Stop the foot dragging and let's move forward! and an update.

Since my last update on April 3rd not a whole lot has happened as far as my battle with my employer goes. Seems to me like the Union is dragging their feet, took my almost 3 weeks to get through to our Nat'l representative who is handling my case.

In my opinion it seeps like she is looking for ways NOT to take this case on instead of looking at the facts and ways to proceed with a case to take to arbitration. I'm not sure why or what that is about, but like I said, I feel in my opinion they could be doing more and working more diligently on this case. Nothing more than the filing of the grievance at step 1 has taken place to date.*

By now if they were following the time limits set forth in the collective agreement we should have been at step 2 with a meeting held between the parties to have taken place this past Monday. That has not happened, and when I questioned the time limits, I was told not to worry about that, and that should we proceed everything would be fine as far as the time limits go. I'm worried!

I informed the rep. that if she is not interested in pursuing this case then to give me a letter in writing stating such so I can proceed with seeking legal action. She was to do some kind of research with regard to the insurance contract my LTD was covered by, and then get back to me. That has not happened yet, and I've left messages.

This is all so frustrating, especially when I truly believe that there has bee wrong doing with regard to cutting my benefits. I just want to move forward and find out where I stand legally, one way or another. I'm sure this stress is not good for my health.

Moving on to my health,  since my last update I have seen Dr. Giddings at the Cancer Centre and he has changed up my medications a bit with regards to my CIPN, (Chemotherapy-induced peripheral Neuropathy).
He has change my pain medication from a 4mg dose to a 12mg dose that will be taken every 12 hrs, and this change is meant to have the medication work over the entire 12 hr period rather than going up and down every 4hrs like the previous medication and dose did.

He had also put me on a 30mg dose of  Cymbalta once per day for the first week, then I increased to a 60 mg dose after the first week. After being on the 60mg dose for a week I developed some urination issues, not sure if it's related to the stronger dose of the new meds or not, so I called him and informed him of what was going on. It was decided to cut my dose of Cymbalta back to 30mg for a week and then re-evaluate to see if the problem persists. So far after a couple days it is still persisting, so it may be just a coincidence that this started happening at that time.

The new meds are taking time to get used to but so far I feel they are helping just a little more than my previous meds. Still too early to tell what is going to happen with them, especially since we've had to cut back the Cymbalta dose, which may or may not change back to 60mg.

So that's about it for now, just trying to figure out my next move with regard to the employer/union issues, trying to be patient and let things take their course with the union, but like I said earlier, it's very frustrating waiting for things to happen longer than I should have to, especially with written time limits!!

So if needed, I will seek legal advice, and may even try to take this story to the media, just to show people how badly you can be treated by your employer when your dealing with a life threatening illness. Also to show the public how the Government expects you to live on a disability pension that won't even cover the cost of an average rent payment. Sad really, when you look at all the "red tape" and waiting it takes to try to get your pension bumped up to help make ends meet. I may be put in the position of having to do some kind of benefit to raise funds to help us get by until Brenda can secure some form of employment which is difficult in this city right at the moment.

I also ask for your thoughts and prayers for a family member who is hospitalized in ICU right now.

Thank you,
Tim.

*Side note: I got a phone call just as I was finishing up this post from my union chairman stating that a meeting will be held between the company and the union on April 25th to discuss my case.

With A Little Help From My Friends.

Well, it's been a couple of weeks since I got that "bomb" of a letter dropped on me by my employer. Not a whole lot has happened other than a second grievance has been filed. This time for a benefit I was still entitled to as per them stating benefits would remain in place until March 31 2012.

You see, I had a suspicion they would do this to me two years ago, and at that time Brenda and I both went for eye exams and got new glasses the last week of March 2010. This was done at that particular time so that we would be entitled to our $200.00 ea.towards new glasses the last week of March this year!

But for some reason the payroll/benefits clerk (owners daughter) thinks cancer must have taken my mind away from me. Wrong! So, once again another battle. Unfortunately I can not put my hands on my copies of the receipts from that as of yet. I have found my 2010 date book, (I have them all since 2006) and we had our eye appointments and ordered our glasses on Thursday March 25 2010, the appointment was at 10:15am.

I also know we ordered our glasses and had the costs for our glasses printed up at that time so I could take them to my employer and drop them off, as it was just around the corner from where we were. I did this, I know, because it usually takes a couple of days for them to write the cheque, as they pay the benefit themselves. I do have copies and will find them, just got moved around during our move which occurred just shortly after we got our glasses that year.

Just how stupid can these people actually be. I mean really. I know they have the originals of those receipts with the dates on them, but they'll never give me a copy. Maybe if this goes to a lawyer eventually we can subpoena them!

