Hello –
My name is Ken and I live in Oklahoma City, OK. I was diagnosed with Kaposi Sarcoma cancer in early June 2024. I continued working as long as I was physically able before the cancer and the treatment no longer made it possible. I have had 3 multi-week hospitalizations since late July 2024 through March 2025 averaging 6 weeks per admission.
I applied for Social Security disability in late July 2024 and have been surviving off of my personal resources since then. After speaking with the SSA Disability Approval Dept several times over the last 6 weeks I was told that my approval has been impacted by the new presidential administration and the Department of Government Efficiency. Programs have been cut and federal employees fired putting my disability approval into an unknown status.
In order to continue surviving I have had to sell any assets that had any value including my vehicle. I now find myself in a situation where I have started a new fiscal year with my insurance company and I am required to pay the new deductible in order to continue treatment and I still have to figure out living expenses until I can 1) get SS disability approved or 2) figure out how to start bringing in some income that won’t jeopardize the approval process.
My immediate need is to raise $5,000 that will cover my insurance deductible, outstanding co-pays and other expenses that insurance doesn’t cover. Having worked in the non-profit sector for foster and adoptive kids for the past 11 years I’ve found it incredible fulfilling and rewarding but unfortunately fulfilling and rewarding doesn’t pay well.
so, now I find myself turning to others to ask for help even though it is a very humbling and difficult thing to do. I have a servants heart and have lived my life giving but I was recently given some very sound advice – by always been a blessing and never allowing myself to be blessed I could very well be robbing others of the same joy I experience when I give.
So it is with very humble gratitude to everyone that has the ability to help even a little, thank you.