Woman With Multiple Disabilities Seeks Grant Money For Accessible Home
by Martha Gordon
I have one child, Rachel, who is married to an Army soldier, Jeremy. They have two beautiful daughters. Right now they are all in Korea. I turned 50 in April and I have been disabled since 1997. James is my main caretaker, since Rachel is in Korea. James, who turns 52 this year, works the night shift, so during the day he must get his rest, which can be very difficult when he has to help me but we have a pretty good routine. He gets me taken care of then gets in the bed. I usually work on crafts or the computer while he sleeps. I have the following diseases and illnesses: Rheumatoid Arthritis, diagnosed in 1995, but my doctors tell me I have had it for many years prior to the diagnosis. I have RA in every joint possible. Fibromyalgia, diagnosed in 1997, it is mainly in my back. Diabetes Type 2, diagnosed in 2003, I take two insulin shots because I am on steroids. Pyoderma Gangrenosum, diagnosed in 2005. I take steroids for this disease. H Pylori, diagnosed in 2008. Osteoporosis, diagnosed in 2009. Spinal Stenosis, diagnosed in 2010. Due to the deformities caused by the RA and Osteo, I have had multiple surgeries including total knee replacement and a fused wrist. After having two MRIs, X-Rays and a full body scan in April 2010, I was hospitalized and had a laminectomy to L4 and 5 and S1. I have also had several falls since 2007. Since being discharged in April I have fallen seven times, because I cannot always use my equipment. I have a power chair but my doorways are not large enough for me to get through them. I never know when my legs are going to go out from under me. In July 2010, I was hospitalized again. I had MRI testing done on my brain, with and without contrast, my cervical spine and my thoracic spine. They found that almost all my vertebrae had compression fractions: some new, some healing, some healed. There were no signs of strokes in my brain just shrinkage that is more than what is expected for my age. The RA is now severe and mainly we are just trying to keep me out of extreme pain. I cannot get outside and take walks for exercise and I do not have a ramp so I can take my electric chair outside. So I mainly stay home and try to keep busy with my crafts and our Chihuahuas. My husband and I live off his income of $7.95 an hour and my Social Security of $617 a month. My monthly amount is what goes into our account after Medicare and Humana insurance is taken out. James works 40 hours a week, unless something happens with me. Once his insurance starts coming out he'll bring home less than $500 every two weeks. Out of this approximate $1500 our household bills of at least $1000 has to be paid. I see at least four specialists a month at $35 each. Then my Primary Care at least twice this is $15 each time. Then there is our medication which is about $100 a month between the two of us. This leaves about $200 for groceries, fuel for our truck, and any other needs we have. I need an exercise bike so that I can get the exercise indoors that I cannot do outside. I also need a bed that allows me to raise my head and legs, not a hospital bed because I would like to sleep with my husband when he is home at night. I have tried to work outside the home and I've tried home-based businesses. Unfortunately I cannot always work when they need me so I cannot work outside the home. Home-based businesses usually means deliveries and because of my medications I no longer drive. My husband has tried working a part-time job, but because he had to take me to appointments and such that did not work out. We have applied for Food Stamps but have not heard from them yet. We are getting help this month for our electric bill, $75 from Franklin Cooperative Ministry. I am looking for a grant for a home and land. We have found both in our area. The land is a little over an acre and the sellor would like $33,000. It already has County water, septic system and electricity. The home we have looked at is a Clayton double wide/modular which we would put on a permanent foundation. The cost of the home is $118,350. This includes a ramp to the front door. My husband and I are very eager to get into a home that will meet my needs, because then I can get around and be more independent. This would boost my morale and give James peace of mind that when he is asleep I will be safe.
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