Not Feelin' Too Groovy

I know many of you are "new" here.
Please do the clicks below if you want to know more about those things.
My comments are always open to all.

Your "Innards"
hehehe

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Good Morning.
(Is it)?
I am chilled today... It is so sunny out, but looks are deceiving. I've been out to feed the birds, my cardinal making such a fuss at Punk when I'd let her out earlier. (Those birds may be pretty, but none too bright to be thinking that Punk might be able to refill that feeder)! Dumb clucks.
Mom would call a few people that, and I have to giggle every time I think on it.

It was Mama's birthday on the 7th.
(To read about my mama, CLICK HERE).
She would have been 93 had she lived...

Reianna's birthday was on the 10th.
(To read about my Reianna, CLICK HERE).
So very hard to believe that she would have been 30 this year!

You will have to scroll down after you click those links since "Reianna", "Mom" and "Methadone" are all included in the tags on this blog.

Also included in Reianna's CLICK is the information about METHADONE.
***If you or anyone else you know is prescribed this drug for pain, or withdrawal, please DO NOT TAKE IT!

Doctors are still prescribing it.

People are still dying.

Please get the word out.

"According to the National Center for Health Statistics, medical examiners listed methadone as contributing to 3,849 deaths in 2004; up from 790 in 1999."
From here- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Methadone

Methadone is also prescribed as 

• Symoron,
  
• Dolophine,
  
• Amidone,
  
• Methadose,
  
• Physeptone,
  
• Heptadon 
• -and many others

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The links above should work for you. If they don't please let me know.
Sometimes I really I wish we wouldn't have had to migrate all of our old Y!360 blogs to Multiply- Hard to find them all, and equally difficult to link them appropriately too. (Maybe that's just me)?

And now on Multiply, without many comments! hehehe The original ones at Yahell 360 had many of your comments, NOT that I can even get to them anymore.

Anyway...

... My top picture??? (Stolen from here).

As many of you have already read on my calendar on Multiply, Casey and I will be returning to Minneapolis once again.
This visit, to "see" what is going on within her colon.

Dr. Sutherland believes that he will have to remove 70% of her colon.
When I asked, he said she would not need the colostomy bag at all.
It would be a surgery to get rid of the hairpin turns in her colon.
Ideally, he would rather wait for 6 months after her TP/AIT, which would bring possible surgery to June or July. We wait now, anxiously, to have the upcoming test results.

I don't know how to wrap my head around her pain some days? Or how to help her anymore. Kind of a horrible and impotent feeling. Wish it was me.

In awful pain, now with vomiting and more diarrhea, and on her doctors advice, I brought Casey to St Marys hospital again on Tuesday.

They were going to admit her, and then did not.   wth?
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Casey at St. Marys Hospital.

March 10th, 2009

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She has blogged about it herself. CLICK HERE to read her own frustrations of it all. (Oh, but do grab a cup of coffee before you do, she has written at length). I don't know where she gets that from!?

She put on a very good and happy face for her appointment for Social Security Disability yesterday. (Not sure if this was a good thing or a bad thing)? But the man was nice, (even a sense of humor thrown in), and I hope smart enough that he saw through what/how she has lived these past three years.

I don't know much, but I do know that "something has gotta give" as they say.
Maybe say a little prayer?

• Thanks to all the garbage at UWGB, at this point she has almost given up her own little hopes for college.
  
  
• Remember the nasty apartment hunting, and how she was treated? <-Click those words for those two entries.
  
  
• She has lost every job she has had in the past 3 years, save for the tax one (that was temporary; they did not call her back this past year either- Not that she could have worked). One waited to fire her after she returned from surgery. The other 2 "let her go" while she was hospitalized!

Like I said, something has just got to give for her.

It all seems to keep "snowballing"...

So there's my rant for today. Not too much newsworthy.
Cold or not I really have to get outside and work off some of this "grrr" energy.

Love to all.

XOXO
Anne

PS
My title? I don't believe I have EVER used the word "groovy" in a blog before.
Have YOU?

free hit counters

Posted at Y! 360, Thursday March 12, 2009 - 10:51am (CDT)

Ten Thought Tuesday...

Ten Thought Tuesday... 05-20-2008

stolen from an email, but OH SO TRUE!
Love and Peace...

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Good Morning Everyone;

As you all know, when pressed for thoughts I seem to come up empty~brained. hehehe
But I do believe that I have ample thoughts today;
AND lucky you, it just happens to be Tuesday...

So here goes...

1.
I am happy that Casey and I went to the back forty yesterday... Every one of these fence posts were dug by my dad- (And back when you could still get a decent fence~post)...

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Casey, and the far SW corner of the back forty-
And just having to touch a part of her history
A part of her family that she never had a chance to meet...

