Gerbitz Family Fund

     I have Fibromyalgia pretty bad. It got to the point that I had to quit teaching in 2011.

     Men are in the minority of Fibromyalgia sufferers. Fibromyalgia means muscle and connective tissue pain. Note that it doesn't say anything about the cause of that pain because no one really knows. Basically, if your doctor believes you really are suffering from chronic pain, but none of the tests (many tests and much blood drawn) point to a cause, and, if your doctor believes you're not just a druggie trying to score, you're put into the fibromyalgia category.          Trying to get disability from Social Security when you have fm (fibromyalgia) is just so much fun (heavy sarcasm). You see, since fm says nothing about the cause, no doctor is willing (at least around here there isn't) to do a Functional Capacity Evaluation: a key document for Social Security in determining disability. So my attorney (who works for a % of the settlement, if we ever win that is) gets whatever documentation he can.

     Meanwhile Mary does work, but it isn't enough to cover rent & bills. Also, we use our tax refund to pay ahead as much of our rent as we can. Usually, that's enough to cover about 3/4 of the year. We try to save what we can during that time, about 1/2 a month's rent. Also, Tre (our oldest child) helps with what he can. However, he goes to school full time as well as works. Our therapists (chronic pain is something that touches the lives around you) keep on the lookout for any programs that might help us. So far we're on a few long waiting lists.

I apologize if I'm rambling. I just wanted you to know that we've tried to cover as many bases as we possible could to raise our income or cut our costs. Please help my family be able to stay together. Besides donating, I understand you can share our donation page here as well. God Bless you.