OK Petey, this looks like a promising start. But please do not become complacent here. Assume this path you are on isn't gong to work out. Get on your computer and start writing more people. I think if you ask your state representatives for help they will have a hard time not working for you.

So here's a free idea. Google blogs are free. They will connect you to the whole world. If I were you, since you are willing to put so much time writing on this board, I would start a Google blog about how you got into this, the uphill battle, and the lack of response, and choices. I would make sure that you email the address of your new blog to everyone you can. Post on it everyday about the things you try, the dead ends you reach, and the successes you find. I would be sure that you stay to the facts, do not talk about acceptance, but come across as a warrior for your life. As you get turned down by agencies, and individuals in them, as well as any congressmen, mayors, senators, etc. I would enter the resulting correspondence or conversations, even if just with their gatekeepers, word for word in your blog. Ask for their names BEFOR you begin your dialog and requests. If you reach a dead end, I would let those people see and know that they, and their names, branches of government, institution, or whatever is going to be named in your blog and visible to the world. You might be very surprised at how little bad press these bureaucrats can tolerate. This would all cost you nothing but your time, and it appears that you have a bunch of that. When you get your blog up and running, post the address here and others will pass it around including me.

You have to be compelling, you have to be sincere, you have to be real, you have to express your frustration, pain, and emotional condition. You cannot get sued for telling the truth. The squeaky wheel gets the oil. Time for a lube job. Time to let those in the system that is letting you down have a little light shine on them in a public venue. This is how a person that wants to live and has few resources can turn the tables around. This is fighting, changing your own situation, and maybe that of others around you at the same time. This is a noble endeavor, deserving of someone who values life.

Lastly I do not want to see you posting on here about how you can't live without a tongue. You do disservice to others who have fought hard for life. Glenn gave up part of his brain twice, a kidney, half his liver, sections of his lungs, had seizures from mets, and fought every day without complaint to live just a few days more. He approached each day with that spirit. He is just one of many. When you post that life without a tongue would be more than you could take, you do not elicit empathy from people here who have watched the courage of other

Brian, stage 4 oral cancer survivor. OCF Founder and Director. The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant.