After Next Week I Might Not Be Online For A While · 2:06pm Sep 22nd, 2016
A month or so ago my mom was diagnosed with Vikings Disease which causes bones and joints to curl up to the point where they can't be used anymore. There is no known cure for it. My mom got it from an injury at her job where she shattered her shoulder bones and all of the bones in her wrist. This caused her body to sustain a lot of trauma that triggered the recessive genetic disorder.
Since this has happened I have seen my mom in pain every day and basically watched her health deteriorate in front of me. On top of this she is having problem with her teeth but neither one of us can afford dental care or anything at the moment. So it's just been hard to see my mom basically falling apart in front of me and there is nothing I can do to fix the problem besides just try to help her rub her hands, take her to physical therapy when I get away from working, and just pray she will get better.
This has been a lot to deal with considering the fact that my mom is the only family I have that doesn't hate me due to my step dad's lies (I escaped from an abusive household and my family took my step dad's side even though he continues to threaten us every day) and it's just really getting me down.
Any other family member that doesn't hate me has passed away thinking my mom and I were bad people (like my grandparents, my uncle, my step-grandmother and others). So that has been a hard thing to deal with as well.
My mom doesn't really have any close contacts besides two close friends she met online. I have one close friend who I know in real life as well as a lot of people I know online. My close friend has been offering as much emotional support and such as he can. And I am really grateful to him for that. Due to my emotional disorders, I really haven't left the house in five or more years. I work out of the home, so I don't have much opportunity to meet other people who are not online. And I can't really have face to face contact with people without having an emotional breakdown of some kind. So I don't have very many real life friends for this reason. The one close friend I do have understands my emotional disorders and is okay with primarily interacting with me online.
My mom previously had a lot of contacts in the city we left for our own safety reasons, but a lot of people chose not to have any contact with her anymore after her divorce (either because they sided with my step dad or for 'religious reasons' because a lot of them believe that any women who divorces a man is a sinner, etc.). After moving to our new city to escape my step dad, we really haven't had much of an opportunity to meet new people with everything else that has been going on. But my mom did meet two friends through Facebook, since my mom has a masters in marketing but also a degree in ministry so she ministers to a lot of people and helps them out through her Facebook page. She met her two friends after helping them out with some hard things they were going through.
That being said, we essentially have very tight contacts for own safety (as we still feel unsafe), and also just because we both have been busy focusing on other things to really worry about making to many contacts outside of the internet. Although we do have one neighbor in a wheelchair who is really nice and checks up on us every once in a while.
I am trying to look on the bright side of things and hope that my mom will somehow get better and things will improve. But its hard to look on the bright side when I just see my mom getting worse every day.
Because of my depression, social anxiety, ptsd, agoraphobia, and other physical/ emotional disorders I work out of the house but only bring in half of the rent. This is do to the trauma from my very abusive childhood, abuse at school, and extensive abuse in the workplace. My mom is going to doctors appointments and hasn't been able to find any work due to her condition. So we are in a very financially hard place right now.
We were initially getting a financial payment from my mom's divorce settlement that helped with the cost of things every month, but my step dad took my mom to court a few months back and took that payment away. So now we are literally left with nothing.
My mom was denied payments from workmen's comp after getting diagnosed with Vikings Disease and we have no way of covering the extra portion of the rent each month. She is currently trying to get a disability attorney, but we basically only have one more week to find the rest of the money or we will be kicked out of our place.
I don't want anyone to be worried about our situation but I just want everyone to keep my mom and I in your prayers. We need lots of prayer and positive energy right now. Both would be very much appreciated.
Depending on whether or not we get financial help, we may actually find ourselves homeless next month. I think this is one of the first times I've ever faced the very real possibility of not having a place to live. It's really scary, but we are both just trying to look on the bright side and take things one day at a time.
So that's basically where I am at, at this point in time. Thank you to everyone who listened. I just needed a place to put out some of my frustrations. And I think that this helped a lot. If I am not on the site after next week, you will know why. Just continue to keep my mom and I in your prayers and send positive energy our way. Both are very much appreciated.
oh..my.....
At what stage has the disease advanced to so far?
I've heard radiotherapy can be used to prevent it from advancing with a very high success rate if the affliction is still just beggining. I don't actually know the stages of the disease and when they chronologically begin so at this point in time I'm hoping her extremities aren't too far gone.
Money will probably be an issue sadly.
