Re: Mount Sani Hospital Patient Post Liver 2005 - reply

[Guest guest]

Drew

I had my transplant 5 years ago and am just now feeling like I would like to go to work again. Up until now, I have only worked during the summer at a camp for kids with disabilities and it is a job I have had for 12 years, so I know what to expect, and since many of the campers are in wheelchairs or on crutches or walkers, the physical demands are minimal. I'm also 57 so I am much closer to the end of my working life then you. However, I am always on the lookout for opportunities.

Currently I get disability payments from social security, which provides medicare and also I get medicaid because I don't own anything. This works for me because my kids are grown and I live with my mother who helped me through my surgery and now she need my help because she is elderly. When I talked to the SS people they said that few companies would hire transplant patients because of the insurance needs. They recommended large companies that had many employees covered in their health plan, and named Walmart specifically. I thought that was poor advice.

It is possible to have an income and still collect SS disability and keep Medicare. You have to work with the people at the SS office and they will give you all the info necessary. I have thought of returning to substitute teaching which I have done in the past, but also saw a new program at the vision department of University of Michigan to train Ophthalmic technicians. It is a 6 month program and there is a big need around the country. I figure that is a job that would not be too physically demanding, and should pay okay but also have good health plans.

This is just an example of thinking outside the disability box. If you don't feel up to working , give yourself more time, life really gets easier for tx patients after 2,3,4,or even 5 years.

As far as having more than 1 tx, I think most of us get by with our first liver, the medications are getting better and the docs are learning more about giving the right liver to the right candidate. Don't plan on having another major surgery, but if it happens--you will deal with it and keep going.

Take Care

MizKitCheck out AOL Money Finance's list of the hottest products and top money wasters of 2007.

[Guest guest]

Thanks Mizkitcmp12305@... wrote: Drew I had my transplant 5 years ago and am just now feeling like I would like to go to work again. Up until now, I have only worked during the summer at a camp for kids with disabilities and it is a job I have had for 12 years, so I know what to expect, and since many of the campers are in wheelchairs or on crutches or walkers, the physical demands are minimal. I'm also 57 so I

am much closer to the end of my working life then you. However, I am always on the lookout for opportunities. Currently I get disability payments from social security, which provides medicare and also I get medicaid because I don't own anything. This works for me because my kids are grown and I live with my mother who helped me through my surgery and now she need my help because she is elderly. When I talked to the SS people they said that few companies would hire transplant patients because of the insurance needs. They recommended large companies that had many employees covered in their health plan, and named Walmart specifically. I thought that was poor advice. It is possible to have an income and still collect SS disability and keep Medicare. You have to work with the people at the SS office and they will give you all the info necessary. I have thought of

returning to substitute teaching which I have done in the past, but also saw a new program at the vision department of University of Michigan to train Ophthalmic technicians. It is a 6 month program and there is a big need around the country. I figure that is a job that would not be too physically demanding, and should pay okay but also have good health plans. This is just an example of thinking outside the disability box. If you don't feel up to working , give yourself more time, life really gets easier for tx patients after 2,3,4,or even 5 years. As far as having more than 1 tx, I think most of us get by with our first liver, the medications are getting better and the docs are learning more about giving the right liver to the right candidate. Don't plan on having another major surgery, but if it happens--you will deal with it and keep going. Take

Care MizKit Check out AOL Money Finance's list of the hottest products and top money wasters of 2007.

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