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2.
I realize I never posted answers to JT's questions on my blog about Casey on the news.
He writes:
"Hey sweetie the comment " we don't want that type " makes it a CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATION.
Just the THREAT of that type SUIT will scare the shit out of them but you must be willing to follow through . On that comment alone I think any good lawyer would jump on it . Now if you can get me the email address of the school and the rental company I will tell them just how LOW they are. Also get the email address of the jobs who fired her for being sick they will also catch hell from me > Anyone who has "no comment" is caught up in their own "wrong-doing"

My reply, belatedly:

From www.uwgb.edu
920.465.2111
From http://www.wisconsin.edu/

Kevin P. Reilly, President of UW-SYSTEMS
Phone: 608 262-2321
Fax: 608 262-3985

Kevin P. Reilly email/address
kreilly@uwsa.edu
1720 Van Hise Hall
1220 Linden Drive
Madison, WI 53706

University of Wisconsin
OFFICE OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS
Judith A. Temby, Secretary
1860 Van Hise Hall, 1220 Linden Dr., Madison 53706
email: board@uwsa.edu
phone: (608) 262-2324

~~~~~~~~

The Company that turned her down for an apartment is:
Murphy Development, Inc
780 Parkview Rd.
Green Bay, WI 54304
920-337-6373 or 1-800-236-6373


In a statement from the Green Bay Press Gazette"
"Patrick Murphy is president of Murphy Development Inc., a construction and property management firm specializing in multifamily rentals.
Murphy has served as the first president of the Brown County Multifamily Association and president of Brown County Home Builders Association.
In the early 1980s, he served as builder representative on the Wisconsin Committee on Classes of Construction and Fire Resistive Standards."

I found a "Patrick and Ann Murphy" in the phone book too.
Patrick and Ann Murphy
1525 Rustic Way
Green Bay, WI
920-499-6786

To contact the reporter on Casey's story:
This is an ongoing investigation.
To contact Kristoffer Engebretson at NBC-26 in Green Bay, WI:
kengebretson@journalbroadcastgroup.com

**** Have at 'em my little Arkansas friend! hehehe

 

3.
Neither of my dogs love me.

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Nor does Mr. Miller, (Kelli's dog)-
We dog~sit him almost every day...

They ALL ignore me.

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4.
And that's kinda like my kids.
Most specifically TTII.
We have been informed that j is in town with her family for the week.
No, I do not expect a visit nor a phone call.
Hehehe (Boy was I wrong about that)!

5.
I have been reminded WHY I do not like going to the back forty...
Having just yanked a tick off my neck... ouch! I must be yummy enough!!!
hehehe
Yes, I have already been treated for Lyme Disease,
~ and I don't think you can get it back (that is, if it ever goes away)...
?
Hmmm... ???

6.
CaseyAnne is MUCH braver than I am.

Case in point, I spotted a 'hole' in the ground in the woods. Either a badger or a fox...

Casey wanted to see it for herself.
(Notice the *ahem* cowardly photographer stood WAY back).

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"Oh COOL, Mom!"

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"ANYBODY HOME?!?!?!"

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7.
Not so cool is the virus that has infected my goddaughters computer.
Even though it is called "coolwebsearch"
Nope. Not cool at all.
Greg spent upwards of five hours working to restore her computer on Sunday Night.
And it's a good thing he loves a challenge!
(A darn good thing that this is what his degree is in too)!
*** On a scale of 1~10, this virus is a 10.

8.
Kara called the other night. She is 'mama' to one of Punks sisters, Lily. She works at Mayo Clinic and has a friend that was just diagnosed with Celiac Disease. She asked if Casey had ever had a biopsy of her small intestines at any point during any of her ERCP's.
Sadly, I do not know. (But I will find out)...

9.
I wish it was a bit warmer for two reasons.
A. My furnace would not be running in May
B. I could go swimming...

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OK. No I probably could not go in here...
(but doesn't it look like fun)?
This was Peters Gravel Pit which has since filled up with water.
I can remember riding my bike through here many times as a kid,
and going so far down at breakneck speed
Coming out on the other side...
Darnitallanyway, my bike is not surf and turf.
sigh.

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10.
Mr Miller and Miss Punk are waiting patiently for me to get off my duff... (and so they can probably get away from Jimmy Hoffa)...

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And Miss Milly is reminding me LOUDLY from her kennel that there is work to be done outside, and that I am quite late.

Love to all! Have a grand Tuesday!

XOXO
Me

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Originally posted to my Y 360, Tuesday May 20, 2008 - 08:42am (CDT)

KC Apt-The "Straw" ~and the Camels Back...

The "Straw" ~and the Camels Back...

Nasty window...
(And no, it is NOT that warm yet)...

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Good Morning!
~After a brief absence from our little blog world, I am back.
And with news too.

Taking up where I left off on Wednesday...

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I won't mention any business names...

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Casey and I did visit the rental offices. They had turned Casey and Greg down because of Caseys credit rating.
(She has never had a car loan, no home loans or the like... NOTHING, save for her pancreas).
After identifying ourselves, the secretary was unsure if the rental lady would even speak to us.
(WHAT)?!?
~No, I didn't question her.
I only said, "Oh, that's OK, we'll just wait"... as we took a seat at their table in the reception area. (No, we had not been invited to be seated). But there is something about people plunking their backsides down in your front office, waiting, that seems to get someones attention.
Not yet on the rampage, I snapped a few pictures of their award-lined walls; and mentally noted the owners of the place. A Patrick and Ann Murphy.

I saw 2 plaques that resonated their willingness to accept early rental payment.

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The top one for "prompt" rent.
The lower, smaller one for paying in advance.
Both with 'prizes' for their renters...

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And I thought, "YAY, there really IS hope."

