Hi all. It's been awhile since I last posted. I was going to post tomorrow about Carol's 1st week of treatment which went pretty well, but after checking the snail mail today everything seems as if its going back to square one and her treatment is a mute point.

Just to recap, Carol had received a full city contract for her care and we were getting use to the
routine...pharmacy, doctors, lab work, radiation, chemo treatments, red tape, dotting i's, crossing t's, etc., you know, everything a patient has to go through. She received letters today from Medicaid (approved, dating back to 1/10/10) and a letter from the facility she's being treated at saying her full city contract has expired because she was awarded SSI and Medicaid. She hasn't received an award letter from SSA saying she is approved for SSI. Neither one of us were aware that an application for Medicaid was made when applying for SSI. Carol's disability through SSA is still under review.

Couldn't these people pick a worse time to inform her? Another 3 day weekend and SSA, Medicaid aren't open on Monday. President's Day. I wish for the old days...Washington's Birthday, Lincoln's Birthday Now she has to go through the whole routine again... Will they still do radiation treatments in the meantime (of getting requalified - Whatever Medicaid won't pay for Shands will and whatever she gets from SSI won't be enough to pay household bills, etc AND the medical bills. It's not like she won the lottery!!) or if not how great will the lapse in treatment affect her? If Monday wasn't a holiday I would be able to get everything taken care of that day (wishful thinking on my part?) so she could resume treatments Tuesday. But because of the Monday holiday, it'll take all of Tuesday..then maybe treatment resume Wednesday? She has chemo on Fridays.

Another weekend of worry and Carol is really upset. It's not like she has a cold or the flu or a broken leg..this is her LIFE they're messing with!!!! Now she doesn't know what's going to happen, who's going to treat her, and if they're just going to let her die. Sorry all, but that's how she feels right now. I'm really pissed off and there's not a damn thing I can do about this mess until Monday (with hospital) and Tuesday with government. Cancer patients shouldn't have to deal with this crap...they need to stay focused with fighting this disease. I feel so bad for her. I'm at a loss. Carol had been doing pretty good this past week, her mental attitude had changed. She had finally gotten her head wrapped around this, then this happens.

Linda