I'm sorry to have to keep asking for your help,

Cross-posting for additional visibility.


Hi everyone, I'm posting a six months update and there's a mix of some good news, and more frustrating news.
First and foremost, please accept my undying gratitude for all of your help through these difficult months. I shudder every day knowing what my life would be like without your help.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-john-mckusick-overcome-health-and-financial-struggles`

The good news is that I had a six months post quadruple bypass visit with my cardiologist and all looks well. My blood pressure, weight and blood sugar have all been great to decently managed(the blood sugar lol). My weight is exactly the same and my blood pressure has been in the 120/60 range ever since I got home after the operation. I have finally started the Cardio PT after waiting these seven months for the hospital near me to set up their program. They have me positioned on an excercycle to minimize the impact on my lower back and it seems to be working.

Now for the frustrating part, I filed my appeal March 19th and I found out today that it was sent to the Kansas City, MO office mid May. They assigned my case to a Justin S. on August 20th..
The good news in this mess is that I got through to the Effingham IL office with minimal wait and they were more than helpful in getting me the correct information to proceed to the next step. I contacted the KC, MO office and they gave me Justin's extension so I've left a message.
I actually got a call back from Justin and his team there, and he asked some clarifying questions that he said would help my case. 1. Do I need a cane to walk? Yes. 2. Was my position at my last jobs a true sit down job or was it more of an up and down with plenty of walking involved? I told him there was plenty of walking as I would walk our guests to their appts. etc.... and 3. How much has my anxiety impacted me? He recommended a Mental Health Evaluation and that's been scheduled for Oct. 9th.
I haven't felt this optimistic about my situation in months, and it is my every hope that these steps will speed up my process and enhance my outcome.
The downside to all this is of course my back isn't getting better. I had a consultation with a new Neurosurgeon yesterday and he ordered several x-rays, which I completed, and a new CT scan of my back to see where the problem is.
Now that there's been contact with Social Security, I feel like this phase of the process seems much more favorable for two reasons:
1. Everything that's being done right now just adds concrete evidence of my disability and it's impact on my life, and
2. If as expected, this reconsideration is still denied, all the evidence we are adding will aid the judge, where we feel the likelihood for success is the greatest.
My expenses for the next three months will be about $50 per week higher as I will be averaging 3 Dr. appts. a week with the PT and others included.
My budget will be roughly $1400 per month for these next months and again, if any of you want to discuss a loan arrangement instead of a donation, please send me a note through GoFundMe, or my email, jmckusick2@gmail.com
My birthday happens to be 5 weeks from today, and it is my every wish that SS gives me a favorable response as a present lol.
Again, please accept my gratitude for your incredible help. I have struggled so much with anxiety and depression through this process, I can't count the number of times I have been triggered into childhood memories of knowing I was getting taken away to a different home or group home without knowing when. That pit in your stomach accompanied by a ever present sense of impending doom really is crippling sometimes. That's the part I want you to know that you help the most with your donation/loan when it comes to emotions.
I will keep you posted as to any further updates and their decision as soon as it comes.

Gratefully and with Love,
John Mckusick