So we waited (and waited...) for the credit lady to come out from the back.

SHE came out with her guns blazing, and a welcome attitude absent.
Kinda shattered any optimism I might have still felt at that point...

But like I said, there was still that bit of hope...

We spoke to her nicely. (Mama always said, "kill 'em with kindness").
So we did.
(And for as long as I could stand it).

Gregs credit is just fine.
I asked if they would consider putting the lease in Gregs name alone.
The lady, (barely restraining her bad attitude), looked at me, pointed at Casey, sighed, and said, "No, SHE would still be living there."

Treating us like lepers then...


She said it was their policy never to rent to anyone with less than their acceptable credit rating.

She told us that Caseys medical problems were OURS and ours alone, and that we should do something about them! This, after letting us know how very unwilling she was to even speak to us.
She further chastised Casey for not writing an income on her application...
(Umm... Wait... WHAT????)!

Me:
"Hello? ~Do you not get what we have just told you about how sick she is?"
(DUH. I abhor life in the 'slow' lane)...

Casey then quietly asked her who the owners were since they had implemented that policy.
The lady refused to answer.
We asked to be put in touch with them.
No answer.
I said, "Patrick and Ann Murphy".

The lady told me it was time for me to leave.   ?!?
C'mon, did she think we couldn't read? (I really am not as ignorant as I look).
Sheesh!

Yeah, ok, so we left with Casey in tears.
But not before making a few calls in the parking lot, and snapping a few pictures.
(B*tch that I can be; I really didn't care how much us sitting in the parking lot bothered that lady either).

Casey wanted to go to Channel 26, and tell her story.
I thought twice about it before we got there too.
But between what UWGB did to her, what her last 2 employers have done to her, and all of her health problems, there was no way I could/would deny her the possible opportunity to get her story out.

Casey was listened to almost immediately, beginning her story with UWGB.
The reporter that does the "You Ask, We Investigate" stories was very busy... But asked that we not go to any other station, saying he would be in touch with us and taking many notes...

If you have clicked on my new link, you already know what transpired with his promise to get in touch with her. How nice to have been given even that little bit of respect, almost sight unseen...

Here is that link... CLICK HERE...
OR
http://www.nbc26.com/news/local/18816824.html

Please send this link to everyone you know. Sooner or later perhaps someone "in~the~know" will be able to help Casey out.

This is an ongoing investigation.

To contact Kristoffer Engebretson "You Ask, We Investigate" at NBC-26 in Green Bay, WI:
kengebretson@journalbroadcastgroup.com

I will write more later, but for now I must get busy around here. (The lawn MUST be cut so it can grow another 6" in the rain tomorrow)!
Hope you are all having a grand Mothers Day weekend!

XOXO
Anne ~aka "Leper", (The Elder).

PS
An afterthought from a friend, and a GOOD question:
Is it legal to even consider medical 'credit' on a credit rating for housing?

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Originally posted to my Yahoo 360, Saturday May 10, 2008 - 07:22am (CDT)

Casey~ On the News

http://www.nbc26.com/news/local/18816824.html
College Student Denied Health Insurance
Rare Disease, No Health Insurance
NBC26 News

A U.W. Green Bay student says the school told her she couldn't come back after a potentially deadly disease left her in the hospital.

To watch Kristoffer Engebretson's report click on the (above) video link.

University of Wisconsin Green Bay

A very special and heartfelt Thank~You to the Press Gazette for allowing me to sound off...

 

Madder than heck... STILL!

And I am thinking that I will probably be receiving a "cease~and~desist order" from the college shortly.
That's OK.
And yes, Sweet Pea, at that point I will hire counsel...

 

Good Morning Everyone... 

Please bear with me here...
(And forgive my paranoia as I must ask...
Are they doing this just to kill me by trying to mess with my blood pressure)?!?!
hehehe

Article from Fridays (02/08/2008) Green Bay Press Gazette
>CLICK HERE< for this one entitled
UWGB joins initiative to keep talented students in the state

At the risk of repeating myself, I don't think so!

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I have added the article from the Green Bay Press Gazette, the posts I have made, commenting on the comments received today... February 7th, 2008
>CLICK HERE< for the article in 02/07/2008 Press Gazette

OK ~So the first rebuttal I receive there says "I" should be ashamed???
I don't think so!

Thankfully most people who wrote since that point have expressed their own concerns for KC's education.

Here is the story in its entirety...

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay chancellor pushes for increased suicide awareness

By Kelly McBride
kmcbride@greenbaypressgazette.com

NOTE:
Mr. Nichols did have his own article there or I never would have intruded on this topic for Caseys benefit.

University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Chancellor Bruce Shepard has embraced the issue of mental health on campus.

He has encouraged students to seek counseling if they are depressed or are having difficulty coping. Last year, he addressed the stigma associated with depression with an open letter to the campus community that talked about his son's suicide.

The university trains resident assistants to be alert for suicidal behavior, said Greg Smith, director of counseling services at UWGB. Friends and family members can remember the acronym "QPR" — for which there is training similar to CPR — to recognize and try to curb suicidal tendencies.

It stands for Question, to ask the person if he or she is suicidal; P, for persuading the individual to get help; and R, for resources, to direct an individual to find help.

Smith is encouraging increased suicide awareness after the Jan. 22 death of Scott Nichols, 32, who killed himself in an off-campus apartment.

Those close to Nichols knew he was suicidal and had helped him — or tried to — on several occasions. But the signs aren't always overt, Smith said. Friends and family should watch for things like suicidal talk, depressive symptoms, giving away personal items or collecting the means with which to kill oneself, such as stockpiling pills.

Perhaps most of all, they shouldn't be afraid to step in.