Legally they aren't obligated to pay her, as the disease itself isn't work related (Maybe aggravated at work) or that's what it seems like with just this information. From a moral standpoint it is a pretty dick thing to do.
Now that is legal grounds for a law suit, how ever depending on how big her employer might have been (Buisness scale wise) your success teeters mostly on how much each side pays up I suppose as it has been for decades now. If she shattered her bones and it's severly affected the both of you to the point where it might leave you homless, then it shouldn't be too tough to make a case.
Consider seeking out family members or if you're left on the curb then invest in a 24hr gym.
Free showers and a safe place when you aren't sleeping in the car.
Shelters are not a nice place to be living in, but it's still an option.
I'm not a religion person per say, but I'll definitely pass by the church and ask the congregation for spiritual help the next time one of my neighbors begs me to go.
4221352 Yeah it's been a pretty interesting journey we've been on these past six years. Just keep sending positive vibes out way.
4221402 *hug*
4221399 She was diagnosed a few months ago. It's good to know that there is a treatment option of some kind out there. But as you said, unfortunately we do not have the money for it at this point in time. But it does give us hope that she could potentially have her condition reversed in the future.
We are looking into getting a disability attorney and fighting for my mom to get on state funded disability. This is something that is effecting her daily life and her ability to find work. We are hoping that a judge/ jury will be able to see that she needs to have a monthly disability payment due to her advancing condition.
We both left a highly abusive family six years ago, so unfortunately we do not have any family that we can reach out to. Any other family member that wasn't directly abusive took the side of my step dad and doesn't want anything to do with us. So reaching out to other family members isn't really an option for us.
We do know of a shelter down the road that we have actually donated a lot of things to over the last six years we have lived down in the valley, so they might be willing to work with us until we get back on our feet. It is something else we are looking into as we try to get the disability situation worked out.
I'm not a religious person either, funny enough. Even though my mom is a full time minister/ pastor. I am more of a spiritual person who takes all philosophies, religious teachings, and various spiritual beliefs and applies the teachings that I personally find to be true or useful to my own life. Having some near death experiences (some stemming from my abusive childhood) I know I have had experiences being in a 'heaven like place' and interacting with 'celestial beings'. But I realize that my experience is different than a lot of other people's. I think people should be free to believe whatever they want. If you have spiritual beliefs, are part of a religions practice, are an atheist, or even are just guided by philosophies, at the end of the day, just as long as you are not imposing your beliefs on other people or using what you believe to harm others, I see no problem with it. Spiritual journeys are meant to be individual. The moment you try to impose what you believe on others, it stops being a spiritual journey and becomes invasive.
4221411 Many hugs to you as well, my friend.
4221424 I look at things like this as an opportunity to be successful and achieve things, no matter what life throws at me.
And I also view it as a great opportunity to learn skills that can help other people who might be in a similar situation at some point in their lives.
So I don't think life is hard or the universe has any particular vendetta against me. In fact, I am grateful for the challenges life has given me, because I can use those challenges to think of creative solutions to problems and help other people who are facing the same types of things.
4221431 I just find that it is better to think about the positive things in a situation rather than the negative ones. If you have a negative outlook, it just makes you depressed and adds to stress of whatever you are going through. So I always try to look at the positive side of a situation and keep a level head.
I'll keep you in my prayers mate. And I wish you the best of luck in these future times.
Just remember though, everything has a return. Bad for bad, and good for good.
4221527 Thank you kindly, my friend. It is very much appreciated. :)
This must be very sad for you and I wish you good luck.
4221540 Thank you for the encouraging words, my friend. They mean a lot. :)
Oh dear, this is horrible. I'm so sorry. Is there really no other means of help? No other members of the family will help at all?
I'm so sorry. I didn't know. I'll keep you in my prayers. Is there anything anyone can do to help?
4221576 It's okay. We are just trying to work through things the best that we can.
I left an abusive household six years ago. My extended family took my abuser's side (and each have some problems of their own) so I don't have any family members I can reach out to for help.
I am not really sure what we are going to do. But we are going to just keep trying to get my mom a disability attorney so she can get the financial support she needs while she is going through her treatment.
Last month we were able to get some financial help from some churches with miscellaneous bills like the internet and such, but the churches can only help you with expenses once a year. So after receiving help the first time, we won't be able to receive it again until next year rolls around.
