How Resources Make a Difference
Finding Help
At the Well Badger Resource Center, we connect people with health and social services across Wisconsin. What really shows the power of this work are the stories from the people we serve.
When individuals share how they’ve used Well Badger and how it helped them through difficult times, it not only highlights the value of the resources —it helps others feel seen, supported and empowered to reach out for help, too.
The following post is a powerful story from someone who faced an incredibly difficult diagnosis and used Well Badger to help navigate life’s next steps.
Finding Help in Hard Times
“I was online looking for any source of assistance that would be available to me. I found the listing and contacted you folks [Well Badger Resource Center].
A Life-Changing Diagnosis
In March 2024, I received a diagnosis of colon cancer. I had surgery and chemo, fortunately was able to work thru the chemo as I needed both the paycheck and the health insurance. At that time I was stage 3. In February of 2025, surveillance imaging showed that there were metastases to the liver, making me stage 4. I had another surgery and returned to work, again because I needed income and health insurance.
The Financial Reality of Fighting Cancer
The odds of my living 5 years are not good, so although I had planned to work until I was 70, I decided an earlier retirement was what I wanted, to try to make the best use of the time I have, however much or little that may be.
Unfortunately, I retired 5 years before I planned to do so:
- makes my Social Security several hundred dollars a month less than it would be otherwise, and
- gives me 5 fewer years to continue saving for retirement.
Even though I had health insurance thru my employer, I still paid thousands and thousands of dollars over the last two years in healthcare costs for deductible and out-of-pocket expenses.
Help with utility payments and food would definitely be needed if I wasn’t going to exhaust what savings I have to bridge the difference between my SS check and my living costs.
Turning to Well Badger to Find Help
So far, I’ve been fortunate in finding help. WHEAP paid a portion of my LP gas and electric expenses for this past heating season and I’m counting on them for help again this year. I applied to SNAP but since I was still working when I applied, I was turned down and will need to reapply now that I’m not working. I also found that the local food pantry is very helpful.
Advice for Others: Don’t Be Afraid to Ask
If you have computer access, by all means, look into everything. The Waukesha ARDC is a good resource and has a PHENOMENAL Medicare seminar. I’d recommend everyone attend that! I was also told by a resource person with my employer’s health insurance about a site called FindHelp that has everything under the sun in terms of assistance resources.
I really don’t have any complaints; everyone I’ve worked with has been very helpful and understanding.
Things went smoothly and as expected.
There’s No Shame in Getting Help
I grew up on a farm and we received food stamps and other assistance when I was a kid, so to me getting help isn’t anything shameful or weird. However, I know a number of the folks I used to work with look down on this sort of thing. I can only imagine they’ve never needed it, and I guess then they’re lucky.
Nobody should feel bad about getting help, whether it’s temporary because of a bad patch or more long-term for some other reason—in my case, a serious health issue.
The I & R Specialists at Well Badger Resource Center can help!
Well Badger Contact Info:
Call
Give us a call at
1 (800) 642-7837
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wellbadger.org
Email us at
help@wellbadger.org