Today I will be interviewing Robin Fountain who is a Public Affairs Specialist with the Social Security Administration. I know a lot of you out there have had a lot of questions surrounding applying for disability and the process of getting Medicare. So, Robin is here today to help answer some of these general questions. Below I have also listed some important helpful links to information online on the ssa.gov website she shared .

If you like what you hear, like and share. The Silent Battle Podcast is aired on Pandora, Spotify, Amazon, and Google Podcast. Donations to The Silent Battle Podcast through cashapp or paypal are greatly appreciated as well

Thank you and Enjoy!

Compassionate Allowances:

Compassionate Allowances Website Home Page | SSA

Social Security Disability

Disability | SSA

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) | SSA

Medicare

Plan for Medicare | SSA

Ticket to Work:

What is Social Security's Ticket to Work Program? | Choose Work! - Ticket to Work - Social Security (ssa.gov)

Your Ticket to Work (July 2020) (ssa.gov)

Field Office Locator:

Field Office Locator | SSA

Disability Starter Kit:

Adult Disability Starter Kit (ssa.gov)

Working While Disabled: How We Can Help

Working While Disabled: How We Can Help (ssa.gov)

Social Security Disability Benefits – Number of Credits Needed for Disability Benefits

Benefits Planner | Social Security Credits and Benefit Eligibility | SSA

my Social Security Account

my Social Security | SSA

Today ,I will be interviewing a special friend of mine ,Lisa Ezell ,from Murfreesboro, TN. Lisa's husband ,Eddie Ezell, was diagnosed with IPF (Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis) with unknown origins. Eddie received a double lung transplant in September of 2022, and Lisa was his primary caregiver. Today, she is going to shed some light on what it is like to take on the role of being a primary caregiver to someone who has had or is going to have a double lung transplant .

The Silent Battle Podcast is aired on Spotify, Amazon, Pandora, and Google Podcast. If you like what you hear like, subscribe, share. Donations are greatly appreciated as well. Thanks and Enjoy!

The Month of May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Therefore, today I will be interviewing licensed master social worker and behavioral health therapist Shawn Daniels. This segment is very important and much needed for people who are chronically ill because we often times are so focused on our physical health, and we tend to forget the importance of our mental health which is not good because our mental health is just as important as our physical health. Shawn will be talking to us today about the importance of mental health and how to seek counseling if needed. If you like what you hear like, share and donate . Thank you all for your support!

Today, I will be interviewing a friend of mine and chief meteorologist for Nashville News 2 , Danielle Breezy.

Danielle and I met at a Lung Force Walk for the Nashville American Lung Association a few years back. She is a huge advocate for lung disease /lung cancer. Today she is going to share with us how she feels regarding the importance of the fight against lung disease/lung cancer.

Today, I will be interviewing Sunil Kokal. Sunil resides near Toronto, Canada ,and was initially diagnosed with Non Specific Interstitial Pneumonia (NSIP).

Sunil is going to share his raw and candid story about his journey with ILD and how he manages his symptoms. Also, he will give us some tips if he has any on what may help you all out there to live life more easily as we battle our diseases.

Today, I will be interviewing a friend of mine, Annabelle Kim. Annabelle is from Los Angeles, California, however she resides in Edmonds, Washington.

Annabelle was diagnosed with autoimmune lung related interstitial lung disease and pulmonary fibrosis in February of 2023 in her third trimester of her pregnancy. However, on February 7th of this year at the University of Washington, she got approved to receive a double lung transplant.

Today, she is going to share her raw and candid story about her journey with ILD and how she manages her symptoms and also share how she is feeling awaiting a double lung transplant.

Today I will be interviewing Nikkie Foster from Dayton, Ohio. Nikkie was diagnosed with Non Specific Interstitial Pneumonia (NSIP) back in December of 2015. However, in January of 2020 she received the most precious gift, two new lungs from a selfless donor. Nikkie is going to share her raw and candid story about her journey with NSIP and how she managed her symptoms and also share how she is feeling now since receiving her double lung transplant!

( Donations towards The Silent Battle Podcast to support operating cost are greatly appreciated )

Today I will be interviewing Dr. Victor Thannickal. Dr. Thannickal is a Professor of Medicine and the Harry B. Greenberg Chair in the Department of Medicine at Tulane University School of Medicine. He has also served on the faculty of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the University of Michigan, and Tufts University School of Medicine, where he completed his fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.

Dr. Thannickal’s research is focused on cellular and molecular mechanisms of lung repair and regeneration that will lead to new and more effective treatments for pulmonary fibrosis.