Re: SSD & Traumatic Pancreatic Injury

[Guest guest]

I just HAD to add my two cents about SSDI.

In the state of Kentucky, the average Disabilty Determiner makes $7.50 an hour

and is not required to have any medical training. KY rejects 90% of those who

apply for SSDI within 90 days of their application. Apparently, the thought

process is that this across the board denial will " weed out " the greedy people

who don't really " need " disability.

In Dec of 2000, my husband, Kurt and I took our two preschool children on a

vintage Christmas train ride at a local railroad museum. Kurt slipped on a wet

steel step while exiting the ride, carrying our 2 year old son. As he fell, he

flipped himself in mid-air to protect our son, and ended up breaking 6 ribs,

damaging his left kidney, and basically " blowing up " his pancreas. The trauma

casued a partial pancreatic ductal stricture, and recurrent pancreatic

pseudocyst formation.

We went from being an upper middle class family to a family on food stamps with

a medical card. (Our children were two-and-a-half, and SEVEN WEEKS old at the

time.)

We filed for SSDI as soon as we could in Oct 2001. Kurt was/is so " damaged " from

the accident that I stay home full time to care for him and our children. We

hand-carried 1000 pages of medical records. cross-referenced and tabbed, to the

Social Security Office.

On Jan 9, 2002, we received a letter denying his coverage, stating that " while

he has diabetes, he is not blind " WHAT?????

First, traumatic pancreatic injury doesn't cause TRUE diabetes, because he still

has intermittent pancreatic function. (Blood sugars all over the place,

regardless of what he eats) Secondly, they ignored EVERYTHING else...the ductal

stricture, the pseudocysts (some more than 12 cm in diameter), the damage to the

kidney, etc, etc, etc.

When I called, the examiner I talked to couldn't even pronounce

GASTROENTEROLOGIST, but informed me that the " state didn't have one on staff. "

Long story short, I went all the way to the Governors office to get it approved.

It's unbelievable! I actually had someone in state govenment that is supposed to

assist residents tell me that we should " Take Welfare and be grateful " .

BLEAH!

Jeanette

[Guest guest]

Jeanette,

A story like that leaves me numb and without words, and shaking my

head in disbelief. I'm happy for your perseverence, but it should

NOT have to be necessary in a case like your husband's.

Thank you for sharing with us.

With hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina

SC & SE Regional Rep.

PAI, Intl.

Note: All comments and advice are personal opinion only, and should

not be substituted for professional medical consultation.

" What les behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared

to what lies within us. " - Ralph Waldo Emerson