POZ Community Forums
Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: Dale Parker on September 23, 2009, 02:54:00 pm
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Hey guys and gals:
Happy 1) My disability forms were finally 100% approved. I'll be getting a "pay cheque" at the end of the month from them.
Happy 2): They also sent me a booklet on programs they have on how to get back to work. I'm going to take a few weeks off of worrying about health, home and money (they all seem to be under control at the moment) and just relax a bit. In a few weeks I'll start to check out their programs.
Happy 3) I took a lot your great advise and got a volunteer job. It's at the local PWA (People With Aids) office. I volunteered to do laundry once a week. They run an acupuncture clinic and needed someone to wash, dry and fold the sheets they use. Yesterday was my first day and I did 8 loads of laundry. Never thought that I would be excited about doing other peoples dirty sheets but I'm over the moon with it. It's great to be giving back instead of taking for a change.
I hope your week is going as great as mine
Lots of love and hugs
Dale
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Thats great Dale. I hope things continue to go well for you.
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Wow Dale, you really took the bull by the horns and took charge of your life! You should really feel good and proud of your achievements. I bet you feel on top of the world right now, and so you should. Keep up the good work!
Ann
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Glad to hear things are going your way Dale. Happiness definitely helps make one feel better!
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wow that sounds like u got ur life back,, great start,,makes me wanna do more,,like volunteering,
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Hey, Congrats on your good fortune.
If you think you are happy now, just wait until you get that retroactive check from Disability.
My disability took five months to come through; but, my first check was for an amount figured from the day I applied. It was several grand, in my case. That brought me a whole lot of happiness. ;D
It's great you are volunteering too!
Good luck!
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Dale, this is great news! I remember your situation, and I'm so glad you've turned it around. Congrats!
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Great news Dale, the world is now your oyster.. ;).
It's time for a Happy Dance..we haven't had one of those for awhile.. ;D
Hugs
Jan
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Thanks guys and gals. You were a big part of of my turnaround. I owe you guys big time.
Thanks and big hugs to you all.
To top it off one of my friends company just bought a new coporate jet. They are doing 3 flights for their employees and I get to go along on one of the flights. We get to take it for a cruise around Niagara Falls this weekend.
Thanks again for all your support
Dale
P.S. I thougt that with how lucky I was this week I should buy a lottery ticket. Then again why push my luck.
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Congrats on all these good news Mr. parker. I hope you actually went for a lottery ticket, even if it was one of those scratch-off thingies. May Lady luck continue smiling on ye :)
m.
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Thanks M: But to tell you the truth I'm at a pretty happy time in my life (at least as happy as a pos guy can get). I think that Lady Luck has smiled enough on me this last year and I wouldn't want to abuse her.
Last September I was laid off from a job I had for almost 10 years. Not only was the job itself high pressure but the one owner was a real A-hole and caused the employees a lot of stress. I was one of the few at my level or higher that wasn't on high blood pressure meds because of the pressure.
I was lucky 1) to have worked there because if I hadn't of been able to survive that pressure for ten years I would have never been able to survive what I went thru in the last 6 months.
2) Lucky I was laid off as I would not have been able to handle work and all the stuff (time and emotional wise) I've been thru in the last 6 months. HIV+, bankrupsey, drug plans, getting and moving to subsidized housing, getting on disability. Most of which I might not have even been eligible for if I was working.
-Lucky that I read that sports article in the paper about a basketball player giving his girlfriend HIV. It listed all the symptoms I had. I have absolutely no interest in sports and should have never been interested in reading that article.
- Lucky I live in Toronto which has great support groups
- Lucky that my family is behind me 1000%. Even my super homophobic brother in-law is on my side and would give his left nut for me.
- Lucky to have friends that are loving, compassionate and extremely generous with their time and money.
- Lucky to have gotten into a really well maintained subsidized apartment in the perfect neighbourhood (great area, it's safe, close to the hospitals) after I initially turned it down. I also got it in 7 weeks when the waiting list in Toronto is about 7 years.
- Lucky that with a CD4 count of 21 I have never had a serious opportunistic infection or been hospitalized. I read that untreated CD4's go down on average 50 a year. I figure September 21st I would have had 0 CD4's left unless I had a major infection and got treated. That would not have been good.
-Lucky that I got to see one of the top HIV specialists in Canada (may be in North America) the day after I was diagnosed even though it was his day off.
-Lucky to have found this website with all the great information and amazing support that is given by people who don't even know me.
I guess above all I'm lucky that I have a great attitude and can see the silver lining around even the darkest of clouds.
I just wish that everyone on here had my luck.
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Congratulations Dale
...gold dust at your feet.... on the sunny side of the street!
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I understand what you are going through but it does get better. I also filed bankruptcy, went on disability, and lost my job where I was at for 18 years all within the last year. The key for me has been to find my inner happiness and really reevaluate what makes me truly happy and also what really promotes the least stress. Leading a stress-free and healthy lifestyle will only prove beneficial for those of use that are poz.