Joseph Carlino reaches out for support
“Myself and Franklin first met ‘JoJo’ on an SCI Peer Support zoom call two years ago.” writes NorCal SCI co-founder Nick Struthers.
“It was clear to us both that despite his many challenges, JoJo was doing his upmost to be resilient and positive. His situation was one of the reasons we founded NorCal SCI and working with Franklin, JoJo participated in our programs to assist his recovery. Jojo has been a regular participant at NorCal SCI’s Friday Social Hour where the group meets via Zoom and is intended to be a place to spend a fun hour with your SCI colleagues and help support each other within an uplifting environment. Over the past several weeks, it became clear that JoJo was having real challenges, some members of the group recognized and decided to do what we could to help. To JoJo’s credit, he has already reached out to some agencies to explore options on his tenuous housing situation and it made sense to make available NorCal SCI’s platform for him to tell his own story. I would invite you to read JoJo’s own words regarding the situation he finds himself in which I know will resonate with many in the community.”
Recent life heartbreaking events has suddenly caused me to hit rock bottom emotionally/ financially, resulting into downward turmoil of severe sadness and suicidal thoughts. This heavy distress weighing on mind daily, then you can probably imagine loss of sleep my once good health has now been on a steady decline. The distress of debt collectors and my property management sending me eviction warnings, I am inclined to seek immediate assistance. I started a gofundme to help me back on my feet (I mean that literally too :)
I am not your average Joe, I am achondroplasiastic little person. However, I lived an fairly independent life like most teenagers do despite my disability all the way up to 18 years old. My freshman year in college is when my life began to shake up, I suffered a traumatic brain injury from bad fall on my head sending me into 21- day coma. I had to stop everything and return home. I have a very strong mentality and never give up. So I recovered at home and returned to college.
After graduation I was employed by Federal Government and worked for 7 years. Over the years our bodies break down. My dwarfism condition has led to 5 spinal surgeries to help cure spinal stenosis. Now, at 36 years old, I live alone and am struggling currently without employment. I've been focused on my recovery and have not been able to find work at all. I fell so behind on rent and bills now I’m at the point of eviction and homelessness. I pray one day I’ll be able to overcome this setback and get back on my feet. Right now I have both day and night caregivers’ support and home health that helps my nursing needs daily. I vision that if I spend more hours in my physical therapy efforts, I'll be able to walk again and defeat the odds that are stacked against me.
Even though the doctors predict I'll never be able to walk again, I feel the power of God and my dedication to hardworking in the gym I'll overcome my health setbacks and walk again. My dream is to be a motivational speaker and influence others never to give up in life. I am going to use this personal situation of emotional defeat, I'll vow to help others as much as possible. Normally, as a man, and especially being a little person, I would never ask for help; however, I was hit by a few traumatic events in life, so I have no choice but to ask for help now. I want to thank you in advance for reading my story, and I know everyone is not fortunate enough to be able to donate, but if you could please share my GOFUNDME story on your social media platforms, it would be greatly appreciated.
Joseph Carlino