{"id":612,"date":"2009-02-20T02:20:52","date_gmt":"2009-02-20T06:20:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/reflectionsfromacountrygirl.com\/?p=612"},"modified":"2009-02-20T09:46:27","modified_gmt":"2009-02-20T13:46:27","slug":"glimmers-of-hope-down-and-out-in-sc-part-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/reflectionsfromacountrygirl.com\/?p=612","title":{"rendered":"Glimmers of Hope – Down and Out in SC: Part 5"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

Jerry called this evening.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0It has been an active couple of days and we agreed I would be down next week to take him to a vocational rehabilitation appointment as well as to an opthamologist appointment at a local clinic that will see him based on his income.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

I could tell he was cautiously optimistic on the other end of the phone.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0He had gotten a phone call from DSS earlier in the day and he did qualify for foodstamps.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0The voucher would be in his mail tomorrow.\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

He was encouraged.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0He was so relieved that \u00e2\u20ac\u0153someone finally believed him.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0he said.\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

He had recently met with a kind and focused Social Security staff member to file an application for SSI and SSDI.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0One was because of his documented disability since the coma\/stroke and the other was for basic social security benefits.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0The staff member was exceptional.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0He asked why we were there and we told him that the medicaid office said we had to apply there first before he could qualify for medicaid.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0We explained that we really were not sure why, but perhaps the medical records would give him information he needed.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0As soon as he saw the medical reports, he was quick to say \u00e2\u20ac\u0153I see. Let\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s get started.\u00e2\u20ac\u009d He explained it would take two to three months before he heard.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0He said to make sure Jerry calls him if he hasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t heard in three months.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Three months. \u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Jerry is still homeless.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0All the places he will apply for expect that he will have some kind of income.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0Since he has none, except the food stamps, that will be hard to do.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0We suspect that, with the hope of having SSI or SSDI in the next few months, that will be enough for him to get on a waiting list.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0Most said it would be at least a years wait.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0There were a few, however, that said three to six months.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0That was encouraging.\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

I just hope he can hang in there that long until the possible funds come through for him to get in a meager but decent housing situation.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0We promised to talk every day to each other. \u00c2\u00a0Though we are two hours away, that will make the connection and the hope seem closer. \u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

I heard encouragement in his voice for the first time today in a very long time.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0I am sure I will see some of that in his eyes when I go to his appointments with him next week.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0I am happy for him that he has been able to see glimmers of hope hear and there.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

There are many of us finding trying times these days.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0Jerry\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s story is but one of many.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0As we waited and watched, we could see there were families and other individuals in similar circumstances.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

My wish for you today<\/strong>\u00c2\u00a0is that you look for glimmers of hope in trying times.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0It may take awhile to see them, but if you hang in there, you, too, may discover them as Jerry is beginning to.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

~ Joellen<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jerry called this evening.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0It has been an active couple of days and we agreed I would be down next week to take him to a vocational rehabilitation appointment as well as to an opthamologist appointment at a local clinic that will see him based on his income.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 I could tell he was cautiously optimistic on […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11,50],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-612","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-conflicts","category-personal-challenges"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/reflectionsfromacountrygirl.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/612","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/reflectionsfromacountrygirl.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/reflectionsfromacountrygirl.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reflectionsfromacountrygirl.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reflectionsfromacountrygirl.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=612"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/reflectionsfromacountrygirl.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/612\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/reflectionsfromacountrygirl.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=612"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reflectionsfromacountrygirl.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=612"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/reflectionsfromacountrygirl.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=612"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}