Fortunately we did find a local food bank and have been going there since my mom had her accident back in April. This has helped us a lot in terms of having something to eat. If that resource didn't exist, we wouldn't have any way of getting food at all. I hope that one day when we get back on our feet, we can donate a lot of money and time into helping this food bank which has literally been keeping us fed for the time when we've been going through this crisis.
Salvation Army might be able to help us pay our utilities. But they are another organization that can only help you once a year. It will definitely help, but then we have a lot of other bills to worry about and a good portion of the rent. So we are looking into every option we can.
That is something very difficult to level with in regards to how mind-bendingly difficult it must be to endure through. But at least your mother has you to look after her as well as the other great souls you mentioned.
I wish your mother and yourself the best of luck, and our prayers go out to you!
4221622 I appreciate the prayers, my friend. We are trying to get help through various agencies, and are trying to find my mom a disability attorney. We were able to find some resources that helped us out last month with a few miscellaneous expenses but they can only help you with very small bills once a year. And once they help you out, you have to wait another year to apply for help again. So at this point in time, we are just focusing on trying to get my mom the financial help she needs while she is going through her treatment and finding as many ways to pay the rent and our other living expenses as possible.
4221637 Thank you for the kind words, my friend. I appreciate them and am very grateful for your prayers.
I am very sorry to hear this. I wish you and yours well, and I'm behind you
4221660 I appreciate the kind words and support. Both mean a lot to me. :)
4221640 If there's anything I've learned in life, if you keep trying, somethings work out. You're in my prayers.
4221630
Maybe create a patreon or a go fund me?
I wish I could be more help to you others than support when you need it. This is rough. Just know you're not alone, while my family's issue isn't as bad it isn't good either. I wish you the best of luck and will keep you and your mother in prayer.
This is just a shit situation.
4221683 That is very true. In situations like these, I always just try to keep a positive attitude and press forward, no matter what life throws my way.
I appreciate your support and friendship. Both mean a lot to me. Keep on being awesome. ;)
4221693 I am sorry to hear that your family is going through a rough time as well. If there is anything I can do to help you out, such as offer advice or suggest resources, let me know.
I have a lot of experience going through difficult times, escaping from an abusive household six years ago and pretty much being on the run from an abusive family member ever since.
And of course there is everything I am going through right now as well. So if you ever need any help or advice, feel free to send me a private message and I will help you to the best if my ability. :)
Thank you for your kind and encouraging words. They mean a lot. Keep on being an awesome person. And feel free to talk to me anytime if you need to get anything off your chest.
4221808 If you ever need someone to talk to, please, feel free to pm me. I know I can't do more than keep you in my thoughts and prayers right now, but if there is anything I can do, I'll do my best to help.
4221811
Thanks. Trust me I'm no where near your problems.
But same. If you need to talk feel free to reach me by both accounts
4221854 Thank you for the offer. That means a lot to me and I will definitely keep it in mind. :)
4221875 I appreciate the offer, my friend. I will keep it in mind. And remember that I am always here if you need someone to talk to as well.
4221893
Thank you
4221914 You are very welcome. Many hugs for you. :)
*hugs*
4222364 Thank you for the hugs, my friend. Many hugs to you as well.
I'm here for you you nutball.
Seriously though I'm sorry to hear you going through so much right now and I'm here for you whenever you need it.
4222391 I do hope things turn around for the two of you, and you get to keep your home.
4222411 Thank you for offering to be here for me, my friend. It means a lot to me. :) I am always here if you need someone to talk to as well. Keep on being awesome.
4222414 I hope things turn around as well. I am just trying to remain optimistic that we will find the resources we need to stay in our apartment and my mom will get help for her condition. That's all I can do.
4222669 *hugs*
4222804 Many hugs to you as well. :)
*hugs tight* I hope the world makes things right for you. And likewise, I hope there's a spot in hell reserved for your stepfather
4223398 Thank you for the encouraging words, my friend. They mean a lot. And many hugs for you as well. :)
4223400
Of course. I always want to make my friends burden easier
4223687 It is very much appreciated. You are a great friend.
4223887
Glad to hear that. And thank you, truly thank you.
4224181 You are very welcome. :)
4224582
This really does mean a lot.
4225196 Hurray. XD
4225217
I've said it once and I'll say it again. You really are a good friend
4225737 And you are a good friend as well. :)
4225954
With a lot of people I knew IRL now gone. It's nice to know I still have great friends here
4226224 I am very happy about all of the friends I have made on the site as well. :)