Posted in khogan1960 on Jan 19, 2011... modified on Jan 19, 2011
in response to CATLUV...He has applied for SSI Benefits in Alabama. He was 19 years old when he was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease so he was not considered a dependent to get disability benefits on my or my husband's contributions while working. We have been praying and waiting for almost four years and as of right now, his benefits have not been approved. We have representatives in Washington, D.C. contacting Social Security and writing them letters, but they always get the same answer - The Social Security Department is backlogged and if you do not receive a decision within the next 60-90 days, you are welcome to send another letter to check the status of his application. Being backlogged is a good excuse if his application was filed just a year ago, but four years seems a little extreme. If anyone knows anybody that might be able to help us get his application approved, please tell them to do everything they can. If they need more information, they are welcome to email me at raggedjean5@yahoo.com. Thank you for the information and for your concern. God bless you.
Zach, my 22 year old son who has Crohn's Disease, needs financial assistance for medical treatment and purchase of medications. He lives with me, I am disabled and he has no health insurance. Right now, he is receiving minimum medical mangement and can only purchase the lower cost prescriptions with which he still has flares resulting in visits to the emergency room (1-2 times a month, sometimes more). We have been told that there are better doctors and better medications which we cannot afford. Zach has a goal of becoming a Youth Minister when he gets his disease controlled or possibly in remission. He has a notebook where he writes down things he wants to promote in the Youth Ministry (ex,: spiritual involvement of youth, respect for humanity and animals, service to those in need, etc.). He has several avenues that can be used to help him get better medical care. Donations can be made through Paypal using email: dhogan64@yahoo.com. If you do not want to use Paypal or have just $1.00 to spare, you can put it in an envelope and address it to him: Zach Hogan P.O. Box 223 Warrior, AL 35180. If you have a group, organization or business that would like to help, go to http://www.crazygood.com/refer/killerwolf549. Your website can be promoted for $10.00 per month. Part of the $10.00 will be used to help Zach, so you will help him and gain a service at the same time. You can pay for one month or more, it will be your decision and all your information will be kept confidential.
in response to Starshine...I have tried and tried to find help. All the places say they are overwhelmed with the number of people in need and it is first come, first served. So far, I have not made it into the "first come" group. Some of them say they will be able to offer more people assistance after 1/1/2011.
in response to Starshine...Thank you so much for your caring and nice wishes. It is Thanksgiving Day and our meal will be Hot Pockets because after I bought Zach's medicine yesterday, I had no money for a Turkey dinner. I try to buy foods that are not spicey and have no onions or peppers because if he eats something like that, he will get sick. No doctors want to see him because he has no health insurance. There is a Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL and I knew I might be able to get him there without alot of money since we live near Birmingham, AL. I called and asked them what you would need to do to see a doctor there. They said since he has no health insurance, I would need to pay $4,000.00 for him to even walk through the entrance. I have been shocked about the way doctors are treating patients in the United States with the economy being so bad. I owed my primary care doctor $500.00 which most of the expense was for him coming by the room when I was in the hospital last year. All he did was walk in the room, say hello and asked how I was feeling. I thought that was charged in the hospital bill, but then I was told that most of the primary doctors do not work for the hospital so they bill their hospital visits as "outpatient". When I went to his office last week just to pick-up a prescription, I was taken to one of the exam rooms and told that if I did not pay at least $50.00 on that bill that I would not be able to even get a prescription from them "not that day and not until the bill was paid". That is sort of cruel since they know your situation. I had planned every month to send them some money, but something always happens unexpectedly and I did not have the money. I had $61.00 to my name that day, so I walked out with my prescription and $11.00. The only good thing is that I got my prescription filled for $2.50 and then came home, had a nervous breakdown and had to stay in the house and survive on whatever we had. I can't understand why a doctor who is supposed to be treating you can consciously do somebody like that. I am sorry I have not responded to you earlier, but my phone gets disconnected alot and all I can get is a dial-up connection. Hope I did not put a dark cloud on your Thanksgiving. I hope you are having a great day.
