FReepers I Need to Pic Your Brains - Help!

me

[GrandmaC]

I know I have not been on for awhile. Many of you have written to me and asked what is going on. After Jarbidge in July 2000 I moved up to Idaho to be closer to my daughter. As many of you know I am disabled. Since I moved here I have been having a major nightmare with doctors. Without boring you with details, I am ready to quit the whole lot of them. But I have a ball and chain around my neck, social security disability, and long term disability from my employer. I am not looking for sympathy or instant cures with herbal medicine, but I am a good conservative and I want to remove this ball and chain! I also am not looking for charity or people to feel sorry for me!

This is where I am asking for help. I need a way or means to support myself from which I can do on my computer from home. It needs to be something that does not require a lot of reading. I have my computer set up at my bedside. Then I can quit the doctor thing, and just go once a year or so to my doctor in Reno for my meds.

This is a brief synopsis of my working history.

• Secretary for 3 years
  
• CNA-for 1 year while in school
• RN &/or Charge Nurse– for 19 years (Primarily Pediatrics, but also Adults and L&D)
  
• Started & Ran a Maternity Home for Pregnant minors while a nurse
  have gotten 501C3 status for the maternity home and another organization
• Authored Matty’s Heart a Child’s and Parents Guide to Open Heart Surgery (I donated these books to Kids with Heart many years ago and do not receive anything for them.)

  I have been disabled since 1996 with Myasthenia Gravis and Adult Onset Stills Disease.

  I must also say I am a very conservative Christian so anything I do has to be in line with my Christian Values and Love of my Lord.

  I need approximately $1500 a month to support myself: medications, utilities, house payment/rent etc (does not include medical insurance which I will loose my Medicare). That is the trade off. But I do not know what else to do. I need a business that can generate that kind of money and is not physically taxing. Oh yeah, I am 54 years old. Been disabled since I was 48. Was in the middle of starting the Medical Storybook business when I became ill and lost it all, infact still paying off some of it. I believe in honoring my debts, so I did not file for bankruptcy.

  Well it seems like an impossible task to me – How about you guys, any ideas to help me get off the taxpayers dime.

[Spunky]

Grandma C, I am sorry to hear of your situation.
Medical Transcription would probably be your best bet
for the use of your computer at home,
unless you know something about
Computer Aided Design, or designing Web pages.

[japaneseghost]

Seriously, I have a friend on disability, and it's not that easy to work every day when you're that sick.
I don't know what your monthly income presently is, but if you can live on it
(if it's more than the $1500 or so you need)
why don't you stay on it and volunteer your talents those days you feel well enough?

You could do computer work or consulting at home for conservative or religious causes,
thereby doing the world more good than trying to push yourself.

I ain't got no problem paying taxes to support people like you.

YOU WORKED AND CONTRIBUTED FOR YOUR INSURANCE/
DISABILITY INSURANCE AND YOU DESERVE THE MONEY!

[zog]

-I have something might work. I'm planning on doing this myself, by the way. Why don't you look into starting your own radio medical talk show? Run it in combo with a website. Look for sponsors, sell your books, write some more if possible, make audio cassette tapes on subjects, CD's, etc. Sell all that stuff on your site and on the air. All ya need is a phone patch for your feed to the transmitter someplace, high speed dsl or cable modem for the computer might be a lot better, but all you really need is some phone lines to start out with.

[Apple Pan Dowdy]

I loved Leni's (MinuteGal)idea to do the little booklets to sell to hospitals for the Children's ward. See post # 47.

If you can manage to do something like that, I will volunteer my services to design and set up a web site for you to promote the project. No charge, it will be our pleasure to serve a fellow FReeper. I own and run a small web design firm in Georgia (www.WildwoodForestStudios.com).

Perhaps we can find some other Freepers to help in the promotion. Anyone out there have a printing business who could help with some brosures and business cards? How about a FReeper out there who may be able to get you paper, printer ink, crayons, ribbon, baggies, etc at wholesale (or below) prices... anyone?

I am a firm believer that with the good Lord's help, nothing is impossible. I am adding my prayers with those of your other friends that something will work out. Contact me through FR mail if you ever want to take me up on my offer, and I'll send you my real email addy.

love and Gods Blessings to you.

[RightOnline]

I'd contact local churches and offer administrative services. IOW, find out if they have need for any administrative-type services that could be done "remotely". I think you'll be surprised; most churches of any size seem to have LOTS of such needs. Get one........two..........maybe three or four of 'em to pay you for such services per month. You could easily find yourself carving out a niche market, providing a service to multiple local churches. Each pays you enough to get their attention...:).......but not so much that it "hurts". Get a few of those, it adds up fast.

