One Macon County resident recently shared how cuts proposed by President Donald Trump to the States to Support Aging and Disability Communities and Social Services Block Grant have affected him.
“We moved from the Rio Grande Valley to Michigan for my mom’s job,†said Johnny Jackson. “Things were going great until April 18, 2002. I believe a so-called friend at the time set things in motion that would lead to my being paralyzed. I went to watch a friend of mine’s kids while he went on a date. My friend that I considered like a brother showed up with two other guys, and they started harassing me by calling me names and things escalated, and a fight broke out. I remember getting a fair share of the licks in when I felt the so-called friend kicked me in the back of the leg and I fell onto one knee, and I remember being picked up and then slammed onto the floor landing on my neck.â€
That hit to Jackson’s neck completely shattered his fifth cervical bone and left him paralyzed from the chest down. This injury would prove to be more than just physical, it would stack bills upon bills up for Jackson and his family.
“With all of the cuts that the President has made, people like me who truly need the help are now hurting when it comes to getting care,†said Jackson. “Things like food stamps, and home visits from nurses to check on things and make sure all is well and that we get the correct supplies that we need. All of that has been stopped and it is hurting my family who are my caregivers now. It has become a real nightmare.â€
Jackson says things have been difficult since moving to Macon County.
“We moved here about 5 years ago,†said Jackson. “We moved here so my mom could help my uncle when he was having problems with his heart. He is better now, and we were kind of thrown to the side which has left us stuck here. We want to move back to Texas as soon as we can. Texas still takes very good care of people like me, and we need that help now more than ever.â€
Jackson was 16 when the accident happened, and he turned 39 on May 9.
“I loved playing football, baseball, and basketball,†Jackson said of his life before the accident. “My main love was basketball and football though. I was always at the boys and girls club playing sports. My mom got an opportunity for a better job and wanted to get us out of the life we had been living so that’s when we moved north to Michigan.â€
Now Jackson spends his free time playing Madden on Playstation 5.
“It helps me get through these tough years of my life,†said Jackson. “I stream on Twitch and Youtube and go by Kingace517. If anyone wants to reach out and say hello, that would be cool.â€
When asked about what he wants to accomplish from talking about his recent ordeals with healthcare, Jackson had a quick reply.
“I just hope that it reaches the right lawmakers and people in charge of things,†said Jackson. “People like me need the help; we didn’t ask to be in this condition. We are all human beings.â€
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