Medical Expense Assistance For Bipolar And Diabetes Disabled Mother Of Two

by Nancy Jolly
(Bamberg, SC, USA)

I am a 35-year-old mother of two teenagers. I have had diabetes since I got pregnant with my first child, Victoria, who is now 16 years old.

I became diagnosed with manic depression after my second child, Cody, was born. He is now 13 years old.

When my doctors told me I was depressed after having my second child I chalked it up to being post partum depression. I thought it would go away! It never did!

I didn't seek any professional help because I thought it was normal I was just unhappy in my life.

Finally about six years ago I started talking to my regular doctor about my mood swings and how I never knew how I was going to feel from one day to the next.

She listened to me and she referred me to a psychologist. I was then diagnosed with ADD and Bipolar Disorder. I was scared to tell anyone so I kept it to myself for years.

I was reluctant to take my meds and I thought others would think I was just overreacting to life or worse stereotype me as being mentally unstable.

One day my kids came home from school and I was lying on the sofa watching TV just as I had been for days, and I realized when they came home off the bus they were whispering and avoiding me in the living room.

So I decided to call them in the living room and I asked how their day was and why they were tiptoeing around the house.

My daughter told me they were scared to come in the living room because they didn't know how I would react. This concerned me very much. I asked what they meant by that.

She said, "Well sometimes when we come home from school we don't know what to expect! It is like going to the pool in the summer. You want to jump right in and start having fun but you are scared the water is too cold so you stick your toe in to test the water."

Basically they were telling me that they never knew if I was going to yell at them or cry or be happy to hear about their day.

I was so sad to hear this! I went back to the doctor and I began treatment for the bipolar disorder and I have had sessions with my kids to help them understand what is going on. This does seem to have helped them understand more.

In January 2010 however, my husband and I got a divorce. This has taken a huge toll on my life. I have custody of my two kids. Thank the heavens for that.

But after being married to a military man for 15 years and having the best insurance possible that would pay for my treatment and my prescriptions, I never knew it would be so hard not having it.


I have been without medical insurance since my divorce. I have had to stop going to my doctors and I have had to forgo some of the medications that I can't afford or get for free from the drug companies.

I was working up until July 2011; however, I had to quit due to the fact I was unable to perform my job because the diabetic neuropathy has caused so much damage to my legs.

I have lost my job, my insurance and all the progress that I made. I am raising two children on $1,000 a month child support.

I can barely pay the bills: utility, heating, car insurance, etc., and I am unable to afford my medications, so I take samples doctors can give me.

I have applied to several drug companies to ask for help with my medications. Only two are covered.

I have borrowed from all my family members and they have helped me as much as they can. I have sold anything of value I have had at the flea markets.

I have applied for SSI/Disability and been denied several times but I will continue to fight and appeal the decisions.

I have contacted my senator and asked for advice and for him to make sure I am getting the proper attention from the disability board.

I have a disability representative working with the board filing my appeals and such.

I have gotten placed on food stamps at $230 for three people. That is barely enough to feed two teenagers.

I have gone into one of the deepest depressions I have ever been in lately. I guess the financial difficulties as well as the limited medical care I am able to afford have put me in the lowest depression possible.

You may be wondering why I am not on Medicaid. Well, I have been denied!

My two children are covered under my ex-husband's military insurance so therefore they do not need Medicaid so there for I am out of luck. If my children needed to be on Medicaid then I too would be on Medicaid.

I don't understand the system. I just am stuck in the middle.

I have tried to get assistance everywhere I know to look. I am just asking for someone to help me make ends meet until I can finally get the support I need to raise my two kids.

If there is anyone who has advice on other avenues I can take I would appreciate that as well.

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