Disabled Veteran Seeks Government Grant For Medical Caused Expenses
by Eric Hutchings
I originally enlisted in the Air Force in which I served honorably for six years, spending a year living in South Korea. I decided to transfer to the Navy in August of 1996. I deployed often on the submarine USS Miami. My last deployment was in the Persian Gulf in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Shortly upon returning I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. Within a year, I was medically retired, and 14 months later was forced to have intestinal resection surgery, where over five feet of my small and large intestines were removed. I was told not to return to work and to stay retired by multiple doctors, as shortly after the surgery to remove the infected area, the disease reappeared in another area of my intestines. The medications given originally had little to no effect on the disease, and if I am forced to have even more removed I will be stuck with a colostomy bag for the remainder of my life. My wife left my son and me 12 months later, when he was still not quite three. I received $259 a month for child support and did the best I could to do right by him. When he turned nine, I felt it was in his best interest to go live with her as we have a lot of anger towards women, and he was struggling in the school he was attending which had only female teachers. Being on a fixed income I decided to retire to a small community in Missouri, where things aren't as expensive as in other areas, but I couldn't have predicted the problems he would have. His mother lives in Pennsylvania and works at a hospital, and the available resources in her area far outnumber the help I could obtain for him here. So after much soul searching, I decided it would be in his best interest to move to live with her, and hopefully repair any negative feelings he was having. The Courts ordered that I pay $622 a month for child support. I was receiving $259, now I am paying $622. That's a pretty big dent in my fixed income, and I have been struggling to survive since. Now my truck, which will be paid off in August, needs a new transmission. I don't know what to do. I refinanced my house here to the lowest possible interest rate, which saved almost $150, but still doesn't allow for savings. I don't have another vehicle. The repairs could total over $3000, and I don't have it, and won't really be able to start saving towards it till after August as I am still just trying to survive now. Last Christmas was the first Christmas I wasn't able to afford any gifts for my family. I am just hoping there is someone out there who knows what this is like, someone who knows what it feels like to wish your life had ended in action instead of feeling like a burden afterwards, and would be able to offer some kind of help. I receive VA Compensation at 60% with unemployability, and SSI now. Is there more help out there? Are there grants available for car repairs... or home improvement? Electric bills of $400 are common during the winter here now. I think upgrading from cable heat in the ceiling to an actual heat pump would save quite a bit there. But that's about $5500 that I don't have. Is there a program or grant out there that can help me? I'm not looking to try to get rich or to take advantage of my situation. Believe me, if I could change it I would. I just would really appreciate not having to feel like a burden on my family, and to know that I will get to see my son this summer. Right now there's no way I can afford the airfare to fly him out. I'm not sure writing this will help, but I figure it can't hurt. Thanks in advance for ANY help.
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