Paramedic with Crohn's and PTSD
Donation protected
I'm going to be okay, which is not something that everyone can say. As there are people with far greater need than me, perhaps find a better cause to support and then flip me a few bucks if you have anything left?
But I appreciate you stopping by! My name is Josh. I worked as a paramedic for 16 years before physical health problems centred around Crohn's disease and poor mental health caused by PTSD forced me to go on disability 5 years ago.
The Crohn's nearly killed me in 1999 and I had to have an emergency bowel resection surgery at that time. I had a second bowel resection surgery 1.5 years ago, but the guts continue to give me pain, diarrhea, and low energy daily. The mental health hasn't seen much improvement with therapy and experimentation with a lot of different medications over the past few years, and quite honestly, it has almost killed me, too.
I have a wife and 2 boys (ages 7 and 6), and we've been struggling to get by on my disability and the small income my wife was bringing in through her work with non-profit organizations. This became even more difficult when my wife's job contract ended 5 months ago. She has been continuing to look for work, but has been unsuccessful so far.
We're not destitute - we still have a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs, food on our table, and nice things to enjoy (largely due to getting into an alarming amount of debt). But it's frustrating to have to leave our kids out of certain activities or to not be able to fix a leaking roof or an old car or to wear clothes until they're full of holes so that I can buy used clothing for the ever-growing kids.
As a paramedic, I'm accustomed to being the one coming to the rescue, and I hate asking for help! However, anything that you can offer is appreciated more than you can know.
Thank you!!
-Josh
But I appreciate you stopping by! My name is Josh. I worked as a paramedic for 16 years before physical health problems centred around Crohn's disease and poor mental health caused by PTSD forced me to go on disability 5 years ago.
The Crohn's nearly killed me in 1999 and I had to have an emergency bowel resection surgery at that time. I had a second bowel resection surgery 1.5 years ago, but the guts continue to give me pain, diarrhea, and low energy daily. The mental health hasn't seen much improvement with therapy and experimentation with a lot of different medications over the past few years, and quite honestly, it has almost killed me, too.
I have a wife and 2 boys (ages 7 and 6), and we've been struggling to get by on my disability and the small income my wife was bringing in through her work with non-profit organizations. This became even more difficult when my wife's job contract ended 5 months ago. She has been continuing to look for work, but has been unsuccessful so far.
We're not destitute - we still have a roof over our heads, clothes on our backs, food on our table, and nice things to enjoy (largely due to getting into an alarming amount of debt). But it's frustrating to have to leave our kids out of certain activities or to not be able to fix a leaking roof or an old car or to wear clothes until they're full of holes so that I can buy used clothing for the ever-growing kids.
As a paramedic, I'm accustomed to being the one coming to the rescue, and I hate asking for help! However, anything that you can offer is appreciated more than you can know.
Thank you!!
-Josh
Organizer
Medic Josh
Organizer
Cambridge, ON
