General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHey DUers I Need Some Emergency Help From You
I will try to keep this short. My name is Steve Senti, I have been a member here since 2000 and I also own and run www.oreilly-sucks.com. I am 53 years old and I have a bad back, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other medical problems. I was living with my 89 year old WWII veteran father, in his house, paying the bills with his social security and pension money, driving his truck, etc.
I was caring for him in his home for the last 3 years, he needed 24/7 care because he had alzheimers and dementia. Until he got sick in January of this year, then it got worse and worse and he passed away on May 14th at 4:10am. I was devastated because he was my whole life, and now he is gone.
I can not even type this up without crying, because it makes me think of him, and I am still having a hard time getting over his death. It hit me so hard it's been 4 months since he died and I have still not made it one day without crying thinking about him.
I have been getting by (just barely) with a little money I had saved, a small life insurance policy he had of $1.000, and a little money I made selling advertising on the website I own. I also made some money from garage sales, I got some money from my family, and some through donations here and at wishadoo.org and on the website. Thanks to OneGrassRoot from DU who helped me a lot.
Now most of that money is gone, and I need to raise $1.170.00 by October 10th, to pay my monthly bills. I also need to raise $170.00 of that by September 25th, so I can pay my $295.00 truck insurance bill. I filed for SSI in December of 2012 through a law firm called Myler Disability. Then SSI denied me in June of this year, and we filed an appeal that should take 4 months. I also filed for public aid on May 19th and I am still waiting for a ruling on that, a whopping 4 months later.
The state of Illinois (DHS & HFS) just approved me for a medical card, finally, but it is not good until 1-1-14. Now I am waiting to hear if my public aid cash assistance will be approved. Right now all I get is food stamps and free health care from the OSF Sisters Community Clinic in Peoria, Illinois. The law firm tells me they think the SSI appeal decision will be in by November, and I have no idea when I will find out if my cash assistance from public aid is approved or denied.
I also filed for a cash grant through the Sunshine Lady Foundation on 9-9-13, which is run by Doris Buffett, who is Warren Buffett's sister. But they tell me it will be 8 weeks before I will find out if my grant is approved or denied. So basically, I am between a rock and a hard place, I have no real income to speak of and I have to find a way to pay the bills until November while I wait to find out about all this stuff.
I am even going to do another garage sale, which will be hard because I do not have much left. That is where you guys come in, I am hoping you can donate some money to me to pay my $1.170.00 in bills for October.
So please make a donation if you can, here is my paypal email:
oreillyspins@yahoo.com
I also have a paypal donation page on my website:
http://www.oreilly-sucks.com/donate.htm
You guys are my last hope, I have only raised $127.00 in the last week, which leaves me about $1.170.00 short of what I need. I just need to raise that $1.170.00 to get me to November, and I hope you guys can help me, because I have nowhere else to raise any money, this is my last chance to raise that kind of money.
Steve
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
stewert
(3,509 posts)If someone could keep this thread kicked tonight so the morning DUers can see it, I would really appreciate it, because I am about to go to bed.
Thank You,
Steve
And hopefully I'll remember to kick it again tomorrow morning when I check "My Posts".
redwitch
(14,944 posts)kick
Marrah_G
(28,581 posts)...and KICK!
stewert
(3,509 posts)I have a wishadoo account, but the donations stopped there so I need you guys to take over and help me get the money I need.
Steve
Th1onein
(8,514 posts)Good luck to you, Steve.
coeur_de_lion
(3,680 posts)
Rhiannon12866
(205,467 posts)
Oldtimeralso
(1,937 posts)
Loki
(3,825 posts)even small amounts can help.
No Vested Interest
(5,167 posts)Is there a St. Vincent dePaul Association in your town?
You could go to local Catholic Church and they will refer you to St. Vincent dePaul Group.
Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)
Joe Shlabotnik
(5,604 posts)Best wishes to you.
salin
(48,955 posts)hope some folks come together to help.
