I’m a 69-yo divorced grandmother trying very hard to stay self-sufficient, like I was raised to do, living on my SS payments and a small retirement fund ($500 a month). I was doing OK, until I landed in the hospital in December, 2024, for 5 days. This bill has already gone to collections since I am only able to pay the hospital $50/month. However, in the past year I have also stacked up over $1,500 in additional expenses that has gone to collections for medical tests (including 2 MRI’s) I had done due to declining health.

I have been a diabetic (Type 2) for 35 years now, so I buy meds and other supplies (I’m able to get my insulins for free, praise God). I have just in the past 5 years been diagnosed with a diabetic complication, gastroparesis, which further limits the types of foods I can eat on my diabetic diet. My other health issues I’ve incurred over the past 2 years are many, but I will only mention a few. I have high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and a heart issue called tachycardia (SVT). I am forced to use a walker 24/7 due to bad hips, but I’m about to need a scooter because walking is getting too painful. I can’t even cook for myself anymore, except to pop something in the microwave, or just eat sandwiches. Within the past year I have been placed on oxygen 24/7, and was just diagnosed with sleep apnea, now using CPAP as of last week. That has added another bill from the healthcare provider leasing me the equipment. I also have bad hearing and just got the funds to buy my hearing aids through my Medicare Advantage plan.

I’m not going to lie to you, because some of this is partly my own fault. I’ve always lived paycheck to paycheck, but have not owned any credit cards since 1997, since I learned about my poor spending habits (I always maxed the card out, then struggled to make the payments). Well, a few years back I was totally desperate and borrowed money from a legitimate creditor, but now they’re just zinging me with so much interest I cannot get them paid off. And, this month, I cannot even make a payment, since I had to spend money for a new medicine I just got prescribed.

With the cost of everything nowadays, after paying bills (rent, utilities, medical, and the one loan creditor), I barely have $150 to spend on a month’s worth of groceries and other things like OTC vitamins and meds for the whole month. I used SNAP last year, thinking it would help, but didn’t re-apply this year because I only qualified for a lousy $23 a month. I do get 1 meal a day from Meals on Wheels. I cannot drive anymore due to bad eyesight, so I don’t have car expenses, but I do have to pay for rides (taxis) to go anywhere.

Yes, I do have some family in the picture, but most are struggling just like me in this economy.

Thank you, and God bless you for whatever you can provide.