Jeremy is a 38-year-oldveteran of the Air Force who was discharged under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” Jeremy doesn’t have much family support, and after his discharge he was angry and adrift. He enrolled in school but, struggling with anxiety and depression, he dropped out and was homeless for a while. He got several speeding tickets …
Debbie has a permanent lifetime disability from cancer surgery that requires constant care and unique medical supplies. Contractors working for Medicare routinely denied coverage of Debbie’s supplies, despite the fact that her disability is life threatening and the supplies are medically necessary. Debbie attempted to navigate the Medicare appeals system alone, but faced such stress …
Ilena was in over her head with debts that she could not pay. She set up payment plans with some creditors, but the amounts she could pay would never settle the bills. Bill collectors were often mean and relentless in their efforts to collect, even though she explained that she was disabled and supporting both …
Noelle’s daughter Poppy was born with Apert’s Syndrome, a rare and complex condition that caused her fingers to be fused together. For Poppy to have full use of her hands, she needed very specialized reconstructive surgery. Noelle connected with a surgeon in Boston who specializes in this type of surgery and who was confident that …
Allen and his wife Penny are both 63, with four grown daughters. After working for a large company for almost 20 years, Allen was suddenly “downsized.” He received unemployment benefits while he looked for a job, but after more than a year of searching, it became clear that they would soon be living off of …
Julie and Kevin are hardworking parents of four. Their youngest, twin boys, were both born with serious heart problems. Even with two working parents, the family lives on the edge of poverty because of medical costs. Fortunately, they receive help from the Oregon Health Plan (OHP). Things started to unravel when the hospital billed Julie, …
Nine-year-old Celine was dropped off for a weekend with her grandmother, Victoria. On Sunday, Celine’s mom did not return for her. As the weeks stretched into months, Victoria realized that Celine’s mom wasn’t coming back. Celine had no legal guardian to sign important papers, including consent to medical care. When Victoria went to enroll Celine …
A single mom working three jobs, Flora spoke only Spanish and could not read or write. She had always wanted to own her own business and earn enough to send her sons to college. A national janitorial company representative told Flora, through an interpreter, about the opportunity to buy a franchise — she would receive …
86-year-old Grace and her husband Clifford shared a happy marriage for many years. Grace worked part-time when Clifford retired, but throughout their lives he handled all of their finances. Clifford died suddenly of a heart attack, and when Grace and her daughter began to sort through everything, they were shocked to learn that her husband …
Erin had a good job and a home. When insurance didn’t cover all of the cost of repairs following a massive leak in her home, Erin put a portion of the bill on her credit card as a temporary fix. Then, in 2008, she was suddenly laid off from her job of 9 years. While …