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.