I can't do anything til late in the weekend, but should be able to do so. Need to keep the thread alive.
Stewert, I haven't been an active participant on DU in recent years (I still read daily - often early am and late pm), but I clearly recall very interesting conversations on the board with you when I was more active. I want to help, and hope that others will as well. You are one of the good guys.
Best wishes,
salin
stewert
(3,509 posts)I appreciate the kind words, and I have not been around much either, because I was depressed over my Father passing away. And when he was alive I did not have much time to post here because I had to watch him like a hawk.
JI7
(89,250 posts)i have to pay a lot of bills by the end of the month . but i'm hoping to have something left over so i can donate something. it also depends on how my business goes .
stewert
(3,509 posts)The good news, since I started this thread last night at 10pm I got 5 donations for a total of $145.00.
So I almost have enough to pay my truck insurance, I just need about $25.00 more for that.
The bad news, I still need to raise $1.000.00 more to pay my bills for October.
Loki
(3,825 posts)n/t
OneGrassRoot
(22,920 posts)stewert
(3,509 posts)Thanks to everyone who has donated, let's keep it going. I still need to raise a lot more.
onestepforward
(3,691 posts)stewert
(3,509 posts)Thanks for the kick one stepforward, I need it, because I am still at $145.00. No new donations today.
tanyev
(42,559 posts)kestrel91316
(51,666 posts)JanMichael
(24,890 posts)nt
stewert
(3,509 posts)Keep it kicked folks, I still need to raise about $1.000 more.
rl6214
(8,142 posts)Or even consider parking it for a while and dropping the insurance. I've had to do this in the past. Consider using public transport, it's cheaper and saves the environment or even using a bike, it will be better for you.
stewert
(3,509 posts)The $295.00 is for 6 months, which is very cheap. And I have to make the truck payments or they will repo it. Then I would lose a $4.500 truck and have no way to get around. It would also be kind of dumb to make $280.00 a month truck payments and not be able to drive it.
Not to mention this, as part of the loan agreement I must have Insurance, and if I do not, they provide the Insurance for me and add it to the loan, and if they do that it's a lot higher than what I am paying now. So it's pretty much impossible to just drop the Insurance and stop paying it.
rl6214
(8,142 posts)If you will look at my post I did say REDUCE your insurance, not drop it.
Just trying to give you some ideas that I have used to help you out. It took me TWO YEARS to get my disability to go thru. That's two years with no income coming in when before I became disabled I Madrid between $65,000-$100,000 annually depending on bonuses.
CreekDog
(46,192 posts)how clueless or lazy must you be to tell him to ride a bike in response to that?
stewert
(3,509 posts)But I would prefer we not get nasty or insulting in this thread. Some people just do not understand a persons specific situation.
Not only could I not ride a bus or a bike, I also can not get overheated or I get lightheaded and feel sick. I am taking 5 pills a day with 4 different medications, and I have to avoid extreme heat or I have problems. And I am also overweight, so riding a bike would be impossible, I am not sure I would even make it 5 minutes.
I have a bad back from a past back surgery, that left me with PPD and DDD in my back and right leg, so riding a bus or a bike is not in my future, let alone standing in the heat waiting for a bus would not be good, and possibly an ambulance ride instead of a bus ride.
rl6214
(8,142 posts)Disabilities affect different people different ways. I am on disability, I can only be on my feet a short time because of severe diabetic peripheral neuropathy. I can on the other had right a bike for a short while. In fact it's really the only sort of aerobic exercise I can get.
So instead of jumping on e for making a suggestion, maybe try to come up with some ways to help the guy yourself. Have you opened up your wallet yet?
CreekDog
(46,192 posts)he responded fairly clearly and said that in fact, what you said would be better for him would not be better for him.
so there.
rl6214
(8,142 posts)You're doing a lot of good. Exactly how much did you say you gave to him since you can't come up with and helpful ideas?
ChazII
(6,205 posts)JanMichael
(24,890 posts)again
IdaBriggs
(10,559 posts)Is the house paid off and in your name?
rl6214
(8,142 posts)That's what is needed is more critical thinking to help him out.