I know this works, for I did exactly that for over four years (only I served as a VP of Sales or Business Development ....or both..... for several companies at once.)

All you need is your brain, a computer/printer, fax capability, and a couple of phone lines (can start with one, obviously). Zip for overhead.

God bless, good luck.

[swampfox98]

How nice to hear from you again, Grandma C. Free Republic has grown so large it is hard to find old friends posting anymore.

Your medical background and writing ability should not be ignored. Have you thought of writing more books? This time keeping the royalties?

The best to you! We love you! Keep in touch. God Bless you.

[zog]

--yes, sent her one idea. I'm having fun reading all the replies as well, some good ideas. hehehehe I went to the medical transcriptionist page and took the typing test ROTFLMAO! I stink! hehehehehe In fact, I stink SO bad, think I'll check out that speech to text software! more HAHAHAHA!

[Byron_the_Aussie]

Hi Grandma C,

I don't have any suggestions but hopefully it's heartening for you to see the many excellent ones presented by other Freepers. Praying that something will come up for you, who have done so much for others. I'm a little surprised that one of the property rights politicians hasn't contacted you to handle their mail or media issues; you'd be perfect, for that. Warmest regards, By.

[SteamshipTime]

I'd say data entry or a directory information operator for a cellular service. Maybe medical transcription or technical writing as well. If you can get your health to the point where you can make it to a workplace, I think your opportunities will be greatly enhanced.

Best wishes and may God bless you.

[slugbug]

How about crisis intervention? I'm not sure if this is usually done from home, but all you need is a phone and a medical background so it's feasible.

Also, with your maternity background, why not call the local hospital and see if they will hire you to make follow-up calls to their OB patients after they go home. I know at the hospital I work at, they call every patient a few days to a week after discharge to make sure things are going well and to answer any questions. Also, our lactation consultants call all the breast feeding moms after discharge to see if they have any questions or are experiencing any problems so that is another potential area to explore.

Good luck to you, GrandmaC!

[slugbug]

Just thought of another thing. Many cities have an "Ask a Nurse" phone service for people to call in with medical questions-perhaps you could check on something like that as well.

[Ima Lurker]

Thanks for the bump backhoe. Grandma you have freepmail.

[The Drowning Witch]

backhoe pinged me, grandma, but I have no ideas to help you, being a bear of very little brain. I do hope and pray you recieve some assistance. Not being in your situation, I cannot begin to imagine the difficulties you must be facing. Please know that I wish you the best. I have always tried to live within my own means, nowhere near as difficult as yours, but I applaud you for doing the same.

Be brave, be true.....
Stand. (Figuratively, lass....)

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

This is a great thread. You're not alone out there. Please do the activism work...even part time from home. You're a natural - persuasive, passionate and a good communicator. You can always take on part-time medical transcriptionist work if necessary, but what you could do with a job you love...and to potentially save someone's land....you go for it!

Sending prayers. Please keep us informed.

Thanks for the ping, Ron. (^:

[GrandmaC]

Wow what a great Idea. Not sure I could live off it but that sounds so cool. It may need to be a combination of things I will need to do.

ALL FReepers

Thank you all, there are so many wonderful ideas here, it will take me time to review and comment on them all. It will probably take me Days to get through it all with my eyes - but I will and I will keep checking back on here. I can't tell you how much I appreciate this. FReepers are wonderful! I will also post an Update thread to keep you all posted. Thank you so much.

[GrandmaC]

I wish you did too. Though with internet it may not be impossible. We can both pray about it. Anything I wrote would probably be Christian in nature or medical. Even if it was a story.

[GrandmaC]

It is a possiblity, but I tend to loose caps if I type very much and my fingers become weaker. But it might be something I could do on part time basis. Just don't know what a lot of typing would do. I can type obviously, but with MG repetitive things can make the muscles weaker. I will practice typing and see what happens.

[GrandmaC]

LOL nice brain

[Glenn]

How about a hotline nurse for an HMO? That's a hot profession these days.

[GrandmaC]

Thank you, I see they have no opening for jobs on their employment page, but it says they are accepting resumes all the time. I started my resume this afternoon and will mail it too them. All they can say is no. I am at the same place I am now.

Your $20,000 may be right. Because right now I pay no taxes on my money, I don't even have to file. I am sure that would change. :o)