- Hi, my name is Howard E. Watkins. I am a Marine Corps veteran. I have managed to raise two very well-adjusted daughters by myself. One is currently a good student, working her way through with a biological degree. My youngest daughter is in another state maintaining a wonderful lifestyle that she made for herself. This really is not about them.
I am 62 years old. I just tried to apply for my SSI so I could get an idea of how life could be if I could retire. The SSA said that my license address doesn’t match my physical address. I would have to drive to them in person. We set up a date. In the meantime, I started having back pain, which is really physically impossible. I truly do live quite a healthy life. I am taking it easy in my later years. I got myself out of working corporate work. Don’t get it wrong, I loved them; it was a great way to earn a living. Now, for the last decade, I have been driving for Lyft and Uber. The pain in my back has become an extremely painful situation. I went to the VA emergency room. They have tested that I have a 2×2 tumor between my lungs, and it is shredding at my spine, literally tearing away at the nodules on my spine. My problem is I have no other way of making money. I pay $315 per week for my apartment. I have no family remaining. I was the baby of five children in my family; they are all gone. I am very scared. I don’t think I can do this alone, and or homeless. Please, if anyone has the time or any information they may find to be helpful, please reach out. My pride has now officially been shredded. I feel like I have compromised on everything. Again, anything could possibly help.
