A CRITICAL call for support for one of our own (rjm)

[rjm]

An update, but not the one I had planned.

Medi-Cal has denied my application for the most basic level of health care, which is "Medicaid." They said I had "no income verification." Well, that's because I am unemployed. Like many people currently. I desperately want a job, but due to my health, I need a desk job. Any desk job. And now I have been informed, officially, that I am denied Medicaid (Medi-Cal)

Thank you so much for extending my life. I am exploring a variety of other options already, but nothing so far has borne fruit.

I will get back to posting again soon. Tomorrow, the eviction moratorium runs out. My real estate agent is desperately trying to sell my home. He has found an apartment with roommates, but I have no income to pay the rent. I feel like this is a nightmare from which I hope to awaken.

God bless you.

https://www.gofundme.com/help-robin-survive-diabetes

You folks are the best,
All my luv to you,
Robin (rjm)

[keninlincs]

Sorry tohearthe latest update Robin,it just bloody awful,hope you can get sorted soon!

[rjm]

Thank you.

And the eviction moratorium has been extended by the CDC in Atlanta until the end of June. I was in a state of total panic (and my real estate agent was too! He found an apartment that I cannot afford because I have no income. Now I have the time to seek an income.). I don't know who exactly made this decision, but God bless them. I was looking down the barrel of immanent homelessness (while ill) until this was announced. At least I can sleep tonight. You can't imagine how it was when not one, but several tons of bricks were about to fall in on me at the same time. It's impossible to describe.

Again, many thanks to folks here for once again helping me out. I am still trying to find a golden key to affordable insulin, so your contributions are absolutely life saving.

I wish there were some other way to thank you wonderful people. Perhaps in unloading my stuff - which really, really feels SO awful but there's no choice, I can do some old vinyl giveaways of classic artists. I have 'em all, pretty much. (And anyone who wants Mick Jagger's 1985 solo album can have it ANY time. )

There are some with which I cannot part. I remember one in particular. A small independent record shop in Atlanta with a single owner-manager came over to me, so excited one day. "I have something special you'll just love!" It was this:

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And I still love it. It's mine. Forever.

He was like that "Pirate Radio" DJ who was going down with the ship. Which is kind of how I feel right now. The real record store guy reminded me in retrospect of that guy in the movie. Or vice-versa. And he saw a kindred spirit in me - just a lot younger and female. But as far as music was concerned, we were the same.

Unfortunately, they won't all fit in a new place. Not even close. Simple as that. But I'll cross that bridge when we come to it. It's seems complicated right now, and I'm all mixed up by a myriad of problems. Uh, one thing, though: all my Elvis is staying with me. That's understood.

Once again, many, many thanks.

All my best,
Robin (rjm)

P.S. -- Oh my gosh, I'm crying. There's no crying in FECC!

[rjm]

Sorry tohearthe latest update Robin,it just bloody awful,hope you can get sorted soon!

Thanks my dear friend. I want something from you. I WANT YOU TO GET WELL!

Love and hugs,
Robin

[rjm]

Just wanted to say thank you again to all who have been generously helping me to stay alive until all my affairs are in enough order that I can live my life without a gray cloud always over my head.

This is the latest update, with video. May God bless you for your kindness and understanding.

As the poet William Carlos Williams wrote "the pure products of America go crazy." Even life-saving medication is a product of an America "gone crazy." Sigh.

But without you, I don't think I'd even be still alive. I do have one cousin who cares. 1 out of 5 on my dad's side. (There hasn't been any contact with my mom's side since she fell out with her sister in 1969. Yeah, 1969. 52 years ago! As an only child, I can't even begin to understand that.) But the gift of friends is what makes me rich, not poor. With apologies to Dolly Parton for jacking a phrase from her great song "Coat of Many Colors."

Please read the latest update. It's my special thank you to everyone who has helped to get me this far into 2021 in one piece. (And I mean that literally: untreated diabetics frequently lose limbs before they pass on.)

It's a cruel disease, made far worse by even those in the medical profession who are often angered at you if your blood glucose numbers aren't the best.

I wish I could close the campaign now, but until this is, as the British say, "sorted," it must stay live. Only in America. For real: only in America is this even imaginable. But I love my country. I just wish it loved me. Like my friends do!

https://gf.me/u/za2jhg

With my heartfelt gratitude,
Robin (rjm)

[Spanish_Eyes]

This is heartbreaking. In "socialist" Spain, you pay for Lantus, Humalog, etc, any kind of insulin 4,24 euros maximum.

[rjm]

This is heartbreaking. In "socialist" Spain, you pay for Lantus, Humalog, etc, any kind of insulin 4,24 euros maximum.

It is. It's shameful. The USA shoud be ashamed enough to act. But we're so used to it that it's a psychological phenomenon called "learned helplessness." Happens to abused kids and in domestic violence. We expect to be mistreated and most are apparently okay with it. I haven't seen a peaceful March On Washington. Why are people not doing anything?

The pharmacy just texted me about a refill. I don't know what to do. And I have no insulin pen needles. I have been reusing them for almost a month. I don't know if it's dangerous or not.

I will go to the Lantus site. They have some sort of program. I am going to get my CALPERS money in a few weeks. I just don't know what else to do.

GoFundMe wrote a major op-ed piece about the situation in the USA.

