As many of you might remember, in March 2023 Adriano was cut off from his social security benefits, slapped with a $58,000 bill, and, to satisfy that bill, my social security benefits were seized for 4 months. Our situation was dire and I set up a gofundme to try to raise money until I could get our finances stabilized.
I reached out to my Maryland family through this site and the response kept us going until my brother was able to step in and carry us.
Two weeks ago, after hearings, judgements, lawyers, and a face-to-face appeal to Senator Kelly, this drama was finally resolved! The SSA, starting in July 2026, has stopped deducting money from my stipend; Adriano's medical and financial benefits have been fully restored; and the judge's decision that Adriano has always been eligible for benefits is on the books. (Yes, it is weird to celebrate a legal decision that says your child is fully and irreparably disabled, but after 25+ years working in grocery stores pushing carts, he deserves this victory!)
To my Maryland family: I can never really express the gratitude I feel when I realize how you all stepped up to hold us up. Nothing is harder than telling your family, your community, that you need money and you are looking to them for help.
So I thank you all. Those who donated and those who wished us well. We kept our house, we didn’t miss a meal, and our spirits are unbowed.
As a small measure of our gratitude, I have made a contribution to the Southern Arizona Food Bank in honor of the OverseasMarylanders organization matching the amount of money raised to help us when we were in need. While we were struggling, a terrible scourge took over our country and as a result, over 5 million more Americans now go hungry every day including a million children. As you stood up for us, I have paid that forward to the children and families who are struggling as we were to survive. Cochise County, where we live, is the poorest in the state of Arizona, and one of the poorest in the nation. I am proud to be able now to leverage your generosity to help other families survive these difficult times.
