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I am posting to ask for help on behalf of my dear friend, Jason Almeida. You may have heard his name all over the local & national news back in November of 2016. Jason was hailed as a hero by the national news for jumping in front of his girlfriend, Alyssa, during a domestic violence altercation. In getting her to safety, he was shot multiple times. Alyssa was unharmed, but Jason spent a month in the Intensive Care Unit in Maine. His injuries were quite severe and he has a long road to recovery ahead of him. Jason underwent numerous surgeries during this time and Alyssa never left his side. On top of the physical injuries, both still suffer from the mental effects of this senseless act of violence.
https://www.pressherald.com/2016/11/30/man-shot-four-times-protecting-girlfriend-in-casco-shooting-remains-in-icu/
http://wpri.com/2016/11/29/middletown-man-called-a-hero-as-he-recovers-in-icu-after-maine-shooting/
Jason didn’t have health insurance, and this has put Jason out of work for an undetermined amount of time, leaving them with staggering six-figure medical bills on top of household expenses. One would think that there would be programs in place to help someone who performed such a selfless act, but oddly, there are not. Temporary disability funds have run out, and SSI has denied Jason even though he has worked since he was a teenager and his multiple doctors and therapists have advised that he is not ready to return to work. At the time of the shooting, Alyssa was a social worker taking care of abused children. She assured Jason when he first woke up from sedation that they would be okay, so I am sure you can understand her frustration that there is no help available to them.
We want to ease their burden. Please help us help our hero!!!