To whom this may concern,
Hi, I’m Janice Tully-Gann, Los Angeles California. I live with my husband, who this story is very much about. Jim is a nice, good and loving man. That in the last three-four years bad things have happened. He was first diagnosed with Prostate Cancer, he had surgery that was only going to take an hour that turned into over five hours. But when he came home we could tell something was off. It took us over six months to find out that he has an aggressive form of Parkinson’s disease more like ALS but you live longer. At the beginning he was able to work as a salesman, ride his mountain bike and play in his band. Now he can no longer stand let alone walk. Jim has lost all his motor functions along with his speech and Dementia. On top of it all he gets weaker and weaker from a chronic Urinary tract Infection. In the past two weeks I have had to call the Paramedics at least six times to pick him up off the floor and put him back in his wheelchair, he is 6.4 I’m 5.6. I can go on and on what it is like living with Parkinson’s.
I have been there 24-7 as Jim’s caregiver for the last three plus years, with no help. The only out-side trips I take are to the market, pharmacy or doctor. The market can take me three days to get there if he is not having a good day or few at this point. In the beginning, a market trip cost about $250.00 Per-week now I’m doing well if it’s $135.00 being that is all I have.
In the beginning of this journey we were fine but with Covid it has been a slow downhill. We had savings, stocks and special insurance for illness. Best of all, no debt. Now I’m defaulting on all my cards and $13,000.00 in debt. All our money goes into supplies and drugs. There is one particular drug that has a copay of $550 to $780.00. Along with the rest we are behind $1,500.00 in basic Utility’s.
We have lived in the same apartment since 2012, never been late on rent till this month. And now going into November It’s the same , making us two month’s late.I have managed to pay $600.00 so far. Our rent is $2,200.00 per month. As you can see I’m $3,800.00 delinquent on rent let alone utilities.
I have been working on ways to make a living to support us and Jim’s illness. Unfortunately everything takes time and money.
If you got this far I commend your perseverance. I give you my gratitude and thanks.
I can be found on most social media.
Thank you, Janice Tully-Gann