Hi roomies, Just wanted to share some good news about my A. Most of you know that after his current relapse, he (operative word, he with my full support) decided that he would be better off in a halfway house. Well today he has moved out of the halfway house into assisted living. He shares an apartment with a roomate. DSS takes care of the rent, and his medical bills, and food stamps. They give him a little more cash for phone and cable if they so choose. But they are responsible for an extra bills they so choose to have. The nice thing about this set up is that he is still connected to the halfway house. He still has to attend meetings, they have house meetings once a week at different apartments in the complex. They will still randomly test him, and he will visit with his councelor once a week. They still have curfews only 1 hour later. The other nice thing for us is that instead of 2 hour bus ride away (by the time you make all the connections) we're one! He know has some volunteer work to do. He is teaching people to read and write. He has finally found a local sponsor that he loves. He called this morning from a payphone and sounded so excited! He finished his outpatient work that he started 1 year ago with his councelor's blessings. But will continue his mental health work, and private sessions with the councelor he had in group when he wants to. I love that man, and all the help he has given my A. While it's been a rocky year, I am so proud of him. He's trying hard, and yes there were some major bumps. But I still see progress, more fowards than backwards. I'm trying not to get my hopes or expectations up to high as we are still working on the first full year of sobriety. But I am hopeful that maybe this time it will click. Medically we have some huge strides ahead. He has very bad feet (born with club feet and now has titanium plates and rods in his feet and legs), HPB, rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. It's realistic to think that within the next year he will be in a wheel chair. So we could definetly use some prayers there please. Dealing with DSS is not fun. They just canceled his appointment for Monday because they said that they only take Medicaid and he has Blue Cross Blue Shield. They did this the last time, and then it got straightened around. Now they go and do that again. Trust me when I tell you that I nearly lost my cool when I called the nurse this morning to tell them that they were wrong. (They called yesterday and asked us to call them. They didn't even tell me that they canceled the appointment! ) Any suggestions how to deal with this, I would greatly appreciate. It takes alot for me to get really angry, but we're talking about my husband's ability to walk, and this woman wants to know if the visit in necessary?!! After I told her that he can barely stand?!!! HELP! I can see why people want to give up. I know they have a hard job, but there is no reason to be rude just because a person is down on their luck. But enough of the negative. It is too beautiful today to waste the energy on negative thoughts. We'll get through it. So for all of you out there who think it is hopeless. It isn't. It's a long tough road for all of us. But if you love your A realize that too are trying, just as we are. Be good to yourselves, as well as to those you love. It's a hard road we travel. But so worth the journey. Thanks for all your love, support and understanding. Enjoy this glorious day! Live strong, Karilynn

congrats about your husbands progress, sounds like he's doing good. one more thing what does DSS mean?    

((((((((((Karilynn))))))))),

I am glad that that things are going well for your "A". For both us and them the tool of a good sponsor is so important. I have no suggestions for the medical issue, but I do know how frustrating working with the Docs can be. Just practice your alanon with the nurse and kill her with kindness. Hope it all works out.

Much Love,

Thanks for your kind words. DSS is the Dept. of Social Services (ie. welfare, the dole I think is what they call in the UK). They are responsible for distributing the food stamps, Medicaid, etc. The people down there have a thankless job, but the beauracracy can be maddening. Live strong, Karilynn

Karilynn,

It sounds like things on the rehab/sober end are going well.  Congratulations for that!!  I am so sorry for all the trouble with the Docs!  I hope all will straighten out without you guys having to pull all of your hair out!  Why the medical profession has to be so difficult with people who need the help so badly I will never understand.  Good luck-I will pray that things will go well.

Dawn