"I think there's a stigma," Smith said, "that you don't want your friend to think you're thinking that they might be suicidal. … They just might say yes. That's a scary moment. … The right thing to do is just push through this."

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My reply...

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 7:04 am
Post subject:

UWGB "Cares" for Its Students?!?
_________________________________

You HAVE to be kidding!!!!
(You ARE kidding, right)?

Attention Students!
Are you in any way ill?
Physically, emotionally or mentally?

Do NOT believe for one minute that this school will actually support you when you go to them for help or assistance.

This article is almost the biggest load of crap to come out of UWGB in its many years of claiming to care.

****My sincerest of sympathies and prayers to those parents who have lost a child; and to those of us who live in fear of losing a child...
Gods Blessings.

Please hear me out.

I have a daughter, 21 now. And has been ill for 3+ years.
Physically ill.
She has had no less than 13 surgeries within this time period, and continues to have persistent bouts of pancreatitis.

She is also a 3.98 GPA student.

She became ill during her 1st semester at UW River Falls, and as a result of that 1st lung surgery, (she has had three to date); transferred to UWGB to be closer to her surgeons and hospitals.
Changing her major from pre vet to math.

Long story short(er).

She has been hospitalized all these times, (both at Green Bay hospitals AND at Froedtert in Milwaukee), and she SO TRIED to keep up with her studies.
She consistently/persistently emailed her teachers/professers during her hospitalizations begging for the ability to remain in school and keep up, (or catch up) with her cherished studies...

Since her profs are NOT required to be active in her education, only ONE at UWGB chose to email her back stating that she could easily catch up when she was better.

ONLY ONE!!!
Clearly the rest of her teachers did NOT give a (DELETED)!

She has had to withdraw then because of her illnesses and surgeries three times. And this past July received notice that she HAD to complete a full semester WITHOUT BEING HOSPITALIZED, or she would never again receive grant money to attend.

At this point, we went to the Dean of Students at UWGB to ask for his help after receiving this notification.
He blamed financial dept, saying there was nothing he could do.
We KNOW he could have done something!
Instead, he sat back in his chair and did nothing.

There is NO WAY that she can guarantee that she will not be needing additional surgeries and/or hospitalizations.
Indeed she would have had to have found ALL sympathetic profs to have even made it this last semester.

The Dean, when pressed, firmly stated that had she been blind, or an alcoholic, or even an addict, she would have been granted programs and leniency AND CLASSES...
Go figure.



Caring?
I DON'T THINK SO!

And so this ailing body WITH A FULLY CAPABLE MIND is left out in the cold so to speak.

Suicidal?
I do know that am fortunate that this daughter of mine has a spirit that allows her to go on, even when she is in extreme pain, and cannot eat any foods for a week at a time. She is currently at 89 pounds and with each bout of pancreatitis she loses more weight, as her pancreas slowly digests itself...


But GB leaves her sit...


UWGB SHOULD BE VASTLY and PERMANENTLY ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES- from the top dog to ALL of the professors. Minus just that one who cared enough to take the time to even hit 'reply' on his computer...

CARE? I'll believe it when I see it for ALL of their students!

To read more about her problems at this 'school', with the dean, or about her illness please go to the following link.



http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-dpmNyxc.dbILPvAAWzZ3Tq.I9pxXBodPASLWCZE-?cq=1&tag=%22college_problems%22



Please keep in mind that my blog is clean and family oriented.

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Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 8:37 am Post subject:

jman

Yes, all of UWGB should be vastly and permanently ashamed of themselves because of one very special case that they handled improperly? I agree they handled your case poorly and I wish nothing but the best for your daughter, but come on, to blame an entire institution because you didn't like the treatment you received is a shame in its own right.

I've worked at state higher ed institutions and one thing you find is many of their rules are set in place by the UW System, not the individual campuses so its quite possible there is nothing the Dean could have done, especially with the grant money. A permanent disability is acknowledged by the state so special accommodations can be made, but as you found out in your case, its not so cut and dry with your situation.

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Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 9:09 am
Post subject:

Jman;

You are right.

I should have blamed the entire UW System, and not just one individual campus.

However ALL of her profs at River Falls worked with her illness that 1st semester so she could go to school.

I stand by what I wrote above!

Kudos though to UW River Falls.
As noted then, THEY should have turned their backs too.
Thank you UW River Falls

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Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 9:43 am Post subject:

The Axis

That gets me when a recovering addict gets better consideration than a young lady who is giving everything in the face of serious illness. There are legions of perfectly healthy people who aren't trying half as hard as your daughter is. Good luck to you both, I hope somebody wakes up and does the right thing. These kind of stories really get under my skin.

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Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 11:39 am Post subject:

Mo

Annie-
It is a shame that you did not receive more help for your daughter's situation. I will agree that there are many professors out there that only care about earning their paycheck (welcome to college). I do not know how much time your daughter was out, but from the school's perspective, where do they draw the line? They cater to you daughter, and next thing you know, everyone who has any illness is looking for special treatment. I don't know what the right answer is, and I do not know exactly what the UW system's policy is for these special circumstances. But it seems as though they should probably take a good look at their policies. I would think that if the student is willing to do what ever it takes to pass her classes, the school should be more willing to work something out. We do also have to remember we are talking about a public school in a large university system. Even though we are a small community, our school is just a blip on the Univeristy program as a whole.

