[Jackie07]

I thought I had typed up something the other day (yesterday?) but couldn't see it. So I am writing the story again.

When I had my first brain surgery, I took two months off (surgery, PT, OT, ST) and went back to work earlier than I had planned because I saw on the local newspaper that they are advertising my position. There was a change of management and a little more than a year later, I was told to clear my desk. I checked around and found out that in Texas, the only thing I could do was to file for unemployment. I remember the humiliation I felt (literally crying the whole time while in the unemployment office)

The 2nd brain surgery, even though just Gamma Knife, I still lost my newly aquired (took me almost 10 years to get back to my profession full time) full-time supervisory job.

I was fortunate to get a part-time low paying job which kept my brain function intact (because I was still pretty much recovering from everything.)

My first breast cancer happened while I was on unemployment. I went through the teacher training program while I was doing the radation treatment. And I was substitute teaching the first year after I passed the teacher training program because I couldn't find a full time job. Now I am teaching full-time as an intern and breast cancer struck me the second time. My principal had just told me that she's not going to renew my contract.

It's bad news. But I've got so used to hearing those words, I am not even worried about it. Seems like every time I lost a job due to illness, something better (not necessarily moneywise) would happen to me. I hope I can find another job soon - and if the teacher training program would extend my internship, I'll continue to pursue a teaching career. Otherwise, I'll check with the rehabilition commission counselor and see what he's got to offer.