Tony Mata suspected an ulcer or food poisoning after he threw up blood in 1999. Turns out a diseased liver had caused the veins in his esophagus to swell and burst.

Operations and a dozen medications have kept Mata alive. But fatigue, chronic pain, diabetes, memory loss, a depressed immune system and an inflamed spleen forced him to leave his landscaping job four years ago.

Rich Addicks / raddicks@ajc.com/Staff (ENLARGE)

Tony Mata, 50, who has terminal liver disease, has twice been denied disability benefits.

Mata's doctors have told him and Social Security that his condition is so grave that his only chance is a new liver. Those are hard to come by.

Mata does not expect to survive the 793 days it takes on average for a judge to hear a case at Social Security's Atlanta North office. This month, he asked the agency to expedite his hearing. So far, the agency has been unmoved by Mata's requests. They have turned him down for disability benefits twice since 2006.

Despite doctors' opinions that Mata could not even do a desk job, the agency ruled in August 2007 "that you are able to do your past work."

"The second time I cried," said Mata, 6 foot 2 and 250 pounds. "I don't cry."

Two years ago, broke and unemployed, Mata moved in with his parents Tony Sr. and Gloria, retirees living in the North Georgia mountains. They lovingly pay for everything.

Even so, Mata has sold some personal belongings on eBay to help pay his freight, including Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli and Madonna marionettes from a puppet collection he started as a kid.

"I am very thankful that my parents are here and willing to help me," Mata said. "But it is very difficult when you are 50 years old and you have to depend on your mom and dad."