I will say that it is nice to see that the school even acknowledges the issues discussed in the article, I personally don't think they really need to take on that responsibility as it is a personal matter, not an educational matter.

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Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 2:50 pm
Post subject:
UWGB "Cares" for Its Students?!?

To The Axis,
Thank you for understanding what I was trying to get across to the people here. You are most compassionate, and correct with your assessment of her hard work. Further, I do not believe that your anger is misplaced either.

~
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~

Mo.
You sound a bit like the dean of students.
While there are policies in place for addicts/alcoholics etc, there are NONE to help my capable child get a decent education.
The dean could have at least asked her teachers to help her out should the need arise. But there was not even an offer of this basic accomodation. He sat at his desk, 'churched' his hands and just made noise as he spoke.
(It didn't take too long to figure out that when he spoke, he spoke only to pass the buck, and NOT to help her in any way, shape or form).

At no point in time, save for her 1st lung surgery, was she out more than 10 days of classes. (She is MORE than capable of keeping up with those absences).

River Falls, 350 miles away, even understood that she could not drive, medically, to get back to class and even accomodated her during her recovery period!

~
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And for everyone reading this, my daughter is currently a waitress. She is not covered by any public assistance, AND she is still trying to be positive and upbeat about her world, her surgeons and her pain.
This is a far cry from being a veterinarian.
Even from being a brilliant mathematics teacher, wouldn't you agree?

Still positive though.
~
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Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:01 pm Post subject:

Mo

Anne,
I am not trying to be disrespectful at all, I am just trying to look at the big picture. Unfortunately, you get these professors and deans who have been in their profession for so long, they have lost all of the true values of what their professions hold. They don't care about their students, they care about a paycheck. Their job couldn't be any easier. Take a couple days and put a bunch of reading and work together for the students for 16 weeks. Grade tests (tests that probably haven't changed in years), skim through some papers, and assign some grades. There is no compassion for individuals, they show up for work, do their job, and get paid. I bet you could have went to class for her and turned in her assignments, and they probably wouldn't have cared. Heck, I had several classes I took that you showed up to get the syllabus, then showed up on the test days and you could still get an A in the class.

Anyway, I hope your daughter can one day fulfill her dreams. It sounds like she has the willpower to be successful. I would have her look into taking classes online. There are many degrees out there now a days that you can get without ever even sitting in a classroom. Obviously being a vet requires some clinical work, but it may be possible.

Good luck with everything, I am sorry UWGB was such a disappointment for you. Perhaps the school system can learn something from this.
_______________________

by FUNTIME

Annie,
Your daughter could also look at schools like SNC. I know the perception is that it is expensive, but they do give good financial aid (thanks to generous donors). The other perk is some garauntee four year graduation (like SNC, assuming classes are not dropped, etc). The four year thing may be tough with the medical issues though. The smaller classes of these schools really helps, and the professors are there to teach first, not do research or write books. You may find more accommodations at SNC. It at least would not hurt to look into it.

I am an SNC alum and I am biased to that school because of a great experience. I got a teaching degree in 4-years, having entered with zero credits, and recieved great guidance from faculty that not only knew me, but actually cared how I was doing.

Schools are like a business, if you don't like their service, switch. Remember you pay them for a service.

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Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:17 pm
Post subject:
Re 21 year old with illness

Berta
http://forums.greenbaypressgazette.com/profile.php?mode=viewprofile&u=5530

I am the sister of that young lady that is severely ill. I also feel that UWGB could have done more to try to accomodate. She was trying very hard to be able to keep up with her studies, and not have to withdraw. She is very intelligent, and has a very high drive to succeed. This illness is holding her back, and it is not her fault. I wish the "no child left behind" applied in college too....then we wouldn't have this problem...they would find a way to help her succeed.
My sister is a very strong girl and has put up with so much in her 21 years of life and all she was asking for was the chance to succeed. I know that she will figure out a way to get the education she so badly wants....I only wish that she could have had a better chance already.
Do you know what it feels like to have someone tell you that you are never going to amount to anything in your life??? She never knew that until UWGB told her that there was nothing they could do to help her, so the girl that was going to amount to a whole lot in her life, is being told that she cannot because she has an illness...not because she is incapable, but because they are unwilling to work with her on this matter.
I think that they would have a lot more of my respect if they would just work with someone who wants the education, rather than some one making their child attend college and the student doesn't want to be there. It seems like those kids get a better education because their family has money. We may not have a lot, and an education has always been important to my sister. I am very confident she will find a way, but it would be nice if she could have a little help when her illness gets the best of her.
