Posted on 09/13/2013 8:55:51 PM PDT by trussell
Well, I sure screwed it up today… I went to sit down on a chair that wasn't there and fell, now I can't move my legs and the ER released me saying nothing is broke so there is nothing they can/will do. No brace, no chair, no crutches, nothing. The doctor didn't even touch me, tell me to wiggle toes, take my temp, listen to my heart, nothing...just a CT scan and then let me go. I couldn't even get in the car without a nurse, 2 cops and a citizen who offered to help. I don't know what to do now, I can't walk :'(
This is of course concerning to me since I have a fused spine and ongoing issues. I'm calling my pain management doc to see if he wants to do something different.
I hear ya with him being a great student! I know you are proud of him...as is his Auntie LUV!
Maybe she can come over during the day to help. I just hate you to be alone without being able to get around. :(
Anyway...take care of you and DON’T overdo! (((hugs)))
Still praying for you. I’m so sorry. It seems never ending for your back misery.
Are you still in Georgia? If you’re close to me, I’d be more than happy to bring food and make sure you have something to drink within reach. I’m north of Griffin.
Thank you for keeping us informed. Prayers continue...
thank you for the offer, but you are about 211 miles from me.
Thank you also for the prayers...those are so much appreciated.
It’s a good idea, though. There may be another Freeper closer who would be willing. Maybe a local church could help, at least with meals.
That was an excellent idea...I called the church and mentioned some problems I'm having because of my condition...my bible study leader brought me a new (very small) microwave. I feel very blessed! I just need someone who would be willing to take my son to the store for me so we can get a few things...we managed to get an old neighbor to take him last night (it's a miracle getting this one to do such a thing)...I'm friends with his wife and she is a wonderful, loving person...her husband is nice, but doesn't like to volunteer to help out much. The store was sold out of most of what was on the list. I called them to find out why and they said "we were busy...we are re-stocking now. Too bad your son didn't ask someone, they would have helped get what you needed". The neighbor isn't usually available and the church pastors wouldn't answer their phones!
There may be organizations for disabled people who could either help you or know who could.
Are you in Georgia? I googled for ‘Georgia disability resources’ and these came up:
Georgia ‘s Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC)
http://www.georgiaadrc.com/
“Georgia’s ADRCs serve older individuals, individuals with disabilities of all ages, families, caregivers and professionals.”
Disability Resource Center, Inc.
http://www.disabilityresourcecenter.org/
Gainesville, GA
Shepherd Center Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation
http://www.shepherd.org/
UAB Spinal Cord Injury Model System
http://www.uab.edu/medicine/sci/
Links to various spinal organizations.
Each state will have different organizations and non-profits. There may be something for disabled people in your area.
I once dated a blind woman who worked with the disabled. She was given a ride every day to and from work. I don’t remember what organization did that, if it was a non-profit or a government program, but she did not have to pay for it. If she wanted to go shopping or to church she had to call a taxi, but it was arranged for her to get to work and back for free.
You might try contacting some disability organizations and asking them if there is anything in your area. Tell them that, while you are expecting to recover, at the moment you are legally disabled. As such you qualify for whatever help is out there.
Also: I think you said that you were renting. There may be assistance available to help disabled people get into homes that are handicap accessible. If you are renting your landlord isn’t going to want to be widening bathroom doors. You need to be living somewhere where you can have access to the whole house.
Is there any improvement yet?
trussell; Heart of Georgia
Heart of Georgia wrote: “There may be another Freeper closer who would be willing.”
Seriously, Heart of Georgia had a good idea with the Freepers. There might be Freepers close to you who could help out. You wouldn’t have to be specific, but if you posted your general locality you might find some people who could help.
“the church pastors wouldn’t answer their phones!”
Yep. My mother was diagnosed with advanced cancer. I was desperate to find someone to pray for her. I went to a church that supposedly believed in laying on of hands to pray as it says to do in James. I met with the pastor and he said, “Well, I guess you could bring her in next Tuesday... maybe someone will be in the office.”
In my experience — and I don’t want to slam all pastors because satan is the accuser and I don’t want to get anywhere near that — but in my limited experience, with the way the Church is today, most local churches will let you down. They want you to be there for them (to pay your tithes) but when you need them they are hard to find. Now, that is a generalization. Hopefully I am wrong. But every church that I have been a member of has let me down.
I am called to be a pastor and am preparing to start a church for disabled people. I am not a “professional” pastor in that (a) I don’t believe that a church should be led by one “senior pastor” but by multiple elders as the NT teaches and (b) I don’t believe in pastors being paid salaries. Many pastors have been ruined by getting into an institution called a “church” and treating it like a career. This leads to phones not being answered when the poorer members need help.
If Mother Teresa was still on earth and was close enough to you, she would be there in your home helping you. She would be helping you get to the bathroom, dress and bathe. She would cook your meals and bring them to you. She would be trying to figure out a way for you to get around the house. And she wouldn’t leave until she knew you were taken care of. She had that kind of love.
Most pastors would not do that. And they don’t have that kind of love.
Jesus said, “When you do it to the least of these My brethren you do it to Me.”
