Joy for a Joyful Holiday!
Thursday, 4 December 2014

I awoke late today, as in spite of a comfortable bed of my own, I am having back issues, and I have discovered that my right knee is damaged.

My patella is split, and I have been experiencing a lingering burning feeling around my right knee now for many weeks. (Remember, my whole right side, and the left side of my face, are numb and I have no sense of hot/cold or dull/sharp!)  I was writing it off to the early winter weather here in NE Ohio, snow and cold temps, but now that I can actually bathe in private and get my pants off (I have been wearing the same pair of jeans every day since I bought them on 9 October 2014, my 57th birthday), and now I can actually look at my legs.

They are in bad shape. Though now that I am sleeping prone, and not upright in a too small bucket truck seat, the swelling has subsided, and they look like their normal skinny bird like selves again! Except for the red rashes and the open sores. (I know, TMI!)

Otherwise, I feel good.

So anyway, I was awakened while trying to find a comfortable position for my back and my knees, when Charlie, Sheryl's 2 1/2 YO American Spaniel, began barking incessantly, obviously upset that Sheryl had just left for her afternoon shift at work.

So I calmed Charlie down, drew a very hot bath, and soaked and scrubbed my legs and steamed my aching joints and my back muscles.

I made some soft scrambled eggs and sweet iced tea (decaf), and fired up my laptop.

Lo and behold! An email from Patrice, the paralegal at Bevan and Associates handling my SS Case! She advised that SSA has approved not just the SSI I went for the interview on on the 20th, but that they approved my DISABILITY too!

I still have some paperwork to get in, but my benefits are scheduled to start on 14 January 2015!

Hallelujah! Now I can catch up on my debts, pay a regular rent and utilities to Sheryl, and start paying forward for all of the assistance I have had the last year! I have been homeless since I was evicted from my apartment in February of 2014, and have only had my EBT and Medicaid since August of 2014, though I will lose the $194/mo Food Stamps when SS starts paying in January. I will go down to $15/mo for Food under the Federal Program.

I have much to look forward to now, and it is all due to caring friends and family!

May God Bless you All this Christmas Season, and throughout the upcoming new year!

Thank You, ALL!