<div>Hello everybody! My name is Joey and I have a beautiful fiancée of 12 years and two of the best bonus daughters a man could ever ask for. I never saw myself in the predicament that I currently am in now.

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<div>On the early morning of Saturday, October 4th, I had just gotten off of work (I work third shift) and went to take my dog for his everyday walk and play with him in an open field right near my home. Long story short, I broke my tibial bone at the very top where it meets my knee while out on this walk. I knew immediately something was broken, but I held off on going to the hospital in hopes things would get better. Come Monday the 6th, I went to Carroll Hospital where an X-ray confirmed my worst fear: I suffered a "closed fracture of the lateral portion of the left tibial plateau." I was told that I needed surgery ASAP or else everything broken and crushed would not heal properly and I would never be able to bear my full body weight or walk correctly. I ended up going to Sinai Hospital because they couldn't perform the surgery that was required. I had surgery Friday evening.

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<div><strong>I didn't have health insurance because I couldn't afford it.</strong> Times were already tough prior to this injury, living paycheck to paycheck and being the sole income of our household. <strong>I cannot work for at least 6-8+ weeks.</strong> As of right now, my left leg is completely non-weight bearing. I had my tendon fixed along with a metal plate and quite a few screws during the surgery. I'm in the process of trying to get my surgeon to fill out paperwork from my employer's HR department that is called "Family and Medical Leave" (FMLA) so that my job will be held, but it's very time-sensitive and I will not be receiving any pay regardless. I'm ineligible for unemployment because technically I am still employed and I'm not physically able to work. I can't collect short-term disability via my job because I didn't pay into it (couldn't afford to). My options are extremely limited and <strong>the fear of losing our home of 8 years from not being able to pay rent, utilities, etc. for the next 2 months is very real.</strong> I am applying for everything I could potentially be eligible for. My fiancée is in the process of fighting for disability for her health issues, so she's unfortunately not able to work. She's doing her best to take care of me and doing a great job.

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<div>My last paycheck came Friday the 10th. The daily parking fees and amount of gas to get back and forth from our home (northern Carroll County) to Sinai Hospital were already adding up fast, plus paying out of pocket for my prescription after I was discharged, gas to get to all my upcoming appointments, groceries, household staples. I'm doing everything I can to make sure I heal as fast as possible and to stretch every red cent. It's so true when you hear that people are only one emergency away from losing everything they've worked extremely hard for, and it's my worst fear. <strong>If anyone is able to donate anything at all, it would mean the world to my family &amp; I, but even if you can't, prayers are very needed!</strong> I will be giving updates on this journey. My follow-up with the orthopedic surgeon is scheduled for next Friday, 10/24.

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<div>Thank you and God Bless!

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Craig Knoerlein

Anonymous

Rachel Mosner-Fortier

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