answered...
For the last three years I have been sick, very sick. Un believable abdominal pain so bad that it actually drove me to go the Emergency room, a few times. So many tests, procedures and Hospital stays, the best of UCSF's specialist for everything.
Unrelentness pain, trying to hide my vomiting from Jake. That didn't last very long, after my second admittance to the hospital, I told Jake everything. I promised never to hide anything like this from him again. So he is aware of all the bizare ailments, well for the most part and has been my Champion in nursing me when I need it. As well as I try, when he needs me.
The Doctor's have diagnosed me with many gastroenterology problems but never a definate plan to help resolve any of them.
Acute/chronic pancreatitis, lots of pain medication and enzymes of a pig's pancreatitis. I developed a Choledocul cyst on one of my already dilated bile ducts, my Gastroenterogist said it needed to be operated on.
Months later, when I finally met with a transplant surgeon, excited about a new experimental procedure, he asked me about my insurance. Well, Medi-cal would never cover that and I never met with him again. But the wretched agony is still there.
They also found my liver had F4 cirhossis, that department treated my Hepatitis on the miracle Harvoni which did cure the Hep, that I had lived with for the last 30 years. But cirhosis is nonreversable and I should just plan on needing a new liver in the future. Oh, they won't put your name on a waiting list unless you have not had a drink for at least six months. Not even a a glass of wine with dinner.
Oh, they even found gallstones, that Doctor wanted to take my gallbladder out but because my liver is so enlarged that would make that surgeory to complicated to perform, I would just have to live with the occasional excruciating pain of a gallstone just passing through.
Most recently, I was diagnosed with hepatic encephalopothy. The liver being diseased cannot filter toxins fully and those toxins are now literally eating away my brain cells, causing the brain to actualy shrink. This one has some crazy, scary side effects.
Oh, they found so many more ailments, to many to list, yet this is what Jake and I have to live with...
I left Pebacco in March 2014 when I felt that I was no longer able to perform my tasks there, adequately. I do want to thank Umberto (my boss) for being so understanding and allowing me to take so much time off for all of my numerous appointments, tests and the many medical procedures.
I was awarded disability at that time, the money wasn't quite enough so I started drawing from my savings, also charging necessities on those virgin credit cards.
In November 2014, realizing that I would be out of commission for much longer than the year I had been approved for, I then filed for a "reconsideration" with SSI.
My SSDI ran out on March 2015 and four months later SSI informed me that I was being denied reconsideration for an extension of my benefits.
You have a savings just for rainy days like this, I would be ok. And I would never ever have to touch Jake's College fund.
I got an attourney and filed for an appeal with SSI on August 2015. Recently, I was granted a court date. I will see the Judge on January 10, 2017. That is SEVENTEEN months since I first filed for the appeal, three more months from now.
I literaly broke down and cried. I have no idea how I can possibly last for another three months. My savings is long gone, credit cards maxed out and yes, I even closed Jake's College fund five months ago. It would be unthinkable to ask Matt for more money, he has generously loaned me over $30,000, most of his own savings for his own rainy day.
I've sold all my gold and most of my other jewelry. I even sold all of my Halloween decorations justyesterday for $65.
Their was a time not to long ago I would think nothing of a mere $65. Geez, how my complete demeanor has changed. You really do, what you have to do...
I need to find the means to keep Jake and I in this home for at least three more months and then hopefully, I win the SSDI Appeal. And even then, how long before they even issue a check?
Matt's a dear but I am not his resposibility. I would feel so relieved to be able to replenish his savings accounts.
As far as all of my and Jake's savings, well I will start working on that as soon as I get better. Although it would be a relief if I had Jake's College replenished.
If I raise enough to take care of the next few months, I hope I don't need to sell my Christmas decorations and am able to replenish Matt's big hearted loan. Maybe I'll be able to get a decent nights sleep, even if not that, at least it will lift this burden off the forefront of my mind. And then I can work on the more important things like getting better.
And Jake, poor kid, like he doesn't have enough to worry about already...
I would be so grateful for whatever you can find to help me make it through these frightning times.
If you could share this with your Facebook friends, it would be very much appreciated.
Again, having to ask for this help is one of the hardest things, that I ever had to do.
Thank you so much,
Kerri
Just a few years ago, we were sitting comfortably. I working at Perbacco, a job I liked to go to and always was made to feel appreciated to be working for their Restaurant. Jake, thriving in Baseball and an Honor student as well. A nice flat in North Beach, now get this, with a garage. Never did we have to go without anything that was needed. Life was good...
I had over 120k in savings, Jake's College fund with 40k and close to 40k in credit on cards that I have always paid off at the end of the month. Not rich but never had to worry about money. Sitting pretty...
