[Jackie07]

Darlene,

Thanks for the information. I've not heard from the court about my disability claim yet. There could be a problem because I've been collecting unemployment benefit which might be a conflict to 'disability' claim, according to my attorney after the hearing. But I am getting (just called and confirmed that it's going through) a six months health insurance extension through the 'Stimulus package' deal. After that, I will qualify for Texas Risk Pool.

But I am going to check into the 11 months deal that you have mentioned. Hopefully I'll get approved for my disability status soon.

I remember back in mid 90's when I first walked into the Texas Rehabilitation Counselor's office. After he had asked me "how can I help you?", his next question put me to tears: "What is your disability?" He's my counselor, he 'should have' read my file. And if he didn't know what my disability was, how was I to explain to others about my problems... The thoughts sent me to an uncontrollable sobbing [which had surprised me because I thought I had shed enough tears while in line at the unemployment office a couple of years before already.]

In the early 2000's, after my first breast cancer treatment (had been 'let go' a year after my Gamma-knife for recurring brain tumor[s],) TRC did sponsor me for the teacher training program (Texas Workforce Center paid for the tuition and fees, TRC gave me a small gas stipend while hubby served as my unpaid driver) This time, after they gave me a psychological assessment (including IQ test), they haven't done anything yet (perhaps they knew about my disability application.)

It's going to be 20 years this summer since my 23-hour brain (tumor) surgery. I'm very thankful to be alive and functioning quite well. Never thought breast cancer would give me so much trouble - didn't realize that chemotherapy would affect my cognitive function more than the two brain surgeries I'd had.

But I'm a veteran fighter. And I will continue the fight. The late Father Robert Ronald had stated in his lecutres that "the life of a disabled person is even more meaningful than the life of a non-disabled person." I thank God that I had met him (in an English conversation class) and learned so much from him before I came to the States and before all of my ordeals.

He's the happiest, most humorous and pleasant person I've ever met. After he contracted polio in Taiwan, he went back to the States for treatment and rehabilitation. He then got a degree in rehabilitation from U of Arizona and returned to Taiwan to work as a vocational rehabilitation consultant in the VA Hospital. He continued to work with that radiant smile even after one of his legs had to be amputated knee down because of a car accident.

He called them the two gifts he'd got from Taiwan...

I'm calling my brain surgeries and breast cancer treatments my two blessings from the U.S...

Maybe I'll get a certification somewhere so I can teach Chinese. It's kind of a hot field right now because many high schools and colleges are looking for qualified teachers... It is my Mother tongue and I have a Chinese Literature 'minor' from National Taiwan University...

Never, never, never give up... (Winston Churchill?)