Randy was my fourth child, and we were extremely close. When he was a baby, he got very sick with spinal meningitis, which led to deafness in one ear. Despite surviving this, Randy faced various health challenges throughout his life.
In his late 20s, Randy began experiencing severe respiratory issues, including a persistent dry cough and difficulty breathing. Despite numerous visits to the doctor, his condition was never correctly diagnosed. As an adult, he was told he had a genetic autoimmune disease requiring a lung transplant. When Randy turned 30, he was pretty much given only one option — if he didn't get the transplant, he was going to die. On his last doctor's visit, the doctor told him he didn't even have five years left and would be surprised if he made it that far. Randy took medication, hoping that it would help save him or give him some more time. However, it took about a year until he found out exactly what he had — cystic fibrosis. He wasn't given information on any support systems or any way he could have possibly gotten help, like from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. I wish his doctors had put this information in a pamphlet and so they could give it to their patients.
Randy struggled financially, working one-off jobs even as his health deteriorated, unable to afford the necessary medical care and travel for his lung transplant.
Despite his severe health condition, Randy was repeatedly denied Social Security Disability benefits, which added to his financial and emotional stress. He was advised to get an advocate, but even with a doctor's note stating his critical condition, he was denied benefits. This highlights the urgent need for Social Security to make a change and provide better information and support to patients. The system failed Randy, and it is crucial for doctors and Social Security to provide patients with better information and support to navigate their health challenges.
Randy had a close relationship with his daughter, McKenzie, who was 11 years old at the time, and his newborn daughter, Stevie Marie, who was just 1 week old. He also had a fiancée, with whom he had been together for one year. Randy accepted his fiancée and her children as his own, and they were one big family. He fought hard to provide for his family and struggled to get them a home — but he did it. He didn't want to lose that. Randy continued working, facing significant health challenges, and even going without supplemental oxygen so he could make ends meet.
But Randy's health continued to decline, and he faced numerous challenges, including struggling to afford medical care. He was also dealing with a divorce and custody battle which weighed heavily on his mental health. Recognizing he was getting sicker, he struggled knowing he would have to leave his loved ones, and that they would have to watch him get sicker. He passed away on November 5, 2024, likely due to a combination of factors, including his health condition and the stress he was under.
Randy's story highlights the failures of the health care and Social Security systems, which did not provide the necessary support for him and his family. His struggle to get the required medical care and financial support underscores the systemic issues that many individuals face.
My heart aches every day knowing that my son was not given a fair chance at life. He was such a good person, always working hard to provide for his family despite his own suffering. The system failed him, and it breaks my heart to know that he suffered so much.
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