Medical Expenses for Eric Covington

My name is Eric Covington and I am 48 years old. I was born in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, grew up in Cupertino, California and lived internationally for most of my professional life. I am married to my wife Christine and we have two daughters, Summer, age 11 and San San, age 9. I now live in West Chester, PA.

I graduated from the University of California Berkeley with a BS in electrical engineering and computer sciences and later earned an M.A. in International affairs from George Washington University.

After college, I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ghana, West Africa (1999-2001) where I taught high school physics and computer literacy. Together with another volunteer, I co-authored a computer literacy textbook widely used in Ghana. We lived like locals, caught local diseases like malaria and I lost 50 pounds by the time I returned to the U.S. Upon regaining my health, I joined the Peace Corps federal staff in D.C. and served as Lead IT Specialist and traveled worldwide for five years. I continued as the network manager for the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration before transferring to the State Department in 2008.

I joined the United States Foreign Service and served as a security engineer for the State Department’s Bureau of Diplomatic Security for six years in India and Tunisia. In Tunis, Tunisia I helped rebuild the burned-out embassy there - just after the attack on the Embassy by terrorists at the same time as Benghazi 600 miles away. My job was to secure the embassy while increasing security for all personnel. It was like being at ground zero but with terrorists with rifles hiding throughout the city asking where the Americans lived to kidnap or kill us. We lived in a town with standard residential security, unlike Foreign service personnel in Iraq or Afghanistan who lived in fortress compounds. After rebuilding the embassy in Tunis and with the experience and knowledge gained, I returned to Washington to improve overall security for vulnerable diplomatic posts overseas. I moved back to the IT area to serve as a Diplomat in the State Department as a Foreign Service IT Manager in Taipei Taiwan, Manila Philippines and Pretoria, South Africa.

While posted in South Africa it was discovered I had neurological Lyme disease and ALS. I started slurring my speech in January 2021, and have declined quickly since then, as I am now unable to talk, chew, drink or swallow. Once the State Department discovered I lost 30 pounds and had a feeding tube along with further medical emergencies, they immediately sent me back to the US along with a nurse and placed me on medical leave. Afterward, the State Department made little contact with no offers of help. If I had been on military duty anywhere for 90 days, I would have full coverage for care for my condition. The marines who served with me in Tunis would be covered for my condition, yet as a diplomat for the State Department in the same facility, I was not.

Currently, my dominant right hand is too weak to hold onto anything and my fingers are permanently curved. My right arm is also too weak to lift objects. I have to use my left hand for writing so my handwriting is illegible. Before this disease affected me, I was the sole breadwinner for my family. Since then I have had to go on disability because I tire very quickly as most movements are exhausting. My mother has been caring for me 24/7 with help from my wife and caretakers. Since my condition is worsening, I require constant supervision as my throat closes and causes choking where I cannot breathe. I need help getting out of bed into a wheelchair, going to the toilet, showering and especially preparing my formula and meds for my feeding tube. I can no longer walk even with the assistance of a walker.

I now require around-the-clock care.

My mother has been a Godsend, yet has her own medical conditions and is now limited in her help to me. She needs to return home to California for her own doctor visits, our care costs will increase. We have hired caregivers which is costing upwards of $840 per day depending on skill level, or about $300,000 a year. My medical expenses hover around $2000 a month plus prescriptions and tests not covered by Foreign Service medical insurance. I spent $3000 out of pocket this week alone for blood tests and medicine. Our disability income is about half of my Diplomatic salary (not to mention other benefits provided such as free housing and education). The State Department has not offered any help to cover my mounting daily healthcare costs, so we are on our own to pay for these. We are selling assets to generate cash and our family has been generous in helping but the amount of money required is much greater than our combined resources.

I am asking for financial support, though I am embarrassed to do so, as we should not be in this position. However, this is our current reality. If you can help, our entire family would feel blessed. We appreciate all the love and prayers sent our way over the past year as it has made a difference. Thank you!

We have initiated a PR campaign to promote my cause to try to get the State Department to accept responsibility and pay something for my care. Anything you can do to share our predicament is greatly appreciated, whether to share this link or pass it on to any group that can help us and/or influences the State Department or other groups or organizations. God Bless!

Ericcov at yahoo