Have you spoken with your utilities to help you out? My utilities including phones and Internet were willing to give me lower rates for six months to a year to help out until I got ack on my feet.
stewert
(3,509 posts)The house is not paid off and not in my name, it went to my half brother because he has money in the house. So I am basically paying the house payment so I have somewhere to live.
And I am thinking about trying to get a roommate, I have checked into it but so far not found anyone who I think I could live with. It's a big step to have a stranger move in with you, and I do not want to just let anyone live with me.
darkangel218
(13,985 posts)Until you get back on your feet.
That's a huge mortgage payment you have. Please consider a roomate for a few months, it will help you tremendously.
IdaBriggs
(10,559 posts)Perhaps you could help care for someone else's elderly parent?
And I still say get a roommate. With respect, privacy is a luxury you cannot afford at the moment.
darkangel218
(13,985 posts)A roommate is better than losing the house /or having your truck insurance canceled.
napkinz
(17,199 posts)nt
napkinz
(17,199 posts)nt
stewert
(3,509 posts)Here is where I am at:
On the 19th I got 4 donations for a total of $115.00. Which is great and I thank everyone who donated.
Then on the 20th I got 1 donation for $20.00. Which is also great, but I still need to raise another $950.00 to pay my bills for October. So I have a long way to go.
Thank you,
Steve
steve2470
(37,457 posts)stewert
(3,509 posts)I got 2 more donations today so now I just need to raise $900.00 more by October 10th to reach my goal.
stewert
(3,509 posts)I got a few more donations so now I only need to raise $700.00 more, I have until October 10th, so please make a donation if you can.
anneboleyn
(5,611 posts)I know you are waiting on the SSD decision (it can take a very, very long time and the appeals attorneys can cost a great deal). But what will happen between now and thirty days from now? Is the house in your name? It might be worth getting a roommate (as someone posted) or considering cheaper housing as SSD is only about $900 a month and your mortgage payment is high (in comparison).
JI7
(89,250 posts)where they agree to rent it for just a month or 2. this way if there are problems with the roommate you don't have to worry about them after that time.
stewert
(3,509 posts)I was told the SSI appeal decision would be made in 4 to 6 weeks, and that was a couple weeks ago. So I should have a decision by November, maybe even before that. November will be 6 months from the original denial in May. I am also waiting on a decision on the cash assistance I filed for from DHS to get the public aid. They gave me a medical card, but I am still waiting to get a ruling on the cash assistance.
The law firm I have takes 20% of the first check, if I win the appeal, nothing if I lose.
The house went to my half brother because he has money in it, and I do not know when he is going to try and sell it, so it would be really hard for me to get a roommate when I can not tell them how long I will be living here. I also have other things going on here, garage sale, etc. So I can not move out of here for a while. All the people who need to contact me have the number here, and all my mail comes here, etc.
I just need to raise enough money to pay the bills until I get the decision on my SSI appeal, then I will figure out what to do then. I also filed an application for a cash grant from the Sunshine Lady Foundation, and I should hear from them in about 5 more weeks, around November 9th. They said 8 weeks, and I filed on September 9th.
Basically, I am stuck here for a while, and I really do not want to move right now. I was born and raised here and I am emotionally attached to the house. If I could I would live here the rest of my life, but that is not possible. On top of that, I am still having a hard time getting over the death of my Father.
Not to mention, my aunt and uncle live next door, and my real brother lives 3 houses away from me, so I have them here to help me do things. My uncle even donated a bunch of stuff he had bought in storage locker auctions for me to do another garage sale, and if I did not live next door to him that would not have been possible.
It's very complicated, and I just need to raise about $500.00 more to get me to November. Then I will find out about everything and go from there. So if anyone else can make a donation, I sure would appreciate it, I still need to raise another $500.00 by October 10th so I can pay all my bills.
http://www.oreilly-sucks.com/donate.htm
Steve
