60-Year-Old Man's Health In Decline and Needs a Change of Job to a Better Livelihood

In 2019, my life got tough. My sister passed away because of cancer. Six months later, my mother passed away also due to cancer, and grief. 

Afterward, my son lost the mother of their two baby daughters. Their mother passed away in her sleep due to health problems. 

Lastly, my daughter lost her high school sweetheart of 15 years when he died in a car accident. 

I lost four family members in two years, and it was really hard to handle. So, I decided to move in with my remaining family so we could support each other and help each other through it. We could also help each other financially.

Afterward, my daughter lost her job due to the company downsizing and started taking care of dogs for income. My son finally graduated from a job training program and began looking for employment. Our finances were very tight but we were doing okay and starting to feel better after going through losing four of our family.

From the beginning of 2022 through September 2023, I maintained a steady job and income, which was a good thing considering all the problems. 

When I turned the age of 59 years old, my body changed to no longer being able to handle extreme temperature changes during weather changes. 

Consequently, in the summer months of 2022, I started getting sick and nearly fainting. However, I could continue to work during that time.

But then in the summer of 2023, from July to October, I got very sick again, feeling really nauseous and almost passing out. At the end of October during work, I was so sick to the point of nearly passing out that I drove myself to the hospital, and the doctor said I had a health problem from working too much and getting too hot, and possibly as a result of extreme high blood sugar.

I was also told that my severe diabetic conditions had returned. I was diagnosed with acute hyperglycemia. 

My vision also changed for the worse and I had temporary memory loss.

I am still sometimes forgetful now and have to consciously work at being aware of it happening so I can keep getting things done. 

When I am not so wiped out after work, I can make my own salads and low-carb meals that I can eat. It takes time but it also costs less too. Sometimes, I simply don't eat and go to sleep instead. The alternative is that I end up eating take-out food, which is not a good choice.

The tough part was deciding to work less, earning only half as much money. I worked out my budget for living expenses and found out that I could work a few hours less. If I worked only half-shifts, I could still pay for my living expenses if I was extremely careful with my expenses.

I could also start looking for a work-from-home job.

Life didn't stop being difficult; the company closed for two weeks, When it reopened, new owners came in and work hours stayed low. Work hours also dropped during holidays, making money even tighter.

It all peaked in November 2023 when I was feeling sick and had a truck accident and had additional unexpected expenses for auto parts so I could fix it on my own.

From November to December 2023, feeling constantly sick and being forgetful and keeping the truck running, I couldn't keep up with my work schedule and realized I couldn't pay my rent in January 2024.

I am still working on finding a work-from-home source of income.

My family depends on me to keep up with paying the bills. There are some of you out there who know what that feels like. We are all working but although I am older, I still want my sons and daughters to feel that their dad is still taking care of them. 

I don't want to feel the shame of not being able to take care of them financially. 

I'm still working but feel like I am stuck. I have to choose between going back to working full-time when there are more work hours, and possibly getting extremely sick again from overworking and being out in the cold during work OR staying working half-shifts but still being too tired afterward to get things done.

I am not comfortable with writing this out. I know others are in more dire need. I wish I was healthier, as I was back in 2019. I am now 60 years old and have a lot of work experience but there are not a lot of employers willing to hire me. 

I am finding that I still have usable computer skills and getting up to speed with how to use my skills to work at home. I also know how to take care of dogs at home as a source of income. 

I still help with cleaning and doing the weekly chores. I make sure I clean up after myself. I also cook for them at times, when they are willing to eat my cooking. 

I do have hope and a sense of belief that I can make a change of livelihood. Given the time and extra finances, I will be able to work at home to keep my health stable. But I am at a point where I cannot do this while being so sick almost every day while at work.

However, now being at a crucial and decisive point, I'm asking for help. I am short $550 for rent and $150 for food and gas to go to work, an immediate need of $700.

I need $4500 to cover three months of living expenses. Your support will give me time to get better while working fewer hours and searching for a job I can do from home, making it better for my health.

Your help doesn't just solve the immediate problems. Your help will also be a long-term solution.

A change to a work-at-home job will keep a steady income month to month, as well as allow time for my body and mind to get back to full health.

It will give a way to have the needed time to make a change of work environment and a change of livelihood.

Your support means a lot. It means a lot that you are willing to help others. Even as you are reading these many requests, I am hopeful that your life will also be prospered for wanting to help others.

I am thankful that you searching for others that you can help, more than words can say.

It is my desire, even this late in life, that I find my path so that I too can help others.