Hello, my name is Tom. I'm 42, have been married for 23 years to my wife, Terry. We have 2 wonderful boys and I'm thankful everyday for all that we have. I have worked 27 years of my life and now find myself in a bit of a pickle. We haven't had any healthcare since 2002. I started having strokes since 2001 with the most recent in Aug of this year.
They finally determined the cause and I have to have a PFO closure, which will be open heart surgery, hopefully by the end of this year. I'm not supposed to work or drive, and, since I've been a field service technician for 17 years, driving is what I do. So, needless to say, I lost my job. My wife found a job and my youngest, now 18, is in his last year of high school and his fast food job doesn't pay much. We live in Mississippi and the state is going to pay for the PFO closure, unfortunately, they can't help compensate living expenses. So I was forced to find another job until I have my surgery. My mom, even know she's on a fixed retirement income, somehow managed to loan me $3000.00 to buy a used car in Aug, two weeks after my stroke. We bought a 95 Toyota Camry that had a rebuilt engine and transmission, really nice condition. Well now the engine threw a rod and we don't have the money to fix it, having fallen behind in rent. We are both tapped out of resources which is what brings me to this site. I'm trying to find some preventative homelessness if anyone can help. I know it's a lot to read and I'm sorry, but if anyone can help, we are forever grateful. Thanks, Tom :)

Have you contacted your county social services department and hooked up with a social worker yet? Or a social worker with Catholic Charities or Lutheran Social Services? There should be help available through your village, township, county, and state. A social worker should know all the possibilities and how to get help for you -- food pantry, low or no cost auto repair, job coaching and support, rent and utilities help, etc.

Please post here again.

Wondergirl is correct, you should contact social services. There is help out there for you and a social worker will know where that help is. The Salvation Army helps pay rent and utilities though they only will do it once every three months, but then I don't know if that varies by state. If you go to church your church should help with some things. You should also apply for food stamps which is usually located in the social services building. You should apply for medicaid which is usually done through the health department. Hopefully your situation doesn't come to being homeless, but if it comes close, and before it gets to that, you should contact Housing Authority. They can get you into places for little rent out of your pocket, they may even can help you where you are at now. If clothes and/or food is an issue there is of course the Salvation Army and also many churches that provide clothes and food even if you aren't a member. They are usually named association.. for example, "The Baptist Association". I'm not a social worker, but I work in the human services field and a lot of my job is actually taking my clients to these places to get help. I live in N.C. but there is basically the same help everywhere. So again, contact social services in your county.
I do hope all works out for you and your family.

Wow a Patent Foramen Ovale at your age! AMAZING! You are a very lucky man to have had no problems up until recently.

Sorry to get off topic there.

Now, back to your question... Contact the social services department in your area, also contact the SSI disability. Social Services should be able to get you on food stamps, provide Families First, health care insurance (medicaid), plus many other services. You may qualify for SSI disability since you have a heart condition.

Thank you all for your responses. You've given me some ideas and things to look into. My neighbor is going to loan me his car to make the three hour drive to Jackson on Monday for my preliminary examination with the surgeons that will be performing the procedure. I'm not so worried about the surgery, they do them so often they're almost routine, I'm just worried about my family the 3 or 4 weeks I'll be down. Never give up, never surrender!