Hi.  Even though money is extremely tight, I decided to take the risk and put my trust in God, in hopes of finding there are still honest and caring people in the world today, who are willing and able to help a struggling family in desperate need of survival. 

I am a mother of two beautiful girls, ages 13 years and 14 months.  I struggle each day trying to give them the care and attention they need, as well as care for my 32 year old disabled husband and finishing nursing school.  My struggle will continue and only get harder with each passing day for at least another year and half.  In the midst of the chaos already mentioned, I also work full time, but my hours have been cut each week for months. 

My husband is a 32 year old man, who had not been to a doctor except for routine visits as a child, until 2003 when he developed severe breathing difficulty.  It took 5 year, many doctors, many tests and irreversible lung damage before my husband finally received a medical diagnosis.  He has finally been diagnosed with Aspergillosis, diabetes, immune deficiency syndrome, asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic sinusitis, sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), chronic pneumonia, status asthmaticus, and is required to wear oxygen each day.  A year and a half ago his lung doctor told him that he had a 5-10 year life expectancy because of the rapid progression of the disease and the massive damage it was causing to his lungs. 

This past summer my husband was admitted to ICU for chest pain.  The next day, two days before his thirty-second birthday, he had a heart cath done, and was diagnosed as having had a heart attack, and also had a stent placed.  His cardiac problems are contributed to his body overworking to try to compensate for his lungs. 

Even though I have medical insurance, we still pay $680.00 each month in copays for his medication, which would cost $7,400.00 without insurance.  For the last three years he has had 1-2 hospital stays each year resulting in thousands of medical obligations, that have piled up.  The bill for his last hospital stay balanced out at close to $26,000, and that was after insurance paid on the bill.  My husband does receive supplemental disability income, and it helps, but it is still is not enough to make ends meet.  Each month we have watched out savings get lower and lower, until a couple of months ago.  Now we no longer have a savings, and can only rely on my husband’s disability and the little income I receive. 

We have been forced to take our oldest daughter out of competition cheerleading after years of dedication.  It just about killed us to have to tell her we couldn’t afford it anymore because of Daddy’s medicine.  I am hoping that once I finish nursing school, I will be able to put her back in the sport she loves so much. 

We have put our trust in God, because only He knows how many years me and my girls will have with my husband.  I am hoping to be receive enough financial help to be able to pay off my husband‘s medical bills and make ends meet each month.  I am not looking to get rich, I am just wanting to have a stable, secure, and uplifting environment for my family, with the hopes of one day being able to help others.  Any help is greatly appreciated.  We are trusting in God and the kindness and generosity of those who are able to help us.  M.L.