I am 39 years old and live in Southeast Texas, where the humidity is high, and the air is heavily polluted by numerous refineries. Many of these refineries have had incidents where toxic spills released harmful fumes into the air—so severe that the entire city of Orange was once advised to stay indoors, turn off air conditioning units, and seal windows and doors with wet towels to keep the fumes out.
I was born with a rare birth anomaly called Agenesis Lung/Pulmonary Hypoplasia, meaning I have only one lung. Coupled with asthma, this makes breathing extremely difficult and even dangerous, especially due to the pollution from refineries.
I have been fighting for disability benefits since 2016, but the administration has repeatedly failed to conduct a pulmonary function test or seriously consider how air pollution, climate change, and global health crises impact those with lung disease. My Medicaid status has been pending since September 2024. A representative from Molina even came to my home, assessed my needs, and confirmed that I qualify for assistance—yet I still face roadblocks.
When denied, I receive vague justifications such as not having a child in my care, my condition supposedly not being "severe enough," or lacking sufficient work credits—despite evidence proving otherwise. Attorneys have also refused to take my case, claiming I "look young and healthy." If a 39-year-old man weighing 123 pounds appears "healthy" to them, then I need to rethink everything I thought I knew about the system.
My fight for proper support continues, and I hope to raise awareness about the challenges faced by those with chronic lung conditions in polluted environments.
