As a very independent private, and introverted person, asking for anything – especially financially has been impossible for me to do. I have always believed in myself and made a way, no matter the adversity. So what makes this any different than any other time…I’ve always been healthy and able to do any type of work to make ends meet. In fact, I have led a pretty successful life living by this philosophy; That I am only limited by my own mind, and I believe the same to be true for everybody.
Some of you already know, but in mid-December I hurt my left knee pretty bad and by mid-January, my lower back gave out when the disc between vertebrae’s L4-L5 compressed and is pressing pretty hard into my spinal cord causing excruciating pain and numbness from the groin down (yes it’s affecting private parts). A NON-Cancerous (thank heavens) tumor was also found inside my spinal cord right around vertebrae L1. Long story short, I will need surgery in the near future.
I have been going to physical therapy three days per week to strengthen my core muscles to help me to be able to move around using different muscles that enable me to rely less on my back, which is helping to also provide some pain relief. This extra core strength will speed up the surgery recovery process as well…I should be up and walking right after I wake up (that’s what they tell me)!
This has disabled me to the point that I have been unable to work since mid-January – meaning no income. Luckily, my awesome employer has a short term disability plan…but it only pays 50% after you’ve been off for two weeks unpaid! As of today, they’ve only approved two weeks of disability up to the 18th of Feb and closed the claim, even though the neurosurgeon put on the form that I would be off until at least April 21st. Being an insurance company, they are making me jump through a bunch of hoops to stay on disability, and whatever they do pay will only be 50% of my salary.
I am left with a lot of uncertainty for the future, however rent is coming due as well as my utility bills – which have to be paid as it has been a very cold winter here! I had some money saved up to prepare for emergencies such as this, but that well is about to dry up…
I seriously have a lump in my throat as I write this…but I need financial help. I know many of my friends and loved ones who see this are going to ask me, “Jeremy, why didn’t you just call me and ask?” And the honest answer is simply that – I know this is going against what I just said, but I can’t. I am having a hard enough time typing this and holding back the lump in my throat that wants to just cry and give up. But I also have to answer to my own philosophy, and do it anyway. So I have found this avenue, which is a safe and easy way for you to help me out, and also for me to reach all of you more efficiently.
Your donation will go towards my necessary living expenses. I say necessary because I have already gone through my entire budget and eliminated all unnecessary expenses, such as cable, any extra insurances that I had, and numerous other monthly ‘luxuries’. So I will be making sure that I am sheltered and warm by making sure that my rent and utilities are paid for first.
If there is any extra, I will use it to pay any medical bills that come in for deductibles and whatever the insurance company doesn’t pay. I have a high deductible HSA, so they won’t be paying for much I am sure.
Anybody who knows me well, knows that I am not just sitting around watching daytime TV, Netflix, nor playing video games all day – I have been working on a blog and Facebook page where I can utilize what I’ve learned while working on my master’s degree in family therapy, psychology, neuroscience, etc. I love to learn and now I have the time, ability, and opportunity to share that with the world and hopefully help to make a difference in someone’s life. And yes, I am still a graduate student.
So I’ve recently launched Life Transformation Academy as a Facebook page and a weblog where I’ve been sharing little tidbits of information as I write it with whoever the universe sends my way. I have since attracted the interest of a few life coaches and a very close friend who is an awesome writer to contribute to the blog on a regular basis. I have been looking into ways to monetize the site so that it pays for itself, and perhaps at some point this will be my new career path.
Disability will not rule me!
Any contributions left above and beyond necessary and medical expenses will go towards growing Life Transformation Academy.
I want to be completely transparent and honest…I know how hard it is to give and wonder if you’re being taken advantage of. So please don’t hesitate to ask any questions, even if you want to see some proof of where the money is going.
If you’ve read this far, I thank you for taking the time to read this…if you cannot or do not want to contribute, I understand. But if you do nothing else, please share this if you wouldn’t mind.
Thanks and love to all…
Jeremy Smith
Some of you already know, but in mid-December I hurt my left knee pretty bad and by mid-January, my lower back gave out when the disc between vertebrae’s L4-L5 compressed and is pressing pretty hard into my spinal cord causing excruciating pain and numbness from the groin down (yes it’s affecting private parts). A NON-Cancerous (thank heavens) tumor was also found inside my spinal cord right around vertebrae L1. Long story short, I will need surgery in the near future.
I have been going to physical therapy three days per week to strengthen my core muscles to help me to be able to move around using different muscles that enable me to rely less on my back, which is helping to also provide some pain relief. This extra core strength will speed up the surgery recovery process as well…I should be up and walking right after I wake up (that’s what they tell me)!
This has disabled me to the point that I have been unable to work since mid-January – meaning no income. Luckily, my awesome employer has a short term disability plan…but it only pays 50% after you’ve been off for two weeks unpaid! As of today, they’ve only approved two weeks of disability up to the 18th of Feb and closed the claim, even though the neurosurgeon put on the form that I would be off until at least April 21st. Being an insurance company, they are making me jump through a bunch of hoops to stay on disability, and whatever they do pay will only be 50% of my salary.
I am left with a lot of uncertainty for the future, however rent is coming due as well as my utility bills – which have to be paid as it has been a very cold winter here! I had some money saved up to prepare for emergencies such as this, but that well is about to dry up…
I seriously have a lump in my throat as I write this…but I need financial help. I know many of my friends and loved ones who see this are going to ask me, “Jeremy, why didn’t you just call me and ask?” And the honest answer is simply that – I know this is going against what I just said, but I can’t. I am having a hard enough time typing this and holding back the lump in my throat that wants to just cry and give up. But I also have to answer to my own philosophy, and do it anyway. So I have found this avenue, which is a safe and easy way for you to help me out, and also for me to reach all of you more efficiently.
Your donation will go towards my necessary living expenses. I say necessary because I have already gone through my entire budget and eliminated all unnecessary expenses, such as cable, any extra insurances that I had, and numerous other monthly ‘luxuries’. So I will be making sure that I am sheltered and warm by making sure that my rent and utilities are paid for first.
If there is any extra, I will use it to pay any medical bills that come in for deductibles and whatever the insurance company doesn’t pay. I have a high deductible HSA, so they won’t be paying for much I am sure.
Anybody who knows me well, knows that I am not just sitting around watching daytime TV, Netflix, nor playing video games all day – I have been working on a blog and Facebook page where I can utilize what I’ve learned while working on my master’s degree in family therapy, psychology, neuroscience, etc. I love to learn and now I have the time, ability, and opportunity to share that with the world and hopefully help to make a difference in someone’s life. And yes, I am still a graduate student.
So I’ve recently launched Life Transformation Academy as a Facebook page and a weblog where I’ve been sharing little tidbits of information as I write it with whoever the universe sends my way. I have since attracted the interest of a few life coaches and a very close friend who is an awesome writer to contribute to the blog on a regular basis. I have been looking into ways to monetize the site so that it pays for itself, and perhaps at some point this will be my new career path.
Disability will not rule me!
Any contributions left above and beyond necessary and medical expenses will go towards growing Life Transformation Academy.
I want to be completely transparent and honest…I know how hard it is to give and wonder if you’re being taken advantage of. So please don’t hesitate to ask any questions, even if you want to see some proof of where the money is going.
If you’ve read this far, I thank you for taking the time to read this…if you cannot or do not want to contribute, I understand. But if you do nothing else, please share this if you wouldn’t mind.
Thanks and love to all…
Jeremy Smith
Organizer
Jeremy Smith
Organizer
Carmel, IN