NEWS FROM ANDREA--O.T.

[Guest guest]

Hi group,

I recently heard from ...She wanted me to to update the Stills group on

how she is doing...

'' My hearing went pretty well. It was done via Telecasting. The ALJ

(Administrative Law

Judge) was in Boston, while the Vocational

Expert (Brought in by Social Security), my Lawyer, me, and my witnesses where

all in Toledo. The

hearing lasted an hour and half. My Mom, Dad, and Brother all had to testify.

In addition a friend of mine from College testified and (Granger) Muntz

e-mailed and affidavit to my lawyer that my lawyer sent to my ALJ. You

wouldn’t

have believed some of the comments and questions the Judge asked. 1st

of all she asked me what is Agriculture? I was shocked that she asked me that.

I had to describe Agriculture to her and then I had to describe what I taught

about Agriculture. My Dad and my Brother really hit her hard with the fact that

I live in the middle of nowhere and not in a large metropolis. The Judge was

also shocked that my family helped me finish my teaching contract and then

moved me home and is modifying their home to accommodate my disability. And

then when my brother came in and said that he came home to help with anything

that needed to be done that my parents weren’t able to do during the week

because of needing to care for me, or he helped care for me to give my parents

a break she was amazed that my family would do this for me. My Lawyer had to

explain that where we live in

an area where most of us where raised and live on

a farm and we have to all work together in order to survive. She couldn’t

believe that my family would willingly change their lifestyle to help me. But

in the end, I believe we had the Judge convinced that I am disabled and I have

been disabled since June 30, 2005 when I lost my job. The Vocational Expert who

was in the room at all times during my hearing determined that I am unable to

work at any of my previous work experiences, and that there is no job in the

country I could work at, and that I have been this way since June 30, 2005.

I am now in the Hurry Up and Wait Stage.

I saw my

Rheumatologist yesterday and she gave me a month supply of a lower dose of the

new medication I am supposed to start for my Still’s. That should give me

enough until we can get it pre-approved by Medicaid and I can start receiving

my medication from the pharmacy. My Rheumatologist (Dr. Mohan) is really hoping

that this new medication helps me so she can call Dr. Roessler and go “HA I

was

able to treat her and help when you couldn’t.â€Â 

Dr. Roessler is the staff Dr. at The U of M who supervised Dr. Mohan and

who allowed the Fellow who took Dr. Mohan’s place at the U of M to just brush

me off and said they had exhausted their knowledge and told me to seek another

opinion.

When I saw her at the end of May I got the feeling

that she was upset by the way I was t

reated at the U of M after she completed

her fellowship and left.  She had told me

at the May appointment that she had talked to Dr. Roessler to find out what

happened, and then when I told her how I was treated, I could tell she was very

upset. Yesterday, she confirmed that she is very upset over how the U of M

treated me, and she really would love to throw it in their face that she could

help and treat me when they couldn’t.

I am recovering from my Hysterectomy very well. I am wishing I had done 2 years

ago. This is the 1st time in I don't know how many years that I have not had

severe lower abdominal pain. I go see my OBGYN tomorrow for a check up. I hope

she will give me the ok to start my Humira this weekend.

  Also could I ask you to update the Still's Group on how I am doing and how

my hearing went.

& Coco