in response to Starshine...I wish I could give you better news, but due to the weather going from hot to cold in 24 hours in Alabama, my chest is killing me. I spent all day Tuesday in the emergency room with Zach because he had a major flare that none of his medications he had at home would help. They gave him IV liquids, pain medications and nausea medications until he started feeling better and then sent him home. He has been 2-3 flares a month and some of them he does not have to go to the emerhency room but it seems like they are getting worse and I can't find a doctor who acts like they might have a small amount of time to try and find out what is going on. Hope you are doing well, Karla.
in response to Debi1214...I would check into other states like Tennessee. I have been thinking today that I should check into Tennessee also. Alabama is not such a great state to live in. I am 50 years old so I know what you mean about age. I worked full-time with plenty of overtime, raised 3 children and made sure that they went where they wanted to go in the evenings (dance lessons, piano lessons, marching band, etc.), did laundry, cleaned house, cooked a full meal every Sunday and did the yard work. Now, I am sometimes lucky to get out of bed. They had to remove four left ribs during my cancer surgery and my body does not have any support so I have spells where I fall and it is embarrassing when people see you fall and want to help. I just get up and tell them I'm alright even though blood my be coming out both knees, etc. I think I am very inadequate as a person now but I can't change what happened. Good luck and unless you just don't want to leave South Carolina, I would check with some other states. It's strange but there are some counties in Alabama that say they have already used all the money they had for this year to help people with electric bills, etc. but last month our electricity was going to be disconnected within 24 hours and I called the Community Action office in the county where I live and the lady told me to come in the next day and they helped pay my electric bill. I was so shocked and relieved at the same time. Don't stop trying to find somewhere better to live, especially expecting to be homeless any day. When we lost our home, we lived in a camper for about six months. So, find somewhere now. The first seven days after we lost our home, we lived in the truck. It was not fun, I thouight I was going to have a nervous breakdown but we survived but I would not want anyone else to go through that. Good luck and God bless you.
I wish I knew what to tell you. I am disabled due to extensive cancer surgery and my 22 year old son is disabled due to Crohn's Disease. There are times when we are both in pain and do not feel good so we just do the best we can. My son filed for SSI benefits in 1/2007. He had a hearing in 4/2009 and was denied benefits. I got a copy of the transcript where the judge listed the reasons he was denied. I was in the room during the hearing with my son and I know what was said by my son and the judge. The reasons for denial were lies. The judge said that my son had a girlfriend and that they went out on dates to movies and to Church and out to eat every week. My son has not had a girlfriend since 2006. He has not left the house during the past two years except to go to the doctor. He is undergoing a capsule endoscopy on Tuesday 7/13/2010 for further evaluation. I almost started crying in Walgreen's a couple hours ago when I went to get the prep for this test and they said it was $60.00. His SSI has still not been approved and he has no health insurance. I have been in the emergency room almost every weekend with him for over eight weeks. His medications have done me in this month. Today is 7/11/2010 and I only have $70.00 left to get me through the rest of the month. I guess I might have to go stand in parking lots and beg for help by the end of the week. I have been told that the State of Tennessee is very helpful to people relocating there, I am going to check into it. Alabama used to have plenty of government apartments available but I don't know if they do now since so many homes have been foreclosed. We lost our home to foreclosure in 11/2007. I wish you luck and will pray for you and everyone in the United States. If something does not change in this couintry, I don't know what any of us are going to do.
in response to ekikaseven...Thank you for your prayer, You have been on Aidpage a long time also. I think you were one of the first people to respond to my first post. Thank you and God bless you.
