I’m a homeless veteran who’s homeless because of Long Covid. I’ve tried to use the VA for help, but everyone wants me to forsaken my pet dog. She’s the only entity in this world that has been there for me. I’ve applied for SSDI 40 months ago and they’re telling me that they’re 2 years backlogged. I don’t have income, only SNAP benefits to get by with. I live within 2 miles from Bryan Dorn VA hospital and I’m trying to get my PCP to help me get my SSDI by writing a letter of advocacy for me. This part of my life has been the most difficult in my life and being sick with Long Covid with diabetes is tormenting me. My Long Covid is so severe that my cardiologist says I’ll develop heart failure in five years. I’m 62 and I can’t work because of my health issues that continue to mount upon me. Long Covid has become the silent pandemic and no one knows anything about Long Covid and are possibly living with it not knowing what they’re experiencing. I’ve been diagnosed with hypertension, COPD with asthma, unstable angina, two different arrythmias, a rare supraventricular tachycardia, peripheral neuropathy, peripheral edema, diabetes, aortitis that’s causing my ascending thoracic aorta aneurysm to be symptomatic, and severe depression. Before Covid 19 I had high cholesterol and that was all I had. Now everyone expects me to learn how to live and work with all those ailments like a slave. I’d rather crawl under a rock and die! I’ve had people in the VA hospital question my abilities to work because they don’t understand what I’m going through. I look healthy but I’m far from that. I’ve been going to the Bryan Dorn VA hospital for over 30 years and it just seems to be getting worse and I have to say it’s the people who are the cause.
Local American Legion chapter located in Coolidge, AZ
