Pam's Kidneys

Dear Friend,

I’m reaching out to my circle of friends to ask for help. 

I have Stage 4 kidney disease, must go on dialysis and will need a transplant.  At this point I am unable to work and have no income coming in.  I'm applying for disability insurance, which I've worked enough to earn, but it's a very difficult process to get approved. I have a hearing for that in July of 2015. But if I don’t do anything I’ll be in huge financial trouble by then. I spoke to a lawyer Tuesday about filing Chapter 13 bankruptcy to protect my house. I may or may not have to do that.  I’m already behind on my mortgage.

My kidney failure is not a huge surprise. I've had uncontrolled diabetes for over 30 years. I've had four surgeries on my eyes to correct my diminished vision (due to retinopathy). I also have neuropathy, which causes extreme pain in my extremities. I am severely anemic, which causes extreme fatigue and shortness of breath.

I was an electrician for much of my youth and was laid off from a long-term research job in 2011 while my mom was dying. I tried to work for unions since I’d spent most of my life as an activist, but coming in at the ground level proved to be difficult and not pay well.  I knew I didn't have time to work my way back up the ladder due to my declining health, so I began selling real estate and doing private music gigs at a desperate pace. I've done this with the understanding that I would eventually need to quit work and focus exclusively on my health. Unfortunately, the day of reckoning has come sooner than I thought it would.

Thanks for help, love and support at this difficult and challenging time in my life.