RA Disabled Nearly Single Mom Seeks Financial Help For Self And Autistic Son

by Melissa
(Conroe, Texas, USA)

I am a 28-year-old nearly single mom from Conroe, Texas. I am married and about to go through a divorce.

I have a 6-year-old son, who was diagnosed with autism. My own disability is rheumatoid arthritis, a crippling disease.

At the age of 15 I was diagnosed with what at the time would have been juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.

It all started in my right index finger and I was right handed. I started to have problems writing in school.

Then it went down to my right knee and I cried days on end to get dressed but I just couldn't bend my knee enough to get dressed.

Progressively it has spread through my whole body. I have limited movement in both elbows, and my toes are now bent and won't straighten out to wear regular tennis shoes.

There have been days to where I was not able to even get out of bed.

It has fused my left wrist to where I have no movement at all.

The doctors had to go in and place a metal plate and 7 screws in my wrist to stabilize it.

It has started to deteriorate my bones in my feet as well. The doctors are saying I could be wheelchair-bound by the age of 32.

Over the course of the years I have accumulated thousands of dollars in medical bills. I have been trying to pay as much as I can without being too broke to provide for my son.

I have been putting things for myself on hold. I have been feeling that my son is very important. He needs a lot of help and that is my responsibility and I want him (us) to have a better life.

Medications and transportation are the other two that I am really struggling with.

I am receiving disability every month for a combined total of $1400. That would be $966 for me, and $442 for my son. Between the two of us I am barely able to do anything.

I feel so bad that I can't fully provide for my son like I should. I have tried working but since I can't stand long periods of time I haven't been able to keep a job.

I am looking to get a grant so I will be able to pay off my medical bills. I also want to be able to get myself a small place for myself to be able to raise my son. I want to get myself out of the rut I have myself in since I now have nothing to my name.

I have been wanting be an advocate for other people like me that need help or opinions on getting the help they need for their disability.

Also, since my son is autistic, I want to have my own little daycare just for autistic kids. I don't feel that there are enough of them out there for them.

I want to work with them as much as I can so they can proceed in life and basically live normal lives. I have noticed people kind of put them on the back burner and in my heart they should be first.

I know just to get all the material I would need to work with them it is going to cost me at least $5000. I want them all to be high functioning autistic kids. I want them to be our next doctors and lawyers.