This is a photo of Zach and his best friend Morris (the cat). I was just noticing that I have been posting to this site since 2007. Time passes fast and we have survived many bad times so far, the most devastating was the foreclosure of our home, but at least Zach is still hanging on and that is alot more important than losing a house. It is becoming harder to find doctors to treat Zach since he has no health insurance and the talk of healthcare reform has all the doctors running scared. I guess they are afraid treating someone with no insurance or money will affect their bottom line. Zach is supposed to swallow a capsule Monday, 7/12/2010, that will take pictures of his intestines and colon to try and find out what is going on. I hope they can find the problem and have a way to fix whatever is wrong. Zach tries to think positive and talks about forming a special youth ministry when he gets his health problems under control. He has not been out of the house during the past two years except to go to the doctor. Please pray for him and if you know anyone who might be able to help him, please let us know.
My family's prayers will be with you. Others are praying for my 22 year old son who has Crohn's Disease. He was diagnosed with the disease when he was 19 years old. I know prayer has gotten us this far. Zach has not been out of the house during the past two years except to go to the doctor. He is very religious and talks about how he wants to start a special youth ministry when he gets his health problems under control. Zach is going to the doctor Monday, 7/12/2010 to swallow a camera so they can try to see what is going on. With all the healthcare reform talk, we are having a hard time finding doctors who will treat him since he has no health insurance. There has to be a new day coming for this world. People working for the doctors are driven by whether you have health insurance or cash to hand them. What happened to caring and compassion?
We are in the emergency room at The University of Alabama at Birmingham. Zach started passing blood in his stool. We have been here since 7:12 P.M. on 5/28/2010. It is now 4:47 A.M. on 5/29/2010. They have done some x-rays and bloodwork. We still do not know what is going on. If you can help with medical bills, please go to "Wish Upon A Hero" website to make post.
We were created to have a relationship with God, but we turned our back on Him and our friendship with God was broken.
Jesus Christ came to die for us and restore our relationship with God. He said, "I am the only way to God."
We receive Christ by personal invitation. Jesus says, "I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in." Revelation 3:20
Prayer of Salvation
Prayer is simply talking to God. Pray this prayer and you can know Jesus personally and be assured you will live with Him for all eternity.
Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank You for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life and invite you to come in. Thank You for forgiving me of my sins and giving me eternal life. I give you control of my life. Help me to remember that life is all about knowing You. Amen
Posted in khogan1960 on May 27, 2010... modified on May 27, 2010
in response to Starshine...It is so sad that there is so much pain and suffering in this world. Thank you for forgiving me for my sarcastic remarks I made to Ralph that day. He is a really good guy just trying to keep going like the rest of us. One thing I found out this week is that there is no charity healthcare in Birmingham, AL. My son saw a gastroenterologist Monday (5/24/2010) and I had to pay $35.00. He saw a podiatrist on Tuesday (5/25/2010) and I had to pay $60.00. He underwent a colonoscopy today Thursday (5/27/2010) and I had to pay $35.00. The doctor said they saw no obvious bleeding in his colon and they did do biopsies and the results of the biopsies will not be ready until 7-10 days. All these things were done at the University of Alabama at Birmingham which charity care there used to mean you paid $0. I know in the big world of medicine these fees are very minimal to them but they are devastating when you are using your rent and utility bill money to pay for these things. These expenses also do not include the previous two doctor visits and almost $200.00 paid for medications two weeks ago. I have posted a wish on the "Wish Upon a Hero" website under the user name raggedjean5. I am asking for donations to recover some of this money so I can pay rent and utilities. If anyone knows of anybody who can help, please ask them to go to that web page. I will do anything to make sure my son gets the healthcare he needs, even if I have to stand on the side of the road and beg for help. Thank you.