Best,
Robin

[rjm]

Have you checked this page

https://www.lantus.com/sign-up/savings-and-support

Thank you!!! I missed this one!

Best,
Robin

I got the card!!! It's "only" $99 per refill!!!!!! That's coming via Venmo tomorrow - a friend - a neighbor - gave me emergency money and food, so that's okay. An actual neighbor! I apologize for the "panic update." But if you've given, you've gotten the new update. Whew. You get 10 months at this discounted price. After that, you'd better have some kind of insurance. I am appealing the Medi-Cal decision, but I've been told to be very careful how you do the process.

(And BTW, have any Americans here gotten a stimulus check yet? They know who I am. I haven't met anyone who has received their check!)

I am sorry for waiting so long!!!! May God bless you @flopez ! I just clicked "fill" on the pharmacy text message!!!!!!

The pharmacy saw how I was struggling and never, ever mentioned this! My doctor never mentioned this!!! And so I really didn't "look" at the link. I am so sorry! Thank you!!!!!!!!! You may have saved me!!!!!!

Almost no one else I know, knows about this. They have advised COSTCO (more expensive), "Busybee," and everything but this! None of the other solutions worked out. My DOCTOR doesn't know about it!!!!!

They don't make Humalog, but I still have expired Humalog that I'm using.

Now, I have to find needles. Someone gave me fresh syringes. But I use (and reuse) pens with little disposable pen needles. I don't know how many re-uses are safe; I've used some 4 to 5 times. I'm looking at these syringes and I don't know what to do with them. (Same neighbor; he's an RN.) I've never injected myself with a syringe. Very scary but if I can't get new needles, I have to figure out how to get the insulin out of the pen and into the syringes. Scary, but I'll work that out. I guess you'd stick the pen with a needle and . . . aw - I don't know, I don't have needles.

Uh oh. It says on the package that there's a danger of "dosage error." Diabetes stinks! Stop eating and drinking sugar now! You don't want this. You really don't. We all grew up ingesting mountains of sugar. It's got to stop.

That link was here all this time!!!! I do hope the pharmacy accepts the card.


All My Best,
Robin

[rjm]

I will do a massive giveaway of my Vinyl!!!!!

I will post my collection in the buy, sell, trade section and you folks tell me what you want.

I don't know if I can part with Bopcat 100. But if you want it very badly - well, you can't take it with you in the end, can you? Someday, it's just gonna get thrown away or sold by a cousin. I don't know when my someday will come, but no one's immortal. Especially with my health.

Lemme show you a picture! It's so clean, too: almost no scratches to hear! It's probably my most precious possesion. I can't promise I'll be able to part with this one, but if someone wants it very badly . . .

I feel so very guilty. I need to give back.

I have a LOT of great stuff! Vinyl more precious than any shiny little rocks that people value.

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That's just THE most precious one to me. I have tons of vinyl by all the greats! I can't put it in one room. I have to leave very soon. I keep listening to Dylan's "Farewell Angelina." He's got a buyer for the house. I don't want to leave, but "I must leave fast."



Best,
Robin

[rjm]

This is heartbreaking. In "socialist" Spain, you pay for Lantus, Humalog, etc, any kind of insulin 4,24 euros maximum.

Surely you can't mean this, a five dollar bill and change!?

Screenshot_20210511-025053_Chrome.jpg

???

Best,
Robin
P.S. - I never been to Spain, but I been to Flushing, Queens. They tell me I was born there, but I really don't remember/What does it matter, Spain or Queens?

A WHOLE LOT! IT MATTERS A WHOLE LOT! Just sayin.' This rollercoaster ride has been horrific for my body and soul.

[rjm]

PicsArt_05-11-03.00.37.png

I'm still going to try the card!
This lasts for 10 months, 10 refills.
After that, you're on your own.

Not going to drain the fund
by giving thousands to a
pharmaceutical company.

Thank you so very, very, very much! Especially for Jordan, who acted immediately. I U Jordan!!!!! @fecc-mechanic

All My Best to you and yours!!!!
Robin (rjm)

P.S. --

[rjm]

It worked! The card worked! Smooth as silk!!!!!

May God (or The Singularity) bless you all the days of your life! You saved mine! @flopez And everyone who gave, shared, or who otherwise helped me out of this life-threatening situation. You know who you are! @fecc-mechanic @George Smith @flopez @drjohncarpenter @billyblues @TheFool and many more! A special thanks to @keninlincs

Ken, I love you: (Ken is in the middle of nuclear-bomb level chemo at this moment. Please say a prayer and also follow him on his Instagram - and if you choose, with some supportive words in the comments! Just something supportive.) <@kenh1964> on Instagram)

20210515_164653.jpg

And . . . thank you Elvis Aron Presley, wherever you are, for changing my life in high school!

All my best,
Robin

[SteamrollerBlues]

Great news, rjm!!

[rjm]

Great news, rjm!!

It is! It is!!!! Thank you! I couldn't remember everyone's name/handle. But without FECC and the Elvis community, I would not have survived, and no one knew about that link! No one. So I wouldn't have made it without you! There's no way. Thanks SO MUCH for Jordan!!! And then everyone who responded!

Have a great day or night!
Robin

[iplayastrat]

I'm very glad for your good news rjm.

[keninlincs]

Great news to read Robin,take care xx

[flopez]

Hey, apparently I'm saving lives without knowing! I'm glad it worked out for you!