Meet the Survivor Tommy with Take It Back with Tommy and Tina Ep- 116 - a podcast by IQ Podcasts

I have been troubled since I opened up on the show last Thursday and the reason is because I should have led up to why I couldn't pay my electrical bill and ended up sleeping in my car. I can apply what I went through to a lot of people and one of the reasons I have to do this show.

Cristal, I don't know if you can put anything on the show description to reflect this? I've been thinking about how to frame this since 3 AM.

I had a hard time since my divorce financially and it was overwhelming at times. In 2003 my dad had cancer and he and my dad had a lot of financial problems because of it. I knew he had three lots in Florida that he had intended on giving to me and my siblings at some point. I approached both of my siblings and asked if we should buy them from them so they would have that cash for living and medical expenses. Both of them said they didn't want them. I told them I would then and they didn't have a problem. I had them appraised and paid them $8,000.00 for the land. My dad continued to say he wanted to give them to me but I insisted on buying the land.

Fast forward to 2009. The cities workers compensation carrier said they would no longer cover my medical care for my injuries even though I was still going through surgical procedures. It violated state law but I would have to sue them. My attorney wanted me to pay what I had already amassed with him. It was around $175,000.00 which was supposed to be paid by the city when we settled but wasn't. My medical bills were near 3/4 of a million dollars. I was offered $150,000.00 for my land in Florida so I sold it and paid my lawyer. I had hoped I would have gotten it back in a court settlement that never came. My lawyer instead filed for Social Security Disability to cover my past medical bills and future ones from my injuries. I ended up wining but not until I was already living in Riverside. His reasoning was that it would be cheaper for me to do that than to fight the city in federal court.

Upon my sister learning I sold the property told my mother. They thought I had pocketed the money and should have split it with them. My mom disowned me, cut me out of the will, and obtained a restraining order against me ever contacting her. It also caused the rift between my sister and I and why she would not help me even when I was forced to move to my car. It effected my kids from what they were told and for a bit they would not even speak to me.

My PTSD from the FD Trauma and my injury was getting worse and my treatment was ended when the city cut my coverage. The doctors had put me on some heavy pain killers and I didn't realize it but I was addicted to them.

Then my one dog Bandit hurt his back and he couldn't walk. I chose to have him treated rather than pay my electrical bill. I had asked for help then, even from my ex-wife (so I was desperate). I told them that the dogs were the only family I had left and I couldn't loose them so it was an easy call for me to make. He recovered but we were living now in my car because of no heat or electricity in my house. Because my pain medications could not be refilled from of the loss of my medical care coverage I went through withdrawal cold turkey in my car those days. It was pure hell but I got through it. That was the one good thing from this being off the pain killers. But it had pushed me to the point of considering suicide. I had lost my dignity, job, family, and friends. I was at the lowest point ever in my life. What stopped me is my dogs because I knew if anything happened to me they would end up in a shelter and possibly be put down. I loved them too much.

Then that police officer came and put me in touch with the American Legion county headquarters who helped out a fellow vet. That is where my story started on the show last Thursday.

Thanks all, I finally got this all off my chest.

Tommy
Presented by Attorney King Studio, with Take it Back with Tommy & Tina on IQ Podcasts.
thetommyanderson.com
FB- @takeitbackshow

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