UnitedProject.org

I’ve been pretty fortunate my whole life to be healthy. Over the past couple years, my health began to decline, but due to lack of insurance I was not able to do anything about it. I was recently given temporary employment and was able to afford to visit a doctor. I went to the Doctors at Pee Dee Health Center here in Darlington and I was diagnosed as having Diabetes, High Blood Pressure and High Cholesterol. Now I must buy 3 prescriptions medications per month and one of those medications has no generic available: Tricor. This one medication, Tricor, all by itself costs me $120.00 a month. My medication each month is becoming a small fortune, which I cannot afford. If I cannot find a way out of this hole soon I do not know what I will do. Please, I could use all the help I can get. Especially considering that once I do find a full time job with insurance, all my conditions will be “pre-existing conditions” and not be covered by any insurance I do get.

J. Pease, South Carolina

I am a 62-year-old man who worked for a private company for 25 years. I was loyal to the point that they would have me work several weeks straight with no day off. Needless to say, they was not there for me as I was for them. I became ill and decided it was time to retire. Only to find out that insurance would be too expensive for me. Now I can’t afford to go to the doctor nor pay for prescriptions. Help!!!!

James Z. Jax, FL

I am 76 years old and have had numerous basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas since about age 30. One large basal cell cancer on the right temple required Moh’s surgery. The tissue removed was about the size of a half-dollar coin and had penetrated to the skull. Three other less extensive tumors were also excised by this procedure. I’ve had numerous lesions treated by cryo, which is an ongoing regimen about three times per year on average. The use of Effudex starting about five years ago has been very effective in reducing the number of tumors requiring cryo or surgical treatment.
I am the “ideal” candidate for skin cancer; having a fair complexion, light colored eyes, freckles, and maximum sun exposure while growing up on a farm. I lost my maternal grandmother and my older brother to melanoma, so I have to keep a vigil for any signs of that disease.

Curtis F., Alabama

I am writing for my fiancé, who struggles day in and day out with ADD/ADHD. He can’t keep a regular job because no one takes the time to teach him. He is a handy man for area businesses. Too bad some people won’t take the time to adjust and teach people with special needs.

Jame, Wisconsin

I am 26 yrs old and have been battling health issues since I was born. I almost died three times within the first six weeks of my life. Doctors were having a hard time finding what was causes all of my problems. I was not able to hold down food, high fever that not even aspirin could break, fever related seizures, continuous ear infections, my white cell count stayed elevated and my liver enzymes would rise so high they were toxic to my own body. Finally, an answer, I have CMV, a virus that is now known to be very common. My mother was told that I would overcome all of the symptoms by the time I was two. But me being the stubborn person I am decided to hang on to the illness until I was five. This meant that I was on antibiotics continually until I was five. With all of this being said, my teeth did not have a chance to develop normally. When they came through they appeared to be normal but where actually decayed inside. Then at fifteen I decided that I was a boxer and got in a little fight that resulted in my jaw being broken in four places. Which, as you know, means surgery and another long round of antibiotics. When they went to remove the wires from my teeth, I guess they decided they could not take anymore and crumbled. The bottom line of this whole story, is now I am facing a mountain of health issues. I have a mouth full of decayed teeth, which are constantly hurting. They also have caused me to have intestinal problems, beings I cannot chew up my food properly. I have on-going infections due to my teeth. But the thing that is the hardest to deal with, is I am stuck in a viscous circle. I have low self esteem and depression because I am continually being judged by my appearance. The fact of the matter is that I don’t have insurance or the money to fix any of my issues. And I am not able to get insurance or the money because I am not able to get a job offer. I just want to get a job that will provide me with good health and dental insurance so I can get on with my life.

Rob M., Wichita, Ks

I have chronic fatigue, osteoarthritis, poor leg circulations, back nerve damage, and less than 40% use of my right hand. I am on long-term disability, and receiving social security. After we pay all the bills in the house and all the co-pays to visit the doctors we have nothing left to pay every month on all the prescriptions that we need. We already owe $1200.00 for doctor’s office visits and borrowing money for medicines.

Yvonne T., Columbus, Ohio

I am diabetic and I am on these medicines: Diovan 80mg. Actos30mg. Lotrel1 0/20 novolin 70/30, syrbdultrfine30mg. All these medicines are too high. I can’t afford them. I am barely able to feed my wife and myself. With gas, lights and all other bills, I need help. I have not had these medicines in 2 months. The novolin70/30 is the only one that I am taking now.

Wilbert C., Chicago, IL

I have COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease) but, last week I was diagnosed with liver failure, due to an experimental weight surgery I had in 1972 at Methodist Hospital in Houston, TX. My body was not receiving the nutrients it should have had for 34 years. This is a surprise. I must have certain medications to survive for as long as I can. I am waiting for SSI, but in the mean time I have nothing.

Theresa C. T.

On July 1st of this year, my 25 yr old son was learning to ride a motorcycle for the first time. Long story short, he lost control of the motorcycle on a turn and flew into a tree. His injuries were extensive. Broken collarbone, vertebra, ribs, concussion, he was life- flighted to a Medical Center about 40 miles away and spent the next 24 days there. Eighteen of those were in intensive care. His right arm is paralyzed and he lost part of his right lung and now has diminished capacity. He now has chronic nerve pain and all of the medication he is on helps somewhat, but he had no insurance and now has lost his job because he can’t work, with the continued fatigue and pain and loss of the arm. His medications run around $1,000 a month. We have had some help from a local agency and one drug company but that help ended last month and now we don’t know how we will afford the medication. He was denied Social Security Disability and now the state is trying to help. In the mean time, we try to scrape money together to get him through another week. I am a single mother that works hard, but now with this burden, we need HELP!! Please help us.

Vicki H, Nebraska

I’m in remission from being diagnosed with lung cancer 2 and 1/2 years ago. I need to be able to get the medicine to keep my life healthy and my lungs in good shape. I have a program that had a cap on it. I reached that cap last month and was told that I could not receive the discount until I had paid out $3400 dollars more of medicine. If I got all the medicine that I need, it would be another 9 months before I could use the discount. I would be putting out over half of my income to medicine and would not be able to afford paying my rent, electricity, or get food for myself. So I have to not get the medicines I need to survive this world.

N.P., Texas