Help Don get back surgery & me be able to take care of him.

Update: Don needs neck and back surgery. It was scheduled, but they wanted $1,700 upfront, so we had to cancel. We were able to get his COBRA coverage, but at $1,600 a month, it’s still more than we can comfortably afford.

Don was approved for long-term disability, but it barely covers rent—let alone COBRA. He was also supposed to start a Virtual Intensive Outpatient Therapy program, but once again, they want $1,500 upfront. It feels like everywhere I turn, someone wants $1,000.

With all of this, we’ve fallen behind on rent. We’ve applied for assistance, but LTD disqualifies us from most programs. We’re still looking for solutions, but right now, we’re just trying to keep our heads above water.

I’ve started a travel business, but it’ll take time before I see real income. I’ve also applied for multiple jobs, and I’m hopeful one will come through soon. Graduating in May should open up more opportunities for us.

Don has been incredibly sick. He nearly died 4 times this year. He is in heart and kidney failure, he is having periodic AFIB, and we just learned his liver is going down, too. While he is doing a bit better, he has episodes of extreme confusion. He has significant memory gaps in both long-term and short-term memory. One day, he'll be himself; the next day, he'll barely be able to put a thought together. During all this, a previously unknown mental disorder decided to pop up and say hello. Then we got the news this week that he's going to need surgery on his lumbar spine.

He has been on short-term disability since May, and we're waiting on long-term disability and SSDI to finish going through his case. Last month, his short-term disability stopped, and he was let go from his job while they determined his eligibility. We have completely gone through our savings and desperately need the LTD, but it's at the mercy of the insurance right now.

Last week, we discovered we'd lost our health insurance earlier than we thought. This was devastating. Without insurance, Don's medication is extremely expensive, and mine is, as well. The Cobra will reinstate the insurance for all of us at $1600 monthly. I have applied to multiple jobs and am still looking, but it's been 16 years since my last official job. I'm a full-time student and Don's medical advocate, not to mention homeschooling two kids. I'm beyond exhausted already. I graduate in May, and then I can get a better-paying job that can support all of us.

We have applied for everything we can think of but are in dire straits right now. We have no income and little savings. Don's long-term insulin is $200 with the coupon, and he has been out of it for four days now. He has one more dose of his other medication, which is $500 a month. I have no idea what we will do right now, and this is my last resort. We need help.