From: "Jerald Hellemeyer" <bippie-AT-hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Disability and anarchism (was Re: baby food)
Date: Thu, 11 Feb 1999 13:54:43 CST






>PS
>
>When do you have to make the decision to have the operation?

I have a couple of years to decide.  My doctors say that on the one hand 
I should wait until I absolutely have to to have the surgery as 
technology is moving by leaps and bounds and they may discover a new 
treatment, but on the other hand, That I should have it as soon as 
possible as the younger you are, the better the chances of recovery.
It depends on how rapidly my condition deteriorates. But they told me I 
should have a couple of years.

>When kids over here get really ill, they are often taken on a once in 
>a lifetime trip to Disneyland.
>
>Don't let them make you do that...

Perish the thought.  However, my doctors have forbidden me from 
returning to work.  This leaves me a lot of free time.  I also have 
private disability insurance from my employer that will supplement my 
social security disability.  This will leave me a little spending money 
(not a whole lot, but every little bit...).  So I'm thinking about 
spending a few months with my sister in York (she married a Brit).  Her 
best friend lives in Scotland and has invited me to spend some time 
there with him.  He has also invited me to go with him to Ireland when 
He visits his family.  My sister also has friends on the continent who I 
can stay with.

And when I return, I plan on putting a camper on the back of my truck 
and taking off to see the US and Canada.  There is a lot I want to see 
and I'd better do it now while I still can.  Who knows if I'll get 
another chance.

This also gives me the opportunity to finish the book I've been working 
on and to go back to college full time (all expenses paid, no less).

My long term prospects may look grim, but in the short term, I'm gonna 
have a good ol' time!  Guess it goes to show that every cloud has a 
silver lining. Ewwwww!  I can't believe I just said that. 

Jerald

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