Hey there!
Here's a list of the hardships I can think of, and the documents I'm using to back them up. Any feedback is welcome.
HEALTH HARDSHIPS
--Anxiety, depression, stress due to separation from wife and children.
--Neck pain due to not sleeping well, and tension.
--Weight gain due to overeating due to anxiety.
@Supporting documents:
*Medical records from my psychologist and psychiatrist;
*medical records from my general doctor;
*official documents from two ER visits in the past two years, one for a panic attack, and the other for chest pain that doctor said was due to anxiety;
*letter from doctor who treated my case of shingles almost a year ago, he states it was due to anxiety.
* medical bills and statements from clinic and hospitals.
FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS
--A year ago I lost a full-time job I got at a community clinic system due to poor performance related to anxiety.
--I've lost many writing assignments because I can't concentrate and I sometimes can't drive because of anxiety and medication side-effects.
--I've lost and have had to reject many teaching assignments because I can't teach the lower grades anymore because of anxiety, and because the medication side-effects.
--I haven't been able to find full-time work because as a freelance journalist I have a more flexible schedule to be able to visit my family in Mexico.
--I have double expenses in the US and in Mexico for my family and me: housing, groceries, utilities.
--Moving to Mexico would be difficult because journalists are paid very low-wages in the Mexican media.
@Supporting documents:
*Human resource files from the full-time job I lost with details about my work there, and supervisor's reviews.
*Letters from 5 teachers stating that I used to substitute for them all the time in the past, but for the last two years my workload and availability has decreased a lot because of my anxiety.
*Emails from editors where we've discussed my inability to accept writing assignments, and discussions about missed deadlines.
*School district records that show my workload has decreased, because I have rejected teaching assignments.
*Rent receipts for housing in San Diego.
*House payment receipts for housing in Tijuana.
*Utility bills from both sides of the border.
PROFESSIONAL RISKS
--Journalism is one of the most dangerous professions in Mexico. Since I've written about the drug violence in Tijuana and other parts in Mexico, my family and I face a great risk. Possibility of being killed or kidnapped; extorsion.
@Supporting documents:
*Copies of some of my articles covering violence in Mexico, and other high-risk issues in Mexico, including gangs, drugs, and human trafficking.
*Copy of my official press credentials issued by San Diego Police Department.
*Letter/article from the University of San Diego's Trans-Border Institute, a research facility that focuses a lot on violence against journalists in Mexico.
*Background research on violence against journalists in Mexico, including statistics, cases, and other info.
FAMILY HARDSHIPS
--My 4-year-old son, who is a US citizen, lives with my wife and daughter in Tijuana. He has to attend preschool in Mexico. Every time I leave for the week in San Diego, he cries, and he has developed separation anxiety, and is bitting his nails, and has started to wet his bed.
--My mother, a LPR, lives in Los Angeles, and is disabled, and unable to work. I serve as a strong emotional support for her, being her oldest son, and since my brother, a USC, is stationed with the US Air Force in Japan, and is too far from her. She hardly can visit her grandchildren in Tijuana because of high border wait times, and she suffers from pain in her back and legs. She walks with a cane.
--My father, a USC, lives in Los Angeles, and was partly disabled for most of last year. He can't also visit my children across the border, because of border wait times, and body pain. I'm also a major emotional support for him, since my brother, a USC, is stationed with the US Air Force in Japan and is too far from him.
@Supporting documents:
*Letter from my son's pediatrician noting the anxiety symptoms.
*Letter from my son's preschool showing enrollment.
*Information on the poor quality of educational system in Mexico.
*Information on the poor quality of health care system in Mexico.
*Mother's disability documents.
*Father's disability documents.
EDUCATIONAL HARDSHIPS
--Last year I enrolled in a master's degree in communications in order to advance my career. I had to withdraw this month because I couldn't concentrate in my studies. This has caused a terrible financial setback, since I had to take out federal student loans to pay for tuition, and I had to withdraw. Not having a master's degree limits my career options.
@Supporting documents:
--Official withdrawal letter from the university.
OTHER SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS
1. Letter from a close friend who has been a major emotional support during this time. She was California Teacher of the Year a decade ago.
2. Letter from my pastor in my Christian congregation in San Diego.
3. Letter of recommendation from my school district superintendent.
4. Letter of recommendation from two of my editors.
5. POSSIBLY: Letter of recommendation from my Congressman.
6. Would it help? Letter of support from a local community organization/social services agency I've written about in the past.
There you have it. These are the hardships and documents I'm currently working on.
Thanks for your feedback!