Emergency Fund for Loss of Spouse

My name is Alda West. On February 5, 2023 my husband passed away unexpectedly. While still in shock, I was notified that the landlord has sold the house, and I have to be out by end of the month. I am currently not working due to health reasons and am in the midst of a health crisis. I will lose insurance at the end of the month because it is tied to my husband's employment. Alabama didn't expand Medicaid so I cannot get state insurance. It doesn't exist here. He dropped the life insurance policy because the premiums had become too expensive. I am fundraising to get enough money to pay medical expenses, COBRA and co-pays, car insurance, utilities, and to find a place to live, food and gas money.

I know times are tough for everyone right now, and I hate to ask for donations. But I am out of other options at this point. There are no social programs to help in the state of Alabama, Georgia, Mississippi or Florida for someone in my situation.

$5,000 is my goal. It is probably not enough to cover all these expenses, including rent. But hopefully it will be enough to get me to the next phase. It will buy me time to figure out my best options. I have to follow through with some urgent medical issues first. It’s one step at a time.

Please, if you're not financially able to give don't feel bad. I know how tough things are right now. I haven't even had time to process or grieve, and I am being forced into survival mode.

Thank you for reading and for your support.

UPDATE

Big huge thanks to all who donated. The money raised here went to medical only. I paid two months of COBRA which is 535.00 a month and Imaging Co-Pays of 300.00 each and Office visits of 60.00 each as well as Root Canal and prescriptions.

I had Cellulitis in my good leg as well as blood clots in the superficial veins which required several ultra sounds. This is on top of a neurological disorder that has significantly impaired my mobility and motor skills. So you can imagine how hard standing or walking was with Cellulitis and Thrombophlebitis, lol. While at ER for leg the doctor ordered a CT of head because one pupil is larger than the other and they suspected a brain tumor. CT came back clean but picked up a tumor in my ear that had been causing me pain and had discharge. You can imagine my panic. All of this happening immediately after my husband unexpectedly passed away and the landlords were harrasing me about moving out by the end of February. And my husband's son's removing all personal property while I was dealing with multiple health issues plus having dental work, two root canals, multiple fillings.

Well, some good news. Because of your support I was able to get seen by ENT and have another CT scan which had my ENT deeply concerned and said I was definitely going to have to have surgery because the pain will become unbearable, so he referred me to a ENT surgeon. I had to wait for appointment. I was a nervous wreck while waiting to see her because I was trying to figure out how I could get surgery when I didn't know where I was going to be living.

Meanwhile my ear is really starting to bleed everyday.Ugh! The surgeon looked in my ear with some contraption and then sat in the chair across from me and said it's a benign cyst that's never going to require surgery because it's in front of the ear drum. She clean it out and said I will have to have it cleaned out every six months. If it starts getting painful or begins to drain again, call her office.

WHEW!!!!!

So, I just want you to know I was able to get these results because of your support and all who donated. And I also found a new primary care doctor that referred me to a great neurologist. And this is where things go back down hill.

I got an attorney through legal aid to deal with landlords but he didn't give me enough time in the house. I think he thought Housing First would house me right away. That didn't happen. And probably won't happen. And the sons didn't come back to help me move or clean up. I got help at the last minute and it was a disorganized chaotic move. All my survival stuff didn't make it with me in my car. I don't know where anything is. But I did get a lot of stuff into storage. But I can't get door open on storage unit because something is wedged against the door on the inside.

And I have been homeless since April 29. I've been able to stay in a hotel up until June  with help from donations from friends and family.

Meanwhile, my husband's son has opened probate in Georgia. So I had to scramble to get objection filed in court in GA. That cost 135.00 I didn't have. I was hoping Judge would throw out case because it should been opened in Alabama because we were residents of Alabama and he died in Alabama. But no. There's going to be a hearing and I have no representation. No lawyer and no money to fight. We owned land in Georgia. The place I picked out and put the down payment on and the place where I survived the F4 tornado but my business and home, vehicles, did not. That's how I ended up in Alabama to begin with. We rented a house to be close to husband's job in Mobile.

I've applied for disability but I have to have recent medical for evidence to support claim. My medical records that show lesions on the spinal cord and being diagnosed with neuropathy and Myelopathy from neurologist at Emory are too old. My new Neurologist has ordered all kinds of tests but I haven't been able to do them because I have not had the money for co pays or COBRA.

I owe for April and May. I have until May 15 to pay or I loose COBRA. I cannot get Medicaid in Alabama. I have reached out to every organization and found no assistance. I have been trying to find a social worker trained in SOARS. There are none in Alabama. SOARS is a program that helps expedite disability to get faster approval. Every social program available is contingent on me having SSDI or SSI. See, it's the chicken and the egg.

Bottom line. I have no income until I get SSDI or if I can recoup something from estate. Both are a long way off.

UPDATE: 9/8/2023

Georgia Probate ordered Mediation. But Mediation failed. Case is going to trial. I'm in the process of writing my motion.

I need to keep room to be able to access all my records and documents to prepare for court.

 Currently, I have no money for gas, food, basic necessities and past due on Car Insurance, Storage Payment and Phone Bill. My car's AC quit working during midst of heatwave. My car battery is failing and needs to be replaced. Both of those will be around $500.00. 

$239 for recharge and freon. $248 for battery. Asher and I lived in the car until the AC went out. We've been staying at a Motel. But check out is tomorrow and we have no food, gas and Temps are still 90's-100⁰. Not survivable with our health conditions. Trying to get moved out of Alabama to stay with a friend but am stuck here because my car repair/maintenance, too hot during the day to drive car. Can't see to drive at night. Need money for Uhaul and to hire a driver to help move. 

I did loose COBRA and have no access to Medical or Dental. Time is of the essence for me to get somewhere safe with access to healthcare. My health is rapidly deteriorating. This is a case of life or death. I have increased amount of gofundme because I need to raise as much as fast as possible to get out of here. Otherwise, I m just treading water. Currently, I'm drowning. SOS

 I'm overwhelmed and in a state of frustration and despair. Anything you can spare or anywhere you can share will be a huge help.

Thanks! Please share Gofundme! 

The algorithms will not share fundraising posts. So, getting this out for as many to see as possible is difficult. Friends and family who know me can help by vouching for me in a header, so people know I am not a scammer. 

Bug huge thanks to those who already have. ❤️

* There's almost no help with housing here.  Shortage of housing is what I'm told.

List is 1-3 years wait time. I am on the list

* Shelters here require 40 hours work capability. And ones that would allow me won't allow a dog. 

* No organizations here give hotel vouchers. 

The homeless situation here is extremely dire.