I know what you mean Cheryl.
It's one thing for a person who is stricken with an A.N. to already be well along in a career and firmly employed in a situation with all the necessary benefits as many people participating in this forum can attest to. After a necessary recuperation period that can vary from person to person, it really isn't that difficult to pick-up where one had left offâ€â€providing that the job doesn't entail climbing ladders and hanging off of scaffolding from dizzying heights.
In my case, I was back playing music as soon as I was back on my feet again regardless of being half-deaf and left-side impaired. I could still play and play well, better than most or even all of my peers on the circuit I'm on. Why? Because I'm good at it and I've been doing it all my life. It's what I do. It's not much and it certainly isn't getting easier as I get older but I can do it by virtue of having done it for so long. It's like forgetting to know how to ride a bicycle.
What's killing me is that I cannot work in music as I had for so long due to a number of reasons and especially, due to the fact that I have only one ear left and the hearing in that ear is starting to fade. By continuing to put my self in hazardous, noisy situations, I'm really only pushing my luck. What's more, the work isn't even there like it used to be.
Try, however, putting everything on hold and learning a new career in this condition (impaired) in a highly competitive and limited marketplace for jobs while also being over the age of fifty. Not gonna happen.
It is however, an entirely different situation for those of us who were not already employed in a decent situation, but are somewhat out-of-step with the working world as well as over the age of fiftyâ€â€and in the worst recession economy since the crash of '29. Not only are we expected to dutifully jump through these hoops and navigate through what is an almost impossible obstacle course (for almost anyone) of finding a job with a decent wage, but we're expected to find one that will avail us the necessary medical insurance that will allow coverage for a "preexisting condition".
Another thing that amazes me: I must know about ten different people who are receiving SSDI or SSI benefits that outwardly, have nothing wrong with them. I'll ask on occasion, "What's wrong with you?" Nine out of ten will reply, "I'm depressed". I'm like, "Huh??" Then there are some who are receiving benefits because of substance abuse problems. Fascinating.
We, on the other hand, have major league brain surgery with accompanying nerve damage and a host of weird difficulties that go along with it and we're considered good to go even over the age of fifty. I know a guy that has been receiving SSDI for years because he can't lift one of his arms over his head.
Keep trying and keep that claim open because if and when you get approved, you'll be paid all the money that has accrued from the date you opened it. Good luck.
Paul
