A Letter From Jane

  
This is a letter to my Parkinson's friends who have been following my travels in Virtuality, I didn't think I had anything to say this month. But it came to mind, that I have volumes of stories about my life with Parkinson's. They are like little journeys in my life.

I must tell you about my experience with Social Security. It started in 1985 or 1986 sorry I didn't have any records of these first events. I knew I should be able to get Social Security because I worked until I couldn't get through the day. So, one day I stopped by the SS office and told them I was disabled and would like to receive my pension. They told me to fill out the forms they gave me so I sat in their office and tried to remember dates, DR's, conditions, medications, anyway I kind of faked myself through the paper work, and left the paperwork with them to evaluate.  I went on my way confident that I would be getting my money shortly. The Dr. that had diagnosed me had no bedside manner. I truly believe that he thought I was faking my illness. He was the only Neurologist in town. I had gone back to him several times to get my medicine adjusted. The last time I saw him he told me he didn't want to see me again for ten years. Well, he hasn't! I now travel to Medford, Oregon, 80 miles away but sadly the events during that time I tried to get my SS were without a Dr. A month or so passed by and I finally got my letter.

It was a sudden shock to find out that I wasn't disabled. Somehow I interpreted it to mean that I hadn't worked enough quarter hours to get SS. I was devastated. I couldn't
stop crying. I cried for at least three days. When I finally put myself together, I decided that I didn't want that money, it wouldn't take away the Parkinson Disease. This was just the beginning of my 4 year battle with Social Security. More next month.....jjjane

jjjane

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