Support Maria Buffington's Medical and Living Needs

Hello, my name is Maria Buffington. Most of you know me from working together, through friends, or family. I have been through some tough times and unfortunately, illness has gotten the best of me. I started with the Triple Bypass Heart Surgery in 2015, in which they clipped a nerve during surgery, which is one of the risks in open-heart surgery, that collapsed half of my left lung. I have developed asthma and COPD and require oxygen 24/7. I also have diabetes, peripheral arterial disease, and my walking is very bad and deteriorated. I can't do for myself like I used to.

I was able to find a facility in Fayetteville called the Heritage Place in the independent living side, although my doctor suggested that I should be in the Assisted Living Side or Skilled Nursing Home Side. The cost is outrageous. Most of you know I used to live with my son and his family, but they were blessed with 4 boys, which I love dearly, but they needed the space. They have a four-bedroom house, and my son, Dan, works at the Fire Dept almost every day, either regular time or overtime, and Christina is busy taking care of the boys and homeschooling them. It was inevitable that they could not continue to care for me.

I am struggling to make ends meet. The facility, which does not include any essentials like toilet paper and only 2 meals a day, costs $2695 a month. It covers utilities, but it does not leave me enough to cover my medications, essentials, or some food to provide one of the meals for me, or aides to come in a couple of times a week to help. I have a very difficult time doing my laundry, and the laundry room is located on a different floor than I am on. I only have about $100 left of my social security payment monthly, and I use insulin and other high-deductible drugs. I have been able to change to the insulin that is under the $35 cap, but I still have to pay $35 per pen, and I get about 4 pens a month. That prescription alone is $140. In addition, I have other copays on other medications that well exceed my ability to pay them.

I am in a very difficult position at the time and either have to go without aide help (which I am doing) or eating only twice a day (which I am doing) or without medications, which I can't do. In addition, I have physician co-pays that I have to pay, or they will not see me. I have had a tooth infection on the left side of my mouth that I have not been able to see a dentist for as I cannot cover the visit. My insurance only covers 20 days of facility costs; they have no long-term coverage, and again, I would not be able to afford that.

I am in a very difficult position and never thought I would find myself filling out a GoFundMe page for myself, but it happened. I have always been there for everyone that I would never have thought it could be for me, never thinking about what I should do, and that I take responsibility for. But that does not get me out of this situation.

I am currently looking for a part-time position that I can do here where I am at on the computer, or as they call it, work from home. I am hoping that I am blessed with an opportunity to get such a job. Until then, I need help. I am asking all my family and friends and those that find it in their hearts to help to please do so. Every little bit helps and will get me through these rough times that I can only pray God will lead me through. I am not asking for money to buy anything that is not needed for daily living, and I know everyone is in a hard place due to the economy and inflation, but I ask, anything you can will help me, please.

I have worked hard all my life since I was 15 years old, but I was not good at saving or managing my money; that was my mistake. I raised my son on my own and provided for him as best I could; that was my priority! It is not always good to think with your heart. I am 68 years old and do not feel it is time for me to die yet, or so I hope not, but don't know how long I will be able to sustain this monthly. Thank you in advance; I appreciate you.