Autism, Aspergers, Rob Gorski,Special Needs Parenting, Reactive Attachment Disorder, Fibromyalgia,

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May 08 2013

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While it may seem bittersweet, a victory is a victory

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My thoughts

by Lost and Tired

May 8, 2013

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It’s no secret that things aren’t going so well for us as of late.  Most recently were began losing our utilities. Tuesday morning our natural has was shut off and we were told that we had to pay the entire balance of over $8,000 in order to turn it back on.

To say we were freaking out about this would be a bit of an understatement.

However, after the dust settled a bit, I was able to get ahold of Dominion East Ohio Gas.  Turns out, we had been misinformed.

The reason we were shut of was because we hadn’t been making the PIPP payments.  We were under the impression, after being told so, that we couldn’t make PIPP payments until we got caught up.  To get caught up, it was over $700 and we simply couldn’t pull that off. 

While miscommunication sucks, this time it brings with it good news. 

Turns out that we only have to pay $231.xx to make up the PIPP payments and the gas will be turned back on.  This is a far cry from the $8,200 balance were thought we had to pay. 

While we still don’t have the money to get it turned back on, $231 is something that is much more attainable for us. 

This is a big relief and sorta gives us a light at the end of the tunnel. 

Things are still going to be tough without heat, hot water or a working stove but I now have a realistic chance of fixing this in the near future.  I would have never been able to cover the $8,200.

This is a victory and one I’m grateful for. 

While it may seem bittersweet, a victory is a victory.  :-)


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About the author

Lost and Tired

I’m Rob Gorski and I started this blog in January 2010 as a means of sharing my family’s real life journey raising 3 boys on the #Autism Spectrum. It’s important for people to understand what Autism can really be like and the impact it has on the family. We aren’t a TV show and there are no actors. This is our struggle, our journey…and it’s all true. I am “Lost and Tired” and this is “My Reality #Autism”.

Permanent link to this article: http://lostandtired.com/2013/05/08/while-it-may-seem-bittersweet-a-victory-is-a-victory/

7 comments
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CharlieOz 1 Like

I know things are bad in your household between the kids and wife who cannot function, but at what point do you determine that you HAVE to go out and get a full time job?

I know that your working 40 hours a week would create a hardship on your family, but at some point that hardship would probably be preferably to some of the difficulties that you're facing now without the income that a full time job would bring.

It just seems that many of your problems could be remedied of either you or your wife joined the working world. Concerns such as paying for utilities or putting enough gas on the car to get to an appointment would be a thing of the past.

Silachan
Silachan like.author.displayName 1 Like

@CharlieOz I think you missed something. He is technically working, just from home, I believe it's relative to freelance work like artists? And he was basically disabled by a back injury after being a paramedic for many years.

lostandtired
lostandtired moderator

@Silachan @CharlieOz thank you.  You're correct.  I also owned a contracting company for 10+ years until about 2 months ago.  

Lizze is chronically ill and can't even get out of bed on some days.  Her body is literally destroying itself. 

If it were as simple as getting a full time job, I would have done that years ago.  Unfortunately, it's not that simple....at all. 

Latest blog post: Elliott’s artwork: Iron Man

lostandtired
lostandtired moderator like.author.displayName 1 Like

@CharlieOz no need to apologize.  It's not easy to understand.  Unfortunately, it's just so complex that there is no easy solution.  I mentioned that we are involved with things like wraparound that helps with problem solving and management of Gavin's situation in particular.  

The reality is that no one knows how to help us because no matter what we do, there is a huge downside.  

Right now, I'm playing catch up and I just can't get caught up.  It's not really that much we need to come up with.  It's just with everything going on, it's difficult to focus on anything because I'm being pulled in too many different directions. 

Every time I make progress, something comes up and I have to shift gears.  

Lizze is in no condition to do much of anything. She continues to push herself and that only makes things worse.  

All of our other resources are tied up with Gavin.  

I can do quite well with my writing. The problem is that I have to watch Emmett during the day, drive everyone to everywhere they need to be because 99% of the time, Lizze is unable to drive.  

I appreciate your concern, I really do.  Please understand, if it were as simple as getting a job outside the house, we wouldn't even be having this conversation right now.  

Sometimes, life hands you a situation that all you can do is try to survive it.  It's hard to understand and believe me, no one is more worried or frustrated as I'm.  

🙂 

Latest blog post: Today’s IVIG infusion @AkronChildrens

lostandtired
lostandtired moderator

@BillyElliot @lostandtired @Silachan @CharlieOz your just a ray of sunshine aren't you.  😉  Look, it's not that simple. Lizze is seriously ill and we are working to get her back on her feet.  

I wish it were that cut and dry but it's not.  

I appreciate your opinions but maybe this isn't a blog that you are going to be able to relate to.  Your new here and perhaps aren't caught up on everything that has been going on.  

While it's difficult to comprehend everything I share here, especially from the outside, it's just the way it is.  

We are working with organizations to help us manage everything and the simple fact is that our situation is unique and in truth is pretty much lose lose.  

I've worked since I was 15 and spent a large portion of my adult life, saving the lives of others.  Along the way, I got injured and that limits what I can do.  I write now and have been working  on something that has been helping.  

The problem is that we need to get caught up.  Maintaining is one thing, getting caught up is entirely different. 

I'm done justifying myself.  I know what I'm doing and I also know what is possible and what isn't. We're going to have to agree to disagree. 

Latest blog post: Today’s IVIG infusion @AkronChildrens

CharlieOz
CharlieOz

I'm sorry...I'm just not understanding.  You have said that you are way behind on your rent.  Your utilities are getting turned off.  You have posted that you occasionally cannot even afford gas for the cars. What other choice do you have? Unless you have a genie in a bottle, or money-tree growing in the backyard, you seem to be approaching the point of no return.


Last week, you said that your wife had a quasi-nervous breakdown.  I'm assuming that her ailments are both mental and physical.  You and her manage to go walking for miles at a time occasionally.  How can she not possibly find the fortitude to dig in and watch the kids for a few hours here and there, so you can get out to work even a part time job?  I've read her blog...she's a very astute woman.  Surely she sees the dire straights your family is in, and realizes that part of the solution hinges on her.

I can tell that you are a proud man, and probably shy away from social service assistance in order to set a good example for your kids.  I'm just afraid that if you don't change course soon, things are gonna get much, much worse.

BillyElliot like.author.displayName 1 Like

@lostandtired @Silachan @CharlieOz I'm sorry...I'm just a bit confused.  You have said that you are on the precipice of losing your house.  Your utilities are getting turned off.  You have said that you cannot even afford enough gas to get to your doctors appointments.  I'm not sure what other choice there is, unless you have a genie in a bottle. I'm assuming you're trying to avoid social service type handouts in order to set a good example for the kids, so I don't know what other answer there is.

You also said last week that your wife had a nervous breakdown, so i'm assuming that her ailments are a combