Rob's Disability

Rob and his wife, Sarah, moved in with me because I needed a sitter and they needed some help with ADLs such as laundry and dishes and other things that required long standing times or bending. As a single mom of three, I needed help with the bills and Sarah's income helped. We have become a family of sorts.

I used to be an LPN and I noticed Rob's weight not sitting right and then his belly started exuding an infection. He told me it happens every few months and clears up on its own. I explained to him that that is not normal and started helping him speak to his doctor about this reoccurring infection. Apparently, for last 8 plus years, health professionals have brushed him off, saying he simply needed to diet and exercise more. For the last two years, I have been helping Rob advocate for medical care for this infection. Only now that he has been hospitalised for it, has anyone actually looked to discover this huge weight and belly are a massive pooling infection that he has been fighting off for so many years.

The treatment will be long and while it goes on, Rob and Sarah have no income as her fibromyalgia has put her out of work and she is fighting her health insurance. Rob can't babysit for me, so I can't work. No one else will accept the small amount I can afford. Our household is quickly getting behind in bills and rent is due.

Rob and Sarah have received poor health care for so long while doctors ignored the signs of their health issues. Their health has now affected their income. They have become family to me and my children and we want to keep everyone together.

On top of bills, there's the gas, parking, etc. to keep some one with Rob to help make sense of the medical information and keep him calm and distracted. The stress of the bills is having him go out of his mind. We all will have to move if we can't get help soon. Only because of this, he has given me permission to pos this and ask for help.