Posted in khogan1960 on May 22, 2010... modified on May 22, 2010
in response to Starshine...I am so sorry about your girlfriend's daughter. It is so sad that with the test that would have detected her problem earlier was not done (as they did not do a CT scan). I have a weakened immune system because of the mesh. I break out in shingles when I get upset which is often lately in trying to find care for my son. I developed a staph infection in 11/2009 and had to stay in the hospital for 7 days with them hanging bottles of antibiotics continuosly with the IV and sometimes it would be 3 different antibiotics at one time because they said if the infection got into the mesh, I would not live. I have had doctors look at me in disbelief not understanding how I am still alive. I joke with them that "I am just too stupid to die". There should be someway and I don't know how right now that would make doctors sit up and care and at least run a test. They seem to all be in it for the money and I hope God finds a doctor for my son before it is too late. The doctors said that the tumor I had was composed of "tentacles" that were wrapped around the parts of my body they had to remove. They said chemo and radiation usually did not help with that type tumor. I may possibly have a recurrence in my right chest wall right now, but if I do, the doctors say they will not be able to do anything. During the night, I feel a squeezing in my chest and think I am dreaming but wake up and the squeezing is there and I have to take some pain medicine and hope I can lay back down. I have spent many nights sitting in a recliner crying and praying. I will check out your blog. I know you were upset about my response to Ralph and I apologize. I was just stressed out and trying to take care of other people when I am sick too.
in response to RALPH7...Again, I would like to apologize for my earlier comments. I am just so upset and I don't know what to do. He is my child. He looks to me to help him when he is sick. He is asleep right now and I am waiting to see when he wakes up if we will be spending another night or day in the emergency room. Any information or help will be greatly appreciated. I am missing four ribs, part of my left lung, part of my sternum, 22cm of tissue and muscle in my chest wall and reconstruction of my diaphragm because no doctor would even suggest doing a CT scan when I complained that I could not breathe when I laid down. I spent two years of rolling in the floor in pain and trying to prop myself up on the couch to sleep a few hours so I could work a fulltime job and take care of my children. They packed 22cm of Gore-Tex mesh in my chest wall to protect my heart and what was left of my left lung. I have no support in my chest wall and I fall alot because the missing ribs on my left side are causing my right side to become abnormal. It is very painful but I thank God for letting me be here for my son. I am very sorry about your friend passing away. I hate to ask you this question, but I need to know, what stage of Crohn's was she in and what was the cause of her passing away. If I can help you with your new non-profit, please let me know. God bless you also.
in response to RALPH7...I have watched my son suffer for eight weeks straight and I take him to the emergency room and all they do is give him IV fluids and pain medication in the IV and then send him home. They have not even done a colonoscopy to try and see what is going on. I did not purposely want to hurt anyone's feelings, but after our experience at a clinic that the doctor in the emergency room assured us would him, I have went from crying to just mad because I do not understand why these doctors are treating him like this. I have three children and Zach is the sweetest, most loving of all three. I am disabled due to cancer and I am in the situation I am in because the doctors did not diagnose the cancer until two years after I kept going to the doctor not feeling right and they made me feel like I was crazy everytime I went to the doctor because they said all I had was acid reflux. I don't want my son to die. One emergency room even said they did not treat Crohn's Disease in the emergency room because it is a "chronic" disease. I know it is chronic, but when he cannot eat and is in pain that makes him cry, I don't consider those symptoms as being chronic. PLEASE RALPH, ACCEPT MY APOLOGY. I WAS OUT OF LINE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO APOLOGIZE TO EVERY MEMBER OF AIDPAGE.
Posted in khogan1960 on May 18, 2010... modified on May 19, 2010
My son was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease when he was 17 years old. He is now 22 years old and his health has been steadily declining. Doctors do not want to treat him because he has no health insurance. Below is a letter we have been mailing to different people trying to get help. Please help if you can.
