As some of y’all are aware, in December of 2012, my husband was involved in an on-duty car wreck (I posted about that saga here, but the Reader’s Digest version is: he was responding to a house fire, another driver zigged and zagged all over the road, and Tony hit the ditch instead of the other driver. His injuries were severe and numerous.) Tony still hasn’t been able to return to work. He has tried twice to go back, but even light duty is too much. He can’t sit, stand, or walk for any length of time due to various back and hip injuries.
Since the wreck, he has received worker’s compensation - which isn’t very much, although, for the first year, the state indemnity fund did make up the difference between comp and his regular salary. I haven’t been able to return to work*, because there are many days when Tony can’t even wait on himself, much less take care of our two little girls. We cut bills to the bone - bought a mobile home, remodeled it ourselves (still a work very much in progress, but our mortgage is $283.44 per month, so I can’t complain a whole lot.) However, we’re falling farther and farther behind. I’ve sold everything I can sell to keep us afloat, I’ve maxed out the credit cards, we’re receiving food stamps, etc. Now the insurance company is refusing to even approve imaging/diagnostic service for the ongoing problem with Tony’s hip, nor for the surgery he needs on his shoulder - Tony’s doctor and case manager are conniving to get approval for the shoulder, but we have no recourse except to pay out of pocket for co-pays and deductible for the hip.
We have reached the point where we have no choice - we have to ask for help. The Doper community has been my informal therapy group, my cheering section, and my invisible family for a long time, and I hate to ask any more than that, but I will swallow my pride and do so (with apologies to those of you who have made generous offers before - you know who you are. My pride got in the way.) If you would like to help, please click on GoFundMe link. And thank you.
*At the time of the wreck, the baby was ten months old, and Tony and I had agreed that I’d stay home with the littlest monkeys until she was at least a year old, and then seek part-time work that would fit around his schedule, so things were already tight before this, but manageable.
