In 2002, my 35-year-old husband was the third person to get West Nile Virus in Ohio. Because it was so new, it took a couple of weeks to be diagnosed. We went to the doctor and two different hospitals before he was finally admitted. He was found to have meningitis because of the Virus. In the hospital, he got cellulitis and bell’s palsy. After he was released, he was unable to work for 6 months. Eventually he recovered and returned to work. But the damage from this virus was far from over.
It began with some minor aches and high blood pressure. Then he was diagnosed with low thyroid. He was complaining more of aches and pains. He began to have stomach issues that were severe enough to warrant testing. He was diagnosed with celiac disease. Then came arthritis, hearing loss, vision problems, fibromyalgia, tremors, compression fractures, degenerative disc disease, memory issues, swallowing problems, asthma and always pain.
By 2013, after 25 years working in security at a college and with the advice of his doctor, he finally had to resign at 47. Too young to retire. We had thought the disability we had paid into would be there to help us. We were wrong. For the next four years, we tried to keep afloat and save our home. My husband cashed in his retirement, and I cashed in mine. We tried to refinance, we sold our cars, I worked two jobs and continued to apply for better paying jobs, but we lost the house. We appealed disability many times but were denied. I ended up filing for bankruptcy.
In 2017, we moved to a rental. Garbage, mice, bugs, leaks, we had it all. I worked but had no insurance. Not enough hours to get insurance, too much money for Medicaid. But I worked. I applied for promotions and worked two jobs. I finally got a full-time job with insurance and worked my other job to pay for it. I kept applying all the while. I got a promotion at my sub job, became full time, and had insurance at a rate I could afford. I worked six days a week and kept applying. In 2020 I was promoted to a supervisor at a decent rate. I still worked 6 days a week, but I could breathe easier.
I decided to try to buy a house. In 2020, during Covid, I was approved and purchased a modest house. The mortgage was less than the rent and the home was like a dream to me. My husband could finally be safe and comfortable. This was a blessing at one of the worst times in the country.
I have been here two years now, and I am 57 years old. Disability for my husband has never been approved. I am happy to be able to afford my home, but my thoughts always go to retirement. I cashed out my pension years before, so I am only in for a few years and will never earn enough to retire. I want to keep my home and be able to care for my husband. If I could pay off my mortgage, we could live off the pension I will have built up and have a chance. I owe $85,000. Any help to get this paid would mean so much to us. Thank you for listening to my story. PayPal.Me/mobetty1965