May 17, 2010
Social Security Administration
Office of Disability Adjudication and Review
5107 Leesburg Pike
Falls Church, Virginia 22041-3255
RE: SSI Disability Claim
Zachariah Robert Hogan
I was raised in a good home with a mother who worked to make sure we got what we needed (and sometimes wanted) and got to participate in school or church activities. I was happy and around the age of 13, I became really involved in the Youth Ministry at my church. In doing this, I decided that I wanted to become an ordained minister or youth minister when I got older. I have an older brother and a younger sister. My life started changing when my sister and I were involved in an automobile accident. We were both members of the Hueytown High School Band (I played trombone and she played the clarinet). We were at the school on the evening of 2/8/2005 to perform in a band concert. My mother was sick and could not go. I was 16 years old and driving at that time. There were two ways you could get to our home from the school. You could go through Pleasant Grove which was residential with lighted streets or you could go on Rock Creek Road which was curvy with no street lights. My mother always told me not to drive home on Rock Creek Road at night because if something happened there might not be anyone around to help us. My sister and I were both tired after the band concert and I decided to go home on Rock Creek Road because it was a little bit closer to our home with no traffic lights. It was February, it was cold and it was drizzling rain. It was between 8:30 P.M. and 9:00 P.M. when we were headed home. I still do not know what happened. We were going down a steep hill that was also curvy. My sister had laid her head on the console between the two front seats and later told me that the last thing she saw was two bright headlights behind us and then she woke up with half her body in the car and the other half in the water. Obviously the vehicle behind us could not slow down on the wet road and pushed us into the oncoming traffic lane where we hit the edge of a cement bridge and then fell over 20 feet into the creek below the bridge. Whoever was in that vehicle behind us did not even try to stop and help us. My sister said she thought she was dreaming as she battled the swift water to cross the creek (it was a very rainy year) and then climbed up the mountain to stand on the bridge to get help. We both still had our band uniforms on which were purple and black with gold sequins. My sister said that every car that came by just kept going and would not stop. I had been unconscience and when I came to I knew I was in bad trouble. I hollered for my sister because I did not know where she was. I told her to come get the cell phone and try to call our mother, not thinking that she would probably not get a signal in that area and also that the phone was soaking wet. She made her way back down the mountain and crossed the creek to get the cell phone. I was trapped in the car. I felt like I had no left arm and no right leg but unbearable pain was coming from my left foot. She got the cell phone and was trying to cross the creek to the mountain but she was getting tired and almost gave up but then a county sheriff came into the creek and pulled her out. We did not know that one of the cars that had passed her while she was standing on the bridge went to tell the county sheriff that they thought there was a girl standing on the bridge and they followed him back to the bridge to see what was going on. Things starting happening then. Fire trucks, ambulances and my hysterical mother were all waiting at the top of the bridge. I was cut out of the car and loaded into an ambulance and my sister was put in another ambulance because she said her head was hurting. Our mother had to get my older brother to take her to the emergency room. I was taken to the trauma unit at The University of Alabama in Birmingham and my sister was taken to Children's Hospital. Luckily, my sister only had a few small cuts and bruises. I was not that lucky. I had to undergo surgery to repair my broken left arm with a titanium rod, repair my broken right leg with a titanium rod and an attempt at reconstructing my left foot. I was in the hospital for 8 days and then I went home to spend five months in a hospital bed unable to do anything and my mother doing all she could to get me well. I was a junior in high school at that time and when I got to feeling better, I did my schoolwork in the hospital bed because I wanted to graduate with my senior class. Two weeks after finally shedding all casts, I went to summer band camp. We marched in the field in the hot sun (end of July), took a lunch break and then marched some more in the evenings. During lunch break, I had to go home, lay down, take some pain medication and give myself a pep talk so I could go back in the evening. We had an awesome band that year and won trophies at all the band competitions. I got all my schoolwork done and graduated with my senior class of 2006. I auditioned for the band director at UAB and received a scholarship to march with the UAB Marching Blazers. My plan was to major in computer science and minor in music. I then wanted to pursue becoming a youth minister. Things at college were great from August, 2006 thru December, 2006. I had been having some problems with my stomach but thought it was probably due to the food I was eating at college. A few days after we returned to school from the Christmas holidays, my stomach began getting worse. I called my mother one morning and she drove to the dorm at 4:00 A.M. to bring me some medicine. Two days later, I was getting worse so my mother came to take me to the UAB Emergency Room. My mother thought it was just a bad stomach virus. After 12 hours in the emergency room, I was admitted to the hospital. The doctor started asking my mother if irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn's Disease ran in our family genes. She told them "No", but then when people in the family heard about me, we found out that Crohn's Disease ran on my father's side of the family. I actually had three distant cousins who had the disease and unfortunately one of them was a male who had passed away in his mid 20s because of the Crohn's Disease. When I was released from the hospital with the diagnosis of Crohn's Disease, I went right back to the dorm. I figured I would take the medicines and continue with my plans. I was released from the hospital on a Monday and on Friday I had to call my mother and tell her I had to return home because I was sick and exhausted all the time and could not concentrate on my schoolwork. I am 22 years old now and every day I am in pain and cannot gain weight. I don't just suffer with pain due to the Crohn's Disease. Crohn's disease is an autoimmune disease and the doctors have told me that my broken bones from my earlier automobile accident are being attacked by the Crohn's Disease. Sometimes the pain in my legs are so bad that I cannot sleep. And things are getting worse and my mother has taken me to the emergency room every week during the past six weeks. All they do is give me IV fluids, pain medication and steroids in the emergency room and send me home. I need to have a colonoscopy performed to see what is going on, but they will not admit me and do the test because I have no health insurance. I am disabled because of this disease and I have no health insurance. It is a struggle trying to find doctors that will treat you if you do not have health insurance. My medication is expensive. I filed for SSI benefits three years ago and my claim has not been approved as of today.