_______________________

Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:53 pm
Post subject:

I see that I am also getting a few replies in my mailbox on my blog, and also a few comments there too.
Thank you all.


Mo;
Thank you so much for returning here.
I am sorry that I read your comment out of context.
And how awful it sounds when it is all cut and dried as you have explained.
(Gee, it also makes me feel as though I could do their job)!
I am also thinking that it really IS sad that the 'humanity' factor isn't part of their contracts...
Let's see...
The teachers already have THEIR education.
They already have THEIR secured-by-contract jobs.
They have nothing further to do than collect their checks...

...But still, there was that ONE math teacher who offered to help her too.

Oh and she did ask about online classes too. The dean replied that was for adults returning to school and NOT for her!


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Funtime;
She would NOT have dropped ANY of her classes, but was told she had to.
Am wondering if her credits thus far could be transferred then?
My sister went to Saint Norberts College. And yes, you are very correct about that perception of its co$t too.
Perhaps, if what you have said is true, then it could be something for her to be looking into...
Thank you so much for the idea. I honestly never considered private college as an option.


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BertaG;
Thank you so much too.
It just makes me ill to even think that after succeeding so well at Pulaski High School, and then working so hard to go to college, that yes, she has been shot down.
All she ever asked for was someone to stand by her when this all happened...

She has us, but sometimes, in the 'real' world, even that is not enough.

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Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 5:29 pm
Post subject:

rmart

I have no knowledge of the specifics of this situation and am not intending to comment on it. I am quite sorry that your daughter has suffered so greatly, Annie. However, I have a response to Mo's earlier post about college teachers.

Mo,

Your assessment of the amount of work that college teachers put in is painfully inaccurate. I don't blame you for not knowing this as many people's perceptions of college teachers is that they only work during class and have no responsibilities other than teaching. So, it's normal for people not to understand the other responsibilities that come along with working at a university.

Many instructors I know put in between 40-60 hours a week. Most work over the summer despite the fact that they are not under contract or paid for doing so. In addition to their classroom requirements, they are also required to conduct research, advise students, and serve on various university and community committees. They also lead independent studies, honors projects, and research assistantships for students, a hugely time consuming but important learning experience.

The notion that they are in it only for a paycheck is laughable. In fact, most could make far more money working in a different field but choose not to because they are dedicated to education. In fact, most pay for professional development activities like attending conferences (part of their job requirement) out of their own pocket. I also know several teachers who spend 100s of their own dollars each year on classroom activities because there is no money in their department’s budget for such activities.

Are there some professors who are phoning it in and not doing a good job? Of course. That comes with every profession. Are there some who are not very good at their jobs? Yes. Again, that comes with every profession. But to suggest that, collectively, they don't care about their students or that their job couldn't be any easier is horribly inaccurate.
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Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 6:04 pm
Post subject:

rmart;

The above author stated "Unfortunately, you get these professors and deans who have been in their profession for so long, they have lost all of the true values of what their professions hold. They don't care about their students, they care about a paycheck. Their job couldn't be any easier."

Clearly, this does NOT apply to ALL of them.

Nor have my own comments applied to ALL of them.

Just that my own personal experience (at UWGB), denotes a care factor of about 7-9% with respect to my daughters professors.

That then translates to roughly 91-93% that didn't care enough to even hit the reply button when she wrote to them from her hospital bed.

Oh wait.
That simple respect factor wasn't in their contract.
(Or so the dean informed us)

>sigh<

No.
Sorry, but I have not seen this 'dedication to learning' that you have spoken of...

Should you want to know more about her 'experience' at GB and her chronic problem, the link is included within my top posting here

I too am sorry for all that she has been through...
Her health is basically unpredictable from day to day, week to week and month to month.

But to be so put down, ignored, and sent away by UWGB should NOT have been even imaginable!

But it was/IS/remains unforgiveable
-and completely unprofessional.

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Here's the link to the comments: CLICK HERE

Please feel free to join in the discussion.
It only takes a moment to sign up and post.

Love to all

XOXO
Anne

Oroginally Posted to my Y! 360 Thursday February 7, 2008 - 07:59am (CST)

Spittin' Nails...

Good Morning All;

I am no better today with respect to either my migraine or my attitude... So maybe just bear with me. Pretty please?

On the bright side, (and quite thankfully), BOTH attitude and headaches seem to improve with time. Well, at least neither have killed me yet... hehehe ?!?

A warm thank you too, to both Connie and WYCK who I see have left their words of love for Baby Mariah and her family. (Please see my blast; this ONLY takes but a few seconds of your time)... Sadly, the next child with cancer could well be your own.

Casey and I are headed back down to Milwaukee (Froedtert), later this morning. Caseys surgeons have called, and the biopsies that they had taken (BEFORE she had woken from her sedation) were all negative. She will be undergoing more tests on her insides now.

...And I am SO ready to scream... (Just don't know at whom anymore).

