Unexpected Expenses
Donation protected
A few months ago the people on GoFundMe were unbelievably generous and donated enough money for me to buy a used car and then to repair it. I am embarrassed and ashamed to have to come back and ask for more help, this time because I have a medical emergency.
I am 69 years old and my primary source of income is about $1000/month from Social Security. I have continued to work part time teaching college classes.. This job brings in about $600/month each. I barely get by on this amount of income.
One morning a month ago I woke up without sight in my right eye. The doctor says that it is "diabetic retinopathy" which means that diabetes has caused veins in my eyes to leak blood into the vitreous fluid. In the case of my right eye enough blood has leaked to completely block my vision. The the left eye can be treated with a laser,but the right eye needs surgery. I have Medicare to cover 80% of the expenses, but I am on the hook for the co-payments. It will not be a catastrophic amount (if all goes well), but more than I can cover. I expect it will be $1000 or so.
I have made some poor financial choices in my life. I majored in philosophy instead of engineering like my Dad wanted. I chose to leave my job in public broadcasting to go to seminary and become a minister. After that I spent 15 years at home caring for my elderly mother instead of going out to work and saving. On the whole these choices are not as bad as some that people I know have made. Thoreau is one of my heroes, but he had the advantage of not needing electricity or gasoline to live in his time. And I have given away a fair sum of money (maybe more than I could afford) to people who have asked me for help.
I have been very blessed recently by having my needs fulfilled and prayers answered to produce my daily bread, but at this time several things have fallen in on me at once. Unlike the lilies of the field, I am very anxious and depressed about the future.
The scripture says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”. I have spent my life teaching, preaching and trying to take care of others, and now I find myself forced to ask for your help.
I am 69 years old and my primary source of income is about $1000/month from Social Security. I have continued to work part time teaching college classes.. This job brings in about $600/month each. I barely get by on this amount of income.
One morning a month ago I woke up without sight in my right eye. The doctor says that it is "diabetic retinopathy" which means that diabetes has caused veins in my eyes to leak blood into the vitreous fluid. In the case of my right eye enough blood has leaked to completely block my vision. The the left eye can be treated with a laser,but the right eye needs surgery. I have Medicare to cover 80% of the expenses, but I am on the hook for the co-payments. It will not be a catastrophic amount (if all goes well), but more than I can cover. I expect it will be $1000 or so.
I have made some poor financial choices in my life. I majored in philosophy instead of engineering like my Dad wanted. I chose to leave my job in public broadcasting to go to seminary and become a minister. After that I spent 15 years at home caring for my elderly mother instead of going out to work and saving. On the whole these choices are not as bad as some that people I know have made. Thoreau is one of my heroes, but he had the advantage of not needing electricity or gasoline to live in his time. And I have given away a fair sum of money (maybe more than I could afford) to people who have asked me for help.
I have been very blessed recently by having my needs fulfilled and prayers answered to produce my daily bread, but at this time several things have fallen in on me at once. Unlike the lilies of the field, I am very anxious and depressed about the future.
The scripture says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”. I have spent my life teaching, preaching and trying to take care of others, and now I find myself forced to ask for your help.
Organizer
Jay Sullivan
Organizer
Barboursville, WV