Anything you can do to help me would be greatly appreciated,
P.S. Zach had a follow-up appointment at the Birmingham Health Center at 10:45 today, 5/18/2010. He told them he had been extremely ill for the past few days with diarrhea, etc. Dr. Zaxena called someone in gastroenterology at UAB and they told him to just give him a prescription for 20mg of Prednisone two times a day until he could be seen by them on June 14, 2010. This his is third course of Prednisone and it does not help him. When he was seen at the Birmingham Health Center two weeks ago, they were also supposed to refer him to someone for pain control. As of today, no one has called to give him any referrals to any other doctors. He also is having problems with an infection in his right big toe. Dr. Zaxena felt he needed to go to the Emergency Room to be admitted but was told different by someone in the Gastroenterology Department. Zach is in pain, tired and giving up. Surely someone can be humane enough to try to help him.
in response to RALPH7...Thanks to all of you who are more concerned about a date than about the truth about someone so young who has suffered more than any of you will suffer in your lifetime. Yes, it was a typographical error - the year should have read 2006. Now, spend your time trying to help someone instead of being critical about a typographical error. Thank you so much for your care and concern (very sarcastic remark!!!!!)
There is power in numbers. Please everyone, come together and help my son. I am definitely willing to help anyone who needs help that I can provide, just let me know what you need,
I am trying to help get assistance for my niece's 5 year old daughter. My niece is disabled and she has been waiting three years for her Social Security Disability to be approved and is still waiting. Last year, her daughter barely received 3 gifts for Christmas. The only income they have is $249.00 per month that her five year old receives from her father for support. She is in desperate need for clothing. She is larger than alot of 5 year olds. She wears a size 14-16 in tops or pants. Her favorite pants are sweat pants or other pants that have elastic at the bottom of the legs. Even though she is large, she is about the average height of a five year old and the elastic around the bottoms of the legs make them wearable with no one trying to put a hem in her pants. She loves art, all popular Disney characters, Barbie dolls and baby dolls. I am sure her mother would appreciate any help with food. The two of them live in a small trailer in a trailer park and it is a struggle for her to just keep electrical service connected. It has been disconnected multiple times with her standing and talking to the employee of the electric company about her situation and about trying to find help. The employee just disconnects the service, gets in the truck and drives away. It must take someone with a very cold heart to do that job. Below is information for them:
Mother: Melissa Dawn Blackburn Daughter: Alyssa Blackmon Address: 4260 Coon Creek Road, Lot 2 Empire, AL 35063 Phone: (205) 648-9019
P.S. If someone can help them, please let it be our secret that Aunt Karla made the request. Everyone deserves to hold onto a small piece of pride.
Hello everyone...tonight iam good but in a down mood. I need cloths so bad. Im tired of going out in public in such bad clothing. I worked for two years but then wrecked my car and lost my job because... see full post
