598038's blog: "Personal endeavors"

January, 2000, worst year of my life. Was let go from my job after 5 years. Their reason? I supposedly did something against HIPPA regulations. This is hugely debatable but I don't dwell on it. I know it was setup by 3 specific people ans was verified by another employee from my dept that was a friend. But this was just the beginning.

My wife of 20 years, the woman who swore she loved me and would never leave me, told me she wanted a divorce. I guess the vows of 'for better or for worse' only applied to me. Destroying the family, stress of having to find a job ar the same time, took a physical toll on me. Be it Shingles or stroke, it has left the right side of my face with nerve damage.

I soon got another job but she didn't change her mind. Proves to me 20 years were a lie on her part. But I still tried to salvage it. Spent more then I should to show her I was worth the effort of marriage. Then I found out she joinef Match.com a year before her announcing she wanted a divorce. An entire year of cheating on me.

After being on this new job 6 years, the university announced there would be a 15% cut across the board due to declining enrollment. Perfect. So immediately after my carpel tunnel surgert, I was layed off. Perfect.

Being diagnosed with COPD, RA, and osteo, I only had one solution. SSD. It's not much but it's more then military pension at the time. And being permanently disabled I had to take what gave me more. Shame I couldn't get both. But I couldn't make this little bit work.

Expenses were almost exactly the same as revenue. I had to make decisions on what to pay, including Rx and food. And my pain kept getting worse.

Soon I was unable to do it alone. Became increasingly depressed and finally had Dr check me for depression. It was confirmed and was immediately put on Sertraline.

Convinced my youngest daughter to let me live there until I could get a handle on things. But she ended up demanding more and more money from me and I wasn't making any progress at all.

After 8 months she told me to get out, 30 days. It was the middle of a horrible Michigan winter and I had no place to go. After 2 days she said the sooner I leave the better. Then the next day was get out now. No place to go, got to a shelter.

I did leave but went to U-M Hospital, psych ward. It was that or just park on a train track. I thought that I would at least get my head on right. To my surprise my head eas just fine. The issue was her. She was abusing prescription drugs and mentally abusing me and her step kids. After 6 weeks, U-M Hospital ent me to a rehab place. It was horrible, but the PT and OT staffs were great. I was able to connect with my oldest daughter in SC and she said I could move there until I get financially able to get a place of my own.

Things are starting to turn around and in 1 year I have lost 80 lbs. From 307 to 220. She's hinting on me getting a place soon but I'm just not ready and my son agrees. Plus I had to sell my car so I have no transportation.

Still not ready but improving. On a side note, my youngest daughter had since wrecked he car, faces many court dates and jail, plus a battle with the kids real mother for custody.