This is the kind of stuff churches are supposed to be doing. Helping people like you. Not sitting around thinking about the next building project.
The option to move isn’t a true option. I live with a wonderful man who is being very understanding of my inability to pay rent. When I’m not recovering from surgery or laid up like I am now, I help with cleaning and the pets and cooking. I just pray my legs start working soon so I can get this house unpacked and easier for me to keep up with.
I will try to contact a few of these organizations to see if any can help with store transport...I don’t have any income to pay for a taxi.
VERY small improvement...both big toes are willing to give small movement. But...I’LL TAKE IT!
We are just North of Savannah...
I found this:
Getting Where You Need to Go | Division of Aging Services
http://aging.dhs.georgia.gov/getting-where-you-need-go
which had these links:
Georgia Services for Seniors
Georgia Association of Area Agencies on Aging
http://www.georgiaservicesforseniors.org
Georgia Transit Links
American Public Transportation Association
http://www.apta.com/resources/links/unitedstates/Pages/GeorgiaTransitLinks.aspx
Transportation Resources
State of Georgia ADA Coordinator’s Office
http://ada.georgia.gov/transportation
You might contact your county headquarters and ask them if they know what seniors/disabled transportation services are available in your county. They may have a list.
I agree with Pastor Books. He’s made some excellent suggestions. There has to be someone, or some organization, that could help.
Otherwise, having small appliances at your level is ideal. If a church member (or your landlord) would be willing to set up a temporary low counter space for your food and small appliances that you could access easily, that would be wonderful.
You may even have a sturdy dresser that would be low enough to work. The drawers could be used to store foods that won’t spoil quickly. An ice chest nearby would work for lunch meat and drinks. Getting through doorways is another problem, though, if you must stay where you are.
I know it’s tough to find people who are willing. It seems everyone is stretched to the limit with work and/or other responsibilities.
I don’t know why the pastors aren’t answering their phones except to say, if they’re as busy as the ones I know, their weekly office time is extremely limited. Also, I’m sure you know that many pastors work a 40-hour job in addition to their church duties, so they aren’t available to do much. Even the larger churches depend on volunteers, but those who have the time to volunteer seem few and far between these days. I imagine the small churches are even more stretched.
There has to be someone, some organization, in your area willing to pick up what you need at the store, or to take your son shopping.
If you’d like some help searching, I’m willing. If you could PM with your basic location, I’d be happy to look up and call around to govt orgs and local churches. It seems temporary is what you need, at least at the moment, so there should be help available somewhere.
Let me know.
I called 211, which is the united way information line. They gave me some numbers which I have called all but one. The one I didn’t call yet is one that Pastor Books listed, so I will call them tomorrow. The others, they don’t help in my area or what they do in my area is extremely limited that they are not able to help me.
Thanks for the update. I wonder why they don’t offer services in your area? Doesn’t seem right.
They are out of the larger city, south of here...they come to this county one day a week and deliver frozen meals, that is the only service they provide.
...and, if you are on the list of people who can’t pay $6 per meal, you are put on a waiting list...those on the waiting list are served last and from what I was told, they are very rarely able to help those on the waiting list, and if they do have some left for the waiting list, it’s usually only for 1 or 2 people...and the list is lengthy. So no help from that organization. There are many other organizations in Savannah, but none of them serve this county.
My biggest need right now, is transportation for me and my son...one, to get to the old house and get the last of the stuff brought to the new house and the garage swept out to turn the house back over to the owner. And two, transport to the store so I can get some food for meals. My boy is good at following cooking directions. If I had the food, I could teach him how to cook it...but I can’t get to the store. I’m so aggravated and frustrated!
I was going to suggest an organization I found out about there on the coast, but I suppose you’ve tried all the agencies at 211, and I believe this one was on their list. It looked like a possibility, because their stated goal is feeding the hungry, but I just don’t know what to think about any of them now.
Yes, as soon as you’re able to drive, that will be the best thing. You can cook your meals much more cheaply, as you know.
It seems as if voluntarism is gone, though, if frozen meals is the best they can do for shut-ins. That’s sad.
Not to mention, I got a call from my church today. I left messages on all 3 pastor’s phones asking for a ride to the store. One of them called me back late in the day, but at least he called me back. The one who called me today said I was taking advantage of them for asking them for a ride to the store...I decided if the church is going to be that petty about me asking for a ride...I don’t want to belong to that sort of church! GOODBYE former church :(
Oh, my goodness. I’m sorry that happened.
But please try not to think badly about the church. They’re made up of people just like us -people with issues, family problems, financial pressures, etc., and sometimes react without thinking it through.
I know you’re hurting, but try to keep in mind that a small church is probably doing all they can, and even the large churches are limited in their resources and have very few volunteers.
Either way, maybe they got you confused with someone who has done that - taken advantage. After working in my church office for several years, I witnessed that aspect of it firsthand. You wouldn’t believe the folks who expected our church to pay their bills - more than a few times. But there were many in your situation just needing transportation or temporary help, and we were able to do that whenever needed. Of course, there were plenty of volunteers.
I don’t know what to say. Since I only live 200 miles from you, I could come and take your son to the store to stock up. But you may need long term care, and that has to be addressed somehow.
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