I had my Good Morning Show on earlier, and they had reported that Governor Doyle now has a plan to get kids into college. He is having 8th and 9th grade kids sign a thing to say that they will maintain a "B" average throughout their high school years. In exchange for doing so, he will guarantee that they will have a place within the UW~System.

Ummm... Yeah, right.

I sure hope these kids are either blind or alcoholic; because DAMN, if they get truly sick they WILL be asked to leave.

Don't know what's going on? Please >CLICK HERE< for that story.

Bunch of garbage.

Oh, he might pull them in, but keeping them will be a whole 'nother story should they chance to have a REAL illness.

(Yes, I have already shot off a note to the news station about this all too).

So... What's your "take" on this?

Do you really think I should be on the road with this attitude? hehehe

Or do you think I should just take a swing by the governors mansion or the capitol in Madison and start hollering at him?

Time for me to fly! Hope you all have a grand Thursday!

XOXO
Anne

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UWGB -Pass the Buck, Ducks...

(Please scroll down to GREEN print to read about UWGB Fiasco with the Dean of students)...

Good Morning Everyone!
Having gotten a shot for my head late yesterday afternoon, it does feel MUCH better. Although it leaves me feeling bruised and tired. Tired, yet energetic too. And that IS strange. Maybe because I have been searching for that misplaced energy for a few days now...

A few have written and have asked how yesterdays mediation went. It didn't. The other has decided to forego any further mediation, in favor of the court deciding. Fine by me. Because at this point the very first thing the judge will do is order a Guardian ad Litem. (It's about time). The GAL will then closely investigate/monitor each home, (and each person in the home) in question.

Hmm... I do believe I have all my ducks in a row... I thank you for remembering and for writing. ...Nuff said.

We had to go to town yesterday, and to check on Caseys classes and other stuff for college. ........
(Yes, we did this before I got that shot)! hehehe

Gabriel already seemed to know when it was time to leave... (He even brought me his diaper bag)!.

.

Trying to be ever so patient, as he waits by the car.

(Miss Punk is heading off to "take care of business" before we left).

.

.

For the last two semesters, Casey has been told she must withdraw because of her surgeries, and for missing classes etc...

She wrote to EACH and EVERY one of her professors while she was hospitalized, stating what was going on, and asking that they send her make up work etc...

...Only ONE of those teachers replied that he would get her through it all. She heard back NOTHING at all from the rest of them!

Not a word that is, until she was asked by the dean of students to withdraw.

Again, she then did as she was asked.

A few weeks ago, she received a letter from the financial department stating that unless she finished 75% of her classes that she would NEVER be able to receive financial aid again.

This is pure unadulterated BS in my book.

First she is steamrolled into withdrawing because the teachers don't give a crap.
Then this???

So we went to UWGB to try to straighten this mess out. Casey so upset that she brought an entire hospital bag full of her meds, and her bills. (Her last surgery costing $48,000 PLUS)! The Octreotide injection alone (for which she got a ten day supply) was almost $500.00. And a zillion other prescriptions that also add up too fast to keep up with... And so, yesterday, she was ready to dump about 10+ prescriptions on the deans desk...

.

.

The white bag has all her (current) scripts and bills in it...

.

.

We had stopped at the registrars office first. The NICE guy there, had walked us straight over to the Dean of students.

While we talked to the dean, Mr. Morris took it upon himself to bring Caseys letter to the financial aid office... (They WILL be expecting a call from Casey or myself today)... And when Mr. Morris got back, he gladly also took it upon himself to take Master Gabriel for a walk...

.

.

They were BOTH having the time of their life here!

.

.

So the question now is, can Casey make it through an entire semester without any hospitalizations?

• NO ONE can guarantee that.

So then, is there some type of disability/handicap status that she would qualify for an "excused" absense for her teachers?

The dean did tell us that if she was blind, or whatever, that then she would qualify for all of that. (No, she is NOT ready to poke herself in the eye with a sharp stick).

And she is mad! I am too.

So lets see...

The dean has blamed the federal goverment.

He also said he would make no concessions in this respect.

He also blamed the financial aid office.

I did ask him whom we should talk to that wouldn't pass the buck to someone else. (Not too surprising, he remained clueless).

We need ONE person to get behind Casey. AND to stay there until she has completed all of her credits.

Yes, I WILL be making more than a few phone calls.

I shall also call up to Sault Ste Marie to the tribe and find out if the BIA can do anything on a federal level for her. At this point, almost anything would be worth a shot...

Oops, did someone say "SHOT"??? hehehe

After that fiasco, I got my shot.

Then to run downtown with Master Gabriel to see his mama...

.

.

Roberta had just gotten out of work... Perfect timing!

.

On the way back home, Punk decided it was swell fun to be sticking her nose out of the back window and to let her jowls flap in the wind...

.

Great fun too!

(Well, UNTIL something hit her in the face anyway)!

..

Her snout was pulled back inside the car, in a flash!!!
She hid her face and nose behind my seat until we got home!

.

No marks on her nose, so maybe it was just a big old junebug...

.

...Or maybe it was a DUCK!!!!

hehehe

.

Have a grand Thursday!!!

XOXO
Anne

-PS-
From my previous blog, here,
"Yesterday, Casey needed to go to one of her Labs... She had missed this lab last week and did not want to miss it again. She took my car, stopping off at Dereks home first (her car has been parked there ever since she was admitted to the hospital last week). She struggled even to get that far. Being dizzy, shaking, sweating, and in pain,; she did not care to venture any further to get to the campus at UWGB. Instead, she called the campus and was transferred to the registrars office. Only to learn that she had missed too many classes and she had a choice of being suspended, or withdrawing from her classes. She chose to withdraw yet again.

