The center for the disabled

Today Robert and I went to this center for the disabled here in Be'er Sheva which I mentioned in an earlier post. It is an *amazing* place. It is attractive artistically, all the artwork and decorations have been done by the disabled people themselves. It is really a beautiful place, hidden in a generally unseen area of the city. There is even a cafe there that is run by the disabled, frequented by the university students nearby.

Today we came with the paperwork and passport photo that they asked for in order to become a member. After they signed me up, we had a meeting with the head coordinator of the center. She is a very bold woman, also handicapped, outspoken, and a little intimidating for me. Very Israeli. :-) But she knows her stuff. She first asked us what we want from the center. We said we needed help learning about the benefits we may be entitled to, including getting a car which I can drive. Then she said that she needs to know my story in order to help. After I finished with the NF part, she took the pause to mean that I am done, and started asking more questions about that disability. Then I said that's not actually all- there was another part to the history, a disease other than NF in the same area. Then we told her about the PVNS. That the disabilities I have now are a result of the PVNS, which may stem from the fact that the area was traumatized from the NF. Anyway, after she got the whole picture, she crunched some numbers, asked me some more questions about what exactly is hard for me besides driving. We had a long meeting, and in the end it was clear to her that we should be getting a few other disability allowences ("kitz'ba'ot" in Hebrew), above what I am presently receiving. That is what this center is for. It is what everyone needs to navigate the system! You know what? There are presently only *two* centers like this in Israel- the other one was actually the first, and it is in Jerusalem. This one in Be'er Sheva is ten years old. They are partially funded by the Joint Distribution Committee. They are modelled after centers orginally formed in Canada, apparently. Only two in this country, and one is in my back yard. Now I feel the Big Hand cradling us and leading us. :-)

So, we have to get a few more documents which won't be hard. One from my nurse who already told me she'll prepare it today, and the other from my general doctor, which will also be simple. Then we go back to the center, give her these papers, and she and her workers get them where they have to go and tell us when to show up and where. She said it is possible to have the check to buy a new car, tax free, in about a month. I am excited, but cautious. I'll believe it when I see it. But I also believe I'll see it... does that make sense? So a car, plus a few more allowences per month which will make my disability stipend higher... that would be a relief, wouldn't it.

I am going to do something really really nice for this neighbor who told me about this center.

I have to write about what it was like to come honest with all the things I compensate for. The counselor asked some very pointed questions, and I answered them. "...yeah, I can do all that stuff... yeah, it hurts when I do that, but I complensate this way.... dressing, bathrooming, showering, of course I am independent. Well, yeah, it hurts to do X,Y & Z (don't want to get too detailed here, private stuff)... well, yeah, actually that sort of device [that the counselor suggested] would help take pressure off my hip, etc. She told us where we can get such a device that would help me (for free). We went there after our meeting, and got it. I cried when I saw it; it looks like what I used when I was in the hospital with NF. While Robert was filling out the paperwork for it, I sat down on the other side of the room so nobody would see me crying. Robert gave me loving looks from accross the room, he undersood exactly what I was crying about. We got it home, and it is the wrong size :-/ So he'll go back again and exchange it.

Then Robert & I went out for lunch. That was really nice. We had a lot to talk about.

Then the children came home, and Azriel has an eye infection.
And Ya'akov needs glasses.
And Azriel's sleep clinic study came back with recommendation for a tonsillectomy, he still has fairly serious apnea, even after his adenoidectomy. Going to the ENT in a few days about that.
Then I tried to reach my doctors at Ichilov (follow-up since I had the consult they were waiting for). Must be vacation time; Giladi is out all week, and Bikels returns on Tuesday.

That was my day.

But here's a joke for you, to lighten things up-

A guy goes to an obstetrician and says, "Doctor, my wife is in labor!" Doctor says "how do you know"? Guy says "every few minutes she's yelling a lot of words- "can't! don't! couldn't! isn't!" Doctor says "oh! don't worry, she's just having contractions!".... ;)