. >> reporter: in louisiana exonorees are else available for $330,000 in compensation payment but when he applied if the money the judge denied his request. saying he is not innocent was because he may have known about the shooting beforehand a claim he denies. when marty heard about the state's refusal to compensate ford is when he sat down and wrote his extraordinary letter to the editor saying ford deserves every penny owed to him. >> my personal belief is he should be compensated. the cap on damages of $330,000 is a joke. >> reporter: ford needs that restitution money now more than ever. just months after he got out, he was given a different kind of death sentence, stage four lung cancer. he currently survives on donations and is cared for by a staff of volunteers. when we spoke to ford on the afternoon before his meeting with stroud, he was so wiped out he could hardly open his eyes. >> what was your reaction when marty stroud wrote that letter apologizing to you and your family? >> i couldn't believe sglit 30 years is a long time to be in a prison for a crime that you didn't do a