Please Help, Disabled 3yrs without any State Disability help

HI!-

My name is Ryan and have been fighting to get state disability for Just shy of 3yrs and I truly need help. On 9/26/24 I moved into a room at a family members house as i can no longer safely live alone/need assistance putting on socks now. Life's normal nuances are becoming Herculean tasks for me.

On top of my ongoing health issues, my world was turned upside down completely when I discovered my apartment of 4+yrs was entirely covered in black mold. The mold not only caused all of my illnesses to become much worse over the years. I lost everything I owned that the mold spores could infect. So all of my clothing, medical supplies and equipment/Bed/Blankets Etc...A lifetime of stuff that meant the world to me. Clothing wise Thanks to help, I have been able to replace the basics. The main thing I absoletely need help with is paying for custom orthotics to fit my feet. If it was only swelling from the lymphedema i could buy 6 extra wide shoes. However my bone structure itself is deforming and becoming weaker by the day. I have had no footwear whatsoever since October.

What/Who I am.

Over the last 7yrs I went from a normal life and career of 14yrs to being completely immobile/unable to walk, unable to fend off sickness due to a severely compromised immune system stemming from having NO thyroid gland as it had been destroyed from Hashimoto's disease when I was in my mid teens. I am constantly sick now from infections.

I have reached out to every social service program for help. Regardless of how sick i am until the State Disability office approves my case, I can't get any help other than food stamps and OHP (which is why i am still alive). I get zero financial assistance at all. I’ve had a lawyer from the start of this journey almost 3 years ago after i lost my left foot/ability to walk...

What I Need Help With-

-Rent

-Replacing winter clothing

-Cane Holder/Grocery lined bag for my Power-Wheelchair.

- Custom Anti-Swelling wraps for my feet and legs.

-Custom made shoes that will actually fit ($1400)

-Lymphedema Garments

-First Aid Materials

A Quick detailed history-for those curious/Reading not necessary!

 I worked for Fred Meyers full time for 14yrs. The health issues began in Oct of 2018 when my left foot suffered a sudden catastrophic injury. A few months into Physical Therapy and nothing getting better I saw a DR who Discovered I had no thyroid gland at all and was severely sick from a Autoimmune Disorder called Hashimoto's Disease. By the time it was caught My thyroid gland was destroyed and I'd been living in late stage Hashimoto's for over a decade. Here is a short list of Some of the issues this autoimmune disorder caused- 1. Destroyed my immune system, 2. hormones have never been correct since puberty (that was found late 2023 when my testosterone came back matching a dying 90yr old man scoring only 67 instead of the 500/800 it should have been.) 3. Memory Loss 4. Hair Loss 5. Peripheral neuropathy 6. Apnea. 7. Cold Intolerance and much much more...

Right after the Hashimoto's Disease was discovered the thyroid medication started another freak occurrence as my entire lymphatic system collapsed from the waist down. This is why Both of my legs from my feet to waist suffer such horrible swelling. The Severe Pitting Lymphedema has added to the mobility issues on top of constant open wounds from the swelling that become infected. I have caught deadly cellulitis infections multiple times and can only take antibiotics when the normal bacterial/Viral infections turn into the most dangerous forms due to having no immune system. I spend months of every year unable to function due to being sick from infections i can not treat with antibiotics... If i waste antibiotics on these light infections that just make me sick, i run the risk of becoming fully antibiotic resistant. Which I can Not Allow to happen!

I have lost everything I care about over the last 6 years...Hashimoto's disease has taken my mobility as well as my memories. Since The First Flair up was back when i was 14 and was told i was in a phase and to get over it, things have become worse and worse slowly until my Hormones being completely screwed up was discovered this last year. Since i Started my Hormone meds It has felt like I have finally woken up after 20yrs...

Loss of Mobility timeline-

My left ankle/foot 1st injury was 10/18 and fully gave out in 1/2022.

My mobility throughout 2022/23 would continue to decline until July of 2023. It was discovered that my bone structure itself was deforming and soon would no longer be able to walk at all. Late July of 2023 I started the process to get my electric wheelchair. 8 months later I got it in April of 2024.

Conclusion/Final Thoughts-

Going from leading a normal life to being disabled has been horrible. Losing my financial security and ability to work on top of the psychological damage from living my entire life without proper hormones/ability to retain long term memories has left me in a state of constant confusion.

As of 8/23 i am finally a part of OHSU as a patient and am hoping they will help me pick up the pieces of my shattered life.

Please share and Help If You Can.

It truly means the world to me.

Ryan Carpenter