This whole thing and the frustration of not being able to put my hands on my copies of the receipts had me at such a point I was ready to throw in the towel. But, instead something happened. I posted that I was ready to throw the towel in on one of my Facebook group pages, and that's when something, something amazing happened. My "family" spoke up and insisted I continue the fight and with their help if need be! You see this is a place where I have hundreds of  friends, and I mean friends, not just a name you clicked on to help build a farm or something, as I do not play games on Facebook. These are all friends that have been touched by cancer in one form or another, and we are there to support each other through some of the toughest times of our lives.

These friends, or as I call them, "family" rallied together on that page and wrote some amazing things telling me NOT to quit, not to "throw in the towel", they were there, and they will be there to support me in anyway they can with help, with resources, and with information and such to help me fight this battle. Amazing truly amazing how these family members can boost your spirits at some of the lowest points in your life. But they my friends & followers, understand, most or some of them have been through the same things I have and are lending their experiences of how they dealt with it.

I call them family as to me that is what they are.Most I have never met in person, but you really don't need to meet them in person, as much as you would like that, they are there no matter what, and when one of us is at our sickest or lowest, or fearing an annual check up, or having problems financially even, we are there for each other if, when, and however we can to help. I had said in my t.v interview I did with the CBC a while back when asked how it was when I lost a friend that was part of my social media network, I responded that it was "difficult, it's like losing a family member", it's very emotional like that. So that my friends and family, means I have all of you behind me, and other than my "family" members, how many of you can say you have a family that big!

So I'm digging in for the long haul, yes, this will be tough, financially, mentally, and physically, it will be trying, I'm sure there will be a "meltdown" along the way, but I have my "family" that will be there for me. Support from them to prop me up when I'm down, to them calling in their "family" if need be! lol. But this, this is more than any one person can ask for.

So, now to update you all. Not really much has happened since filing the first grievance with the union, although I believe we should have had an answer in writing from the company on that one by now, hopefully they missed the time limit, which would then be an automatic ruling in my favour. Doubtful though as the union would probably grant them an extension, don't really know why, but that seems to happen a lot. As far as I'm concerned time limits were laid out in writing in the collective agreement for a reason, they should be followed!!

Also, as I mentioned earlier, a second grievance was on Friday last week, when I was informed by my Local Chairman that the company stated they would NOT pay their portion towards new glasses as I was "too early" with submitting the cost. Not so, and Brenda and I are both 100% sure on that! We will find the receipts to prove that too. We did find the final receipt from when we picked up our new glasses when they were ready, but just need to find the receipt from the deposit and quote which is what was turned into the company on time, and they cut the cheque for. Our bank account shows the cheque amount of $400.00 going in to our account the first week of April 2010, which sounds about right, because like I said, it takes anywhere from a day or so to a week or so for them to cut a cheque, and if I recall correctly that cheque was mailed to us, so you figure out the math, seems to me all that would add up to me submitting the receipts the end of March!

Over that past few weeks I have had my appointment with my family physician cancelled twice now, so it's been about three weeks since I was suppose to see him to renew my prescription for my pain medication. This is an issue, without out it I would be in agony most days, and that will not do! I managed to get a hold of my primary Oncologist who sent in a prescription to the pharmacy for me with enough medication to get me by. I will however, be looking for a new family physician, so if any of you here in Windsor who follow this blog know of a doctor in East Windsor, (old Riverside area)  that is accepting new patients, let me know.

Spanish class went a lot better this week also, I think last week I just wasn't into it will all that was going on. We had a very productive class and discussions this week.

Don't forget April in Canada is Daffodil month in support of the Canadian Cancer Society, so when you see someone out there selling daffodil pins, or flowers be sure to purchase one!

Tomorrow is my appointment with Dr. Giddings the Palliative care specialist at the cancer centre to go over my pain and medications with him. Looking to get this CIPN, (chemo induced peripheral neuropathy) under control better if that's possible.

 Dr. Giddings will now be a part of my team at The Windsor Regional Cancer Program, along with, Dr. Kenneth Schneider, my radiation Oncologist and Dr. Sindu Kanjeekal, my medical Oncologist,  Kit McCann, nurse practitioner, along with Nancy Hannon, my social worker and Donna Danelon my dietitian, and not to forget all the wonderful and caring  nurses at the centre as well as the staff and volunteers of The Windsor & Essex County Cancer Centre Foundation.

Thanks to everyone for their words of support and encouragement as I battle through these obstacles, without which I might have thrown in the towel. This will play on my health, but it's an obstacle that I need to challenge as I truly believe I am right and entitled to my health and dental benefits, as well as our eyeglass benefit. 

This whole thing is being done purposely and maliciously and they are hoping I will throw in the towel. NOT NOW! as the heading of this blog says, "It's on, like Donkey Kong!". I WILL take this on with all I have and with the help of others. 

Volunteering at the R.V. Show
at the Cancer Foundation booth.

Also of note, I am part of the "Featured Story" in this months newsletter and Home page of The Windsor & Essex County Cancer Centre Foundation. How cool is that!

Stay tuned! it should start heating up this week when I start to push the grievance procedure time limits.