Good Morning Everyone!
I hope your day is starting off with hope and encouragment!
Today I am writing because my heart is very heavy - it concerns my friend named Michael. Both Michael and I worked in corporate jobs in the City (New York) and were laid off just before Christmas. I have been very blessed to have a great family and was able to obtain unemployment benefits to keep me afloat. However my friend Michael is not so fortunate.
Michael has a severe form of diabetes, he lost his pancreas AND his thyroid as a result of the sudden and unexplained onset of the disease while he was beginning college. His family left him for dead in the hospital and has not contacted him since - a terrible terrible situation. HE was blind for many months due to the diabetes and since the has required an extensive supply of medicine each month just to keep him alive. I cannot imagine the kind of pressure and fear he must feel inside knowing that if something happens and he cannot purchase his medicine he faces death.
Michael is as good and true as a boy can come - it's so heartbreaking to see him suffer so much at a time like this. He is a devote Christian who attends church every Sunday without fail - he continues to pray to God for relief as do I and his other close friends. He has struggled so long now that I can see his hope fading and it's so emotionally crushing to watch. I have done my best to share all I can with Mike - we cook a dinner together every night (so he can actually eat a meal each day as he has no income what so ever) and have pared down my budget so I can spare money each month to help him as much as I can with his rent or meds. So far with the help of some of his other friends we have managed, however the situation has changed dramatically for the worse and we are now unable to cover his rent or medicine.
Since his company fought his unemployment claim (as many do - I was very lucky in that regard) Michael has been seriously struggling to survive. He has looked for work daily to no avail (the job market in this City is terrible - much like everywhere else right now) and I have helped Michael sign up for Medicaid - right now we are 4 weeks into the paper works processing and I was told by Medicaid Staff it could take another two months before Mike can get his perscriptions!!! As I write this he has been without his medicine for 3 days and I am very worried. I am planning on calling the Medicaid office this morning to see if there are any emergency measures we can take to help.
I am writing today because I am in hope that there are people out there who might be able to help. Michael is a hard worker and very dedicated - if anyone could offer Michael a job or assistance with his medicine or rent - it would be a blessing. It would truly prove to Michael that God has heard his pleas for relief.
I would be very pleased to put you in contact with Michael directly (phone or e-mail) if there is a chance you might be able to offer him some hope. He truly feels like he is sinking and I hope there is a way we can help pull him up together! All prayers and positive wishes are deeply appreciated - I will happy pass on any incouraging words to Michael.
Many thanks for taking the time to read this post!!
Sincerely,
Adrienne
This is Michael (with a friend):
