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Hi there, Glad to hear you are OK. I wondered but figured you would write when you were able to do so. I am amazed that you feel I am strong, I don't feel very strong right now, more like on the edge of giving in...A friend called me today and told me that these people in New York will reap what they sow, and so I do feel better. Last night I was pretty down and talking to my friend Sandi...I asked her how she had such amazing faith--how she kept going in the face of adversity all the time, she told me that she wished me something to restore my faith and I have to admit to crying to God last night, begging for help in some form, cursing the heavens for my trouble...yet, somehow today I feel better, more able to continue the fight. I am going to make it somehow, I have to...my Grand Babies need me. God Bless you, and if you want to write my story, that is great...maybe it will help people who are in this type of situation with the various state agencies...I know that almost 50 percent of grandparents are raising one or more of their grandchildren and that is a rather sad comment on the state of our country. In our efforts to make it easier for our kids than we had it, we have raised a couple of generations of spoiled kids, who do not take responsibility for their own actions. I hope things are well for you, let me know what is going on. I will talk to you later Tammi.

Dear Paul, I am so sorry you are carrying such burdens. You can get some relief w/meds. There are several links which follow. The first 2 can be accessed by public but you will get an expedited and more likely more favorable response if you explain your situation to each prescribing physician and have them apply on line on your behalf to acquire the meds you need and cannot afford. See: http://www.helpingpatien ts.org or http:www.Rxhope.com there is also another site which can be accessed readily to public but requires a small fee - it also lists discounts for dental. See: Http://www.themedicineprogram. com. Before you get too far in debt, check resources to avoid foreclosure on Hud.gov website & http://www.spoch.org. Becau se you are in crisis, you can get pro bono financial advice from: http://www.consultaplanner.org . Also, I have noticed a lot of loan offers & offers of direct financial assistance posted on aid page lately from individuals. Please be careful not to fall prey to any potential scams by investigating the source of the offers as legitimate before you release any personal info. Charities can be checked by their 501c3 id and all businesses can be checked with the state in which they are incorporated and the better business bureau.

Dear Paul, I am so sorry you are carrying such burdens. You can get some relief w/meds. There are several links which follow. The first 2 can be accessed by public but you will get an expedited and more likely more favorable response if you explain your situation to each prescribing physician and have them apply on line on your behalf to acquire the meds you need and cannot afford. See: http://www.helpingpatien ts.org or http:www.Rxhope.com there is also another site which can be accessed readily to public but requires a small fee - it also lists discounts for dental. See: Http://www.themedicineprogram. com. Before you get too far in debt, check resources to avoid foreclosure on Hud.gov website & http://www.spoch.org. Becau se you are in crisis, you can get pro bono financial advice from: http://www.consultaplanner.org . Also, I have noticed a lot of loan offers & offers of direct financial assistance posted on aid page lately from individuals. Please be careful not to fall prey to any potential scams by investigating the source of the offers as legitimate before you release any personal info. Charities can be checked by their 501c3 id and all businesses can be checked with the state in which they are incorporated and the better business bureau.

My name is Paul I recently was layed off from my job of 20 years. My wife had a stroke a year ago and has no Insurance. I also take care of my stepson that has Paranoid Schizophrenia. He brings home 500.00 from social security which they take 98.00 out for Insurance. The co pays for his meds are 60.00 and 30.00. My wife takes 7 different medications she brings home 900.00 They take 98.00 out of her check for insurance some of her meds have 60.00 co pays. I have no insurance and my medication cost 300.00 a month. I am going to loose my House and my only transportation if I don't get some kind of finacial assistant until I find a Job making what I was making to take care of my sick wife and stepson. Please help !I have pay pal Thank you Paul

Tammi, I sure hope you get that novel done, I would be interested in owning a copy, autographed, of course. I hear you loud and clear. It is alarming that so many people do not understand that the things we hold in our hearts are so much more important than what we hold in our hand (unless it is the hand of a child we are holding). I guess maybe I was born at the wrong time, I long for a time when family meant something, when life was lived at a slower pace, when government was not so big and intrusive in the lives of the common man... I am always interested in legal stuff, wanted to be a probation officer however...life intruded into my plans and I ended up raising lots of grandchildren. I don't regret it, just wish that New York understood that for me it isn't like losing grandchildren I see on occasion, but like losing my own children (since I was the primary caregiver) and losing them through no fault of my own. That is what is killing me. I have missed them so much for the last 23 months and if they get taken from our family, I will be 68 when the eldest is 18 and can come looking for me! I don't want to miss every single birthday, all the Christmases, all the firsts that are part of the children's lives! I want to read them stories, watch movies with them, push their swing at the park, go to church together, have picnics, kiss them good night, make them breakfast, all of that , and more. Why can't N.Y. see that they are not saving these children-they are tearing apart a family? I had better stop, my usually positive self is a bit down today. I think it is because it was gray and rainy here most of the day. I am a bit more stressed than usual. Our cat Noche is male also. He is a big, black, needy guy...He has issues, needs the kitty shrink. He is not a bit aloof like cats are generally, he is extremely social (annoyingly so). I hope that you and your "boys" are all doing well. I have no doubt that you will be published one day. You certainly have an interesting writing style. Very readable and interesting. Talk to you soon. Take Care. God Bless. Steph.