And then just three years later, except for the welfare, that I finally broke down and applied for a few months ago, my only income is $320 in food stamps and $580 for all other expenses. It's to bad that rent (luckily rent controlled) alone is over $1000. But thankfully, as a single Mother, Jake and I qualified for the much needed Medi-cal.
That and with Matt's loan's of many, many dollars, is the only reason we are still in our home and not living in the car.
How did this happen? That is easily answered...
For the last three years I have been sick, very sick. Un believable abdominal pain so bad that it actually drove me to go the Emergency room, a few times. So many tests, procedures and Hospital stays, the best of UCSF's specialist for everything.
Unrelentness pain, trying to hide my vomiting from Jake. That didn't last very long, after my second admittance to the hospital, I told Jake everything. I promised never to hide anything like this from him again. So he is aware of all the bizare ailments, well for the most part and has been my Champion in nursing me when I need it. As well as I try, when he needs me.
The Doctor's have diagnosed me with many gastroenterology problems but never a definate plan to help resolve any of them.
Acute/chronic pancreatitis, lots of pain medication and enzymes of a pig's pancreatitis. I developed a Choledocul cyst on one of my already dilated bile ducts, my Gastroenterogist said it needed to be operated on.
Months later, when I finally met with a transplant surgeon, excited about a new experimental procedure, he asked me about my insurance. Well, Medi-cal would never cover that and I never met with him again. But the wretched agony is still there.
They also found my liver had F4 cirhossis, that department treated my Hepatitis on the miracle Harvoni which did cure the Hep, that I had lived with for the last 30 years. But cirhosis is nonreversable and I should just plan on needing a new liver in the future. Oh, they won't put your name on a waiting list unless you have not had a drink for at least six months. Not even a a glass of wine with dinner.
Oh, they even found gallstones, that Doctor wanted to take my gallbladder out but because my liver is so enlarged that would make that surgeory to complicated to perform, I would just have to live with the occasional excruciating pain of a gallstone just passing through.
Most recently, I was diagnosed with hepatic encephalopothy. The liver being diseased cannot filter toxins fully and those toxins are now literally eating away my brain cells, causing the brain to actualy shrink. This one has some crazy, scary side effects.
Oh, they found so many more ailments, to many to list, yet this is what Jake and I have to live with...
I left Pebacco in March 2014 when I felt that I was no longer able to perform my tasks there, adequately. I do want to thank Umberto (my boss) for being so understanding and allowing me to take so much time off for all of my numerous appointments, tests and the many medical procedures.
I was awarded disability at that time, the money wasn't quite enough so I started drawing from my savings, also charging necessities on those virgin credit cards.
In November 2014, realizing that I would be out of commission for much longer than the year I had been approved for, I then filed for a "reconsideration" with SSI.
My SSDI ran out on March 2015 and four months later SSI informed me that I was being denied reconsideration for an extension of my benefits.
You have a savings just for rainy days like this, I would be ok. And I would never ever have to touch Jake's College fund.
I got an attourney and filed for an appeal with SSI on August 2015. Recently, I was granted a court date. I will see the Judge on January 10, 2017. That is SEVENTEEN months since I first filed for the appeal, three more months from now.
I literaly broke down and cried. I have no idea how I can possibly last for another three months. My savings is long gone, credit cards maxed out and yes, I even closed Jake's College fund five months ago. It would be unthinkable to ask Matt for more money, he has generously loaned me over $30,000, most of his own savings for his own rainy day.
I've sold all my gold and most of my other jewelry. I even sold all of my Halloween decorations justyesterday for $65.
Their was a time not to long ago I would think nothing of a mere $65. Geez, how my complete demeanor has changed. You really do, what you have to do...
I need to find the means to keep Jake and I in this home for at least three more months and then hopefully, I win the SSDI Appeal. And even then, how long before they even issue a check?
Matt's a dear but I am not his resposibility. I would feel so relieved to be able to replenish his savings accounts.
As far as all of my and Jake's savings, well I will start working on that as soon as I get better. Although it would be a relief if I had Jake's College replenished.
If I raise enough to take care of the next few months, I hope I don't need to sell my Christmas decorations and am able to replenish Matt's big hearted loan. Maybe I'll be able to get a decent nights sleep, even if not that, at least it will lift this burden off the forefront of my mind. And then I can work on the more important things like getting better.
And Jake, poor kid, like he doesn't have enough to worry about already...
I would be so grateful for whatever you can find to help me make it through these frightning times.
If you could share this with your Facebook friends, it would be very much appreciated.
Again, having to ask for this help is one of the hardest things, that I ever had to do.
Thank you so much,
Kerri
Organizer
kerri johnson
Organizer
San Francisco, CA