I do feel so badly for her. Besides Roberta taking a few nursing courses at Troy State, and then going to the College of Cosmetology; Casey is the only other of my daughters that, at such a young age has maintained her desire to keep up her accredited education. She also had to withdraw last semester when she had that part of her lung removed. Kind of a kick in the teeth for such an inspired and capable young lady; you would think the UW~System would have done everything in their power to help her acheive during these tough times. And her High "A" GPA is nothing to scoff at either! (Again you would think they would want to keep a student like this). Not so.

The apathy shown to her by her own profs also had my blood pressure rising. She had emailed them all last week. And she heard back from only ONE!!!! He was absolutely willing to do whatever was necessary to help her out and to allow her to catch up. (The rest of them don't seem to be worth the paper their checks are printed on)... She had to resend her emails to them (I am not sure if she ever even heard back after that)."

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Random, Scattered Thoughts for Today...

Good Morning ALL;

Have been reading the news here... And although I didn't really even know who she was the while she lived, I find it sad that Anna Nicole Smith had to die this way... And I do believe that even with all of her prescriptions, she would be alive today if it wasn't for that damned Methadone.

As most of you are already aware, this is the same drug that killed Reianna!

Please, PLEASE tell everyone you know NEVER to take methadone FOR ANY REASON.

I am also thinking that perhaps it is high time for ABC to repeat their story about methadone entitled "One Pill Can Kill." I believe they had aired it originally last October, shortly after Reianna died.

Why do the physicians keep prescribing this killer drug in the first place???

It is POISON.

Please see 20/20 article: "One Pill Can Kill"
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=2475616&page=1

Please also SEND THIS LINK TO EVERYONE IN YOUR ADDRESS BOOK, and to everyone in your 360 Friends list too. It is too important not to.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Another note about those flowers peeking out... I don't think they will be 'flowering' this year, as the damnable rabbits are feasting upon each and every one of those little sprouts!

.

Little buggars! ...& I don't care how 'cute' they are; (they STILL taste like chicken)!

Am thinking that when Sam and his cousin came to hunt 'em, they didn't take out enough of them.

And the other vermin around here, the bats, I should get a longer ladder and try to close up that little crack in the roofing by the chimney. While it is kinda cool to watch them come out at night, I do not think it is good to be harboring all these bats that seem to live under my roof. No, they aren't in the house... yet...

For more info on troublesome pests, (bats, bunnies, birds ,snakes and more), please go to http://www.abirdshome.com/habitat/profiles.htm (You can also learn how to attract the "better" kinds of wildlife)!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Yesterday, Casey needed to go to one of her Labs... She had missed this lab last week and did not want to miss it again. She took my car, stopping off at Dereks home first (her car has been parked there ever since she was admitted to the hospital last week). She struggled even to get that far. Being dizzy, shaking, sweating, and in pain,; she did not care to venture any further to get to the campus at UWGB. Instead, she called the campus and was transferred to the registrars office. Only to learn that she had missed too many classes and she had a choice of being suspended, or withdrawing from her classes. She chose to withdraw yet again.

I do feel so badly for her. Besides Roberta taking a few nursing courses at Troy State, and then going to the College of Cosmetology; Casey is the only other of my daughters that, at such a young age has maintained her desire to keep up her accredited education. She also had to withdraw last semester when she had that part of her lung removed. Kind of a kick in the teeth for such an inspired and capable young lady; you would think the UW~System would have done everything in their power to help her acheive during these tough times. And her High "A" GPA is nothing to scoff at either! (Again you would think they would want to keep a student like this). Not so.

The apathy shown to her by her own profs also had my blood pressure rising. She had emailed them all last week. And she heard back from only ONE!!!! He was absolutely willing to do whatever was necessary to help her out and to allow her to catch up. (The rest of them don't seem to be worth the paper their checks are printed on)... She had to resend her emails to them (I am not sure if she ever even heard back after that).

I also think that a 'break' might be a blessing in disguise for a time. It will give her the time to get to Froedtert, and to have them make her better somehow; and it will also slow the pace of her somewhat hectic life. She will need (needs) to relax a while and recuperate. Like I said above, she is still in a bunch of pain, and along with all those other symptoms, is made also very nauseous by it too.

Maybe by the end of today we will know much more as to when we will be going back to Froedtert Hospital in Milwaukee. (Dereks mom ended up driving Casey home yesterday, and Derek came to pick up his mom then when he was done with work).

Please just keep praying is all...

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Roberta stopped out yesterday before work too! Dropped off a few pictures for me to scan, and was on her way in then. Short and sweet. Nice to have her stopping in too! She called yesterday AM to check on Casey. Casey was still asleep... As Master Gabriel was also in the backseat when Berta got here. And he stayed that way too. (Why does the old saying about "sleeping dogs" come to mind)? hehehe Generally one to sleep good in the car, Gabriel had hollered almost for the whole drive...

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The quote on my top page, which a few of you have asked to steal, is by none other than General Norman Schwarzkopf... (I didn't have enough characters left to include who said it)... So yes, and absolutely, you may steal it away!

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So, such is Life in Flintville...

Hope your "Hump Day" is an awesome one!

XOXO
Anne

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