Hi Stephanie, Yep, I'm usually up late due to the novel that I've been working on. (Perfect time of night for bringing thoughts to life, when everyone else is sleeping!) I too, have seen that very poster and always thought it sad that it's message seemed lost on most people. Our world has become an absurdity in it's constant persuit of "things." To think that thousands of years ago, societies sacrificed sweat and blood to create the wonders that still stand to this very day and it is the efforts of those ancestors who in working toward their own progression that has given us the things that we so ignorantly take for granted. Places like Matchu Picchu and the pyramids still make us marvel, but when we're gone, what will be left of us to be remembered by? Not much. It was Carl Jung that said, "A sense of wider meaning to one's existence is what raises a man beyond mere getting and spending. If he lacks this sense, he is lost and miserable." I believe the reasons why our world is so miserable is because somewhere down the line we forgot this fundamental principal. What's worse is to see people lacking any sort of compassion for anyone because of being so self absorbed. We in essence are accomplishing a slow form of mass suicide. Anyway, on a lighter note, I plan to major in a few areas of study - English Lit., PR and Marketing, so that I will be able to market myself in the writing world. Of course, I'm a bit undecided because I also have a love of history (especially in the Renaissance / Medieval era) and philosophy. I am a lifelong learner as well so it's hard to just pick one area of study! I am so glad to have met you, Stephanie and promise to keep in touch. Please keep me updated in the progress with your grandkids. I hope everything comes together soon there. Oh and BTW, YES our kitty Byron is male too! I'm hopelessly surrounded! :) Take Care, Tammi

Hi Tammi, I see you are up and about also. Thanks for the message. It means a lot to know that there are people out there of a like mind to my own who realize that life isn't really about the acquisition of "stuff." I have seen this framed poster around for years that always brought a tear to my eye...It says: "In a hundred years it won't matter what sort of house I lived in, how big my bank account was, what kind of car I drove, how expensive my clothes were, only that I was important in the life of a child." I am appalled that there are so many people in the world who don't seem to share that sentiment. I can't think of a better way to think about life than to try to nurture children and teach our future generations what is truly a better aim in life than trying to have more "toys" than the next guy. It is a sad statement on what we, as American's, deem to be important in this day and age. So when you get into a school of your choice, what is the area of study you would like to immerse yourself in? Here is to hoping that you are able to access the aid you need, a little more education is never wasted on someone who is a "thinker" which is what you seem to be. I also endeavor to be a "lifelong learner" and going to school after years away was a wonderful experience for me, as I am sure it will be for you. Please keep in touch, let me know how things are going for you and that house full of guys. So, is the cat a male also? That would make it complete! Take Care, Tammi and feel free to write any time you like. One can never be blessed with too many friends. Stephanie.

Tammi, It means a lot to me to know that there are so many people out there who care and are worried about my situation. I hope that everything works out for you. Thank you so much for making me feel like there were still some selfless, people in this world. Day to day life seems to make us forget that there are so many more decent people than the other kind in the world. Bless you and take care. Hope to hear how things are going for you. Stephanie.

TY SO much for taking time out to offer me kind words and advice, especially while you're going through such a difficult time! Someone who can look past their own troubles to comfort and support a virtual stranger is a rare and wonderful gem! I really appreciate it. It is my sincerest hope that you're grandchildren are returned to you soon. All children need that sort of example that you are putting forth; that feeling of unconditional love and caring for the universal spirit called humanity. It is a fundamental that sadly is not taught to most children nowadays. Anyhow, thank you again for your time and take care! Tammi

Hi this is Stephanie, I went back to school at the age of 49. I did it all with government grants and loans. What you need to do is contact the financial aid office of the institution that you are planning to register at. They will take you step by step through the process of applying for Federal subsidized and Unsubsidized loans and also any grants that are something that does not have to be paid back. Of course there are also scads of Scholarships available, some based on what area you are studying in, others on financial need, gender and scholastic achievement. Good Luck and may God Bless. In reading your profile I see that you have many of the same ideas about life that I do. I have always felt that those things held in our hearts are worth so much more than the items we can hold in our hands. Keep in touch. Stephanie.