OELWEIN - When Andrew Scarrott began to experience fatigue, body pain and weakness, the doctors told him it was nothing more than arthritis. In February, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease. After his condition deteriorated, he returned to the doctor and was diagnosed with Progressive Supernuclear Paulsy (PSP) - an accelerated and terminal form of Parkinson's Disease.

The life expectancy is six years from the time of diagnosis.

"Some make it to 10 years, and I'm obviously working to break those records," Scarrott said. "I've got plenty of reasons to be around."

Scarrott moved to Iowa from Worcestershire, England, 20 years ago and began working at Holdiman Motors in Cedar Falls. He worked there every day until his symptoms began to affect his memory and movement.

He applied for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) when he was told by doctors he would not be able to work anymore. Each year, the Social Security Administration office in Waterloo processes nearly 2,000 SSI claims in Black Hawk and six surrounding counties. More than 50 percent of those applicants are denied. Scarrott joined that statistic when he also was denied. The reason, he was told, was because he was not legally blind and could still move his arms and legs.

At this point, Scarrott was having problems with double vision and memory loss in addition to deteriorating motor skills that prevented him from working effectively.

"I've worked hard all my life. Ten years in the UK and 20 years over here," he said. "I've never been out of work. I've never taken a penny from the state and yet, when I need it, I get this mind game."

Denied

With every change in his condition and new doctor he saw, Scarrott followed protocol and alerted the Social Security office in Waterloo. When he was diagnosed with PSP, he made sure they were aware of it and called to confirm the paperwork had been taken care of to document his condition and diagnosis. But the fact he has Parkinson's Disease was not acknowledged in the rejection letter he received.

Dr. Ellen Sakornbut believes Scarrott deserves the help he has been fighting for.

"In Andrew's case, he has gone from being completely functional to not being able to do day-to-day things," she said. "He sold me a car just last summer, and now he can't do that, and it's what he loves."

Unfortunately, Scarrott's case is not unique. Sakornbut said too many of her patients do not get the SSI they need.

"It's a national problem," Sakornbut said. "He's not the only patient that's serious and has been denied. Lung disease patients who can't walk the block to my office because they are so ill are turned down, and it's ridiculous."

Getting by

As a result of Scarrott having to leave his job, he, his wife, Roberta, and their 20-month-old son, Garek, have had to move from Waterloo to Oelwein to afford housing. The house they have moved into isn't ideal for his disabilities either.

Scarrott must climb the steps to get to the bathroom on the second floor, making his trips there a heavy task.

They have used all of their 401(k) to pay medical bills and have had to seek help from friends and family.

"My semi-retired father has been helping us financially just to make ends meet," Scarrott said. "This is wrong, and if it wasn't for my family's help, we would be homeless."

Scarrott spends his days with his son, watching him grow and enjoying the time he has with him. Roberta Scarrott changed jobs and works the third shift so she can spend time helping her husband do once-simple tasks that have now become too difficult for him to do alone.

"The No. 1 positive is that I get to spend all my time with my little boy," he said. "Our new neighbors, who didn't know us from a hole in the ground, have accepted us and help us all the time. There's always a bright side, no matter what."

If Scarrott was to receive SSI funds, it would provide money for their house, his medications and medical bills, a chair-lift to get up and down the stairs and groceries.

Not giving up

Scarrott is appealing his denial for SSI. He has been warned that it could take up to three years for the entire process.

"My disease means that I have an average life expectancy of six years," he said. "That is half of my expected life span gone."

Despite the bombardment of discouragement from his deteriorating condition and the Social Security Administration, Scarrott and his wife remain positive.

"Those who have been so helpful, they know who they are, we want to thank them," Scarrott said. "I could have died in a car accident, and that would have been it. The good Lord has chosen for me to stick around for a while, and there's a reason. One of them is to bring this SSI atrocity out."

The Scarrotts have contacted the office of U.S. Rep. Bruce Braley, and it is investigating Scarrott's case.

Contact Molly Hottle at newsroom@wcfcourier.com.