I am searching for someone with experience or answers to some of my question. I made the choice to have treatment at a CCC. I have a 21 month old son in daycare and a wife in school. We live in KY. Our income last year was a pretty descent income.

My wife quit her job last year though to return to school to get her degree. With my salary and normal overtime we would have been ok. At the end of Nov. I had and MS exacerbation and then got my cancer Dx on 12-29-06. I have short term disability, employee paid long term disability, and my health insurance has been great so far. My std ends this week and I will start my ltd at 80% pay.

I just finished my tx but expect to have a radical neck dissection in 2-4 weeks. I was informed that at six months from the time I went on std even though I had worked on and off after the first day of std, my company will no longer offer me my insurance and will have to apply for COBRA insurance until I return to fulltime. Also that eventhough I do not expect to be permanantly disabled I have to actively seek social security disability. I thought my ltd was to cover times like this. I guess I didn't understand. My question is, should I seek a lawyer for this part to ensure I am getting the proper benefits of my insurances, KY laws ect?

My wife also has checked with the schools to see if she could get help for the upcoming fall semester and they acted as if it would be almost impossible to do until the winter semester due to our taxable income last year. I understand that but is there not hardship considerations? We also have sought help with childcare and have ran into the same wall. Last years taxable income. This is really frustrating because I made my treatment decisions based on feeling safe that with all of my insurances, help for my wife and son on things that people who can't work get help with, ect we would be ok. Now it looks a little grim.

Now I am not ungrateful for all the blessings we have been given but even with what seems like my responsibilities fullfilled we will not get help until it's basically to late. I'm trying not to get into the whole anger thing about people who abuse the system getting everything they need, but people who have insurance,pay taxes, and do the best they can, have an awful lot of trouble recieving any help.

So here's my question, is there anyone who can help me navigate this system to get the assistance that we need? I do not want the assistance that people who don't have insurance, or jobs, or anything need. I want that to be there for them. I'm seeking the assistance that I feel I should receive from the gov. since I have always paid taxes. I also want to make sure that my employer and insurance companies are really giving me all the benefits that I am supposed to receive. Can anyone help me with this? I am not the type that digs deep into all of this stuff so I need help getting started and navigating. If there is even anything I can do.

It just frustrates me that my wife and I have been trying so hard and it still looks like she may have to drop out of school or we will be financially devastated by the time this is over with. It makes that question hang out in my head of where's my government when I need it, as I have no choice when it needs something from me. I'm sure we have all felt this and I don't want that anger and frustration in me while I'm trying to fight this. I thought if I could get some direction I wouldn't have to get angry over it all. Thanks for your time, any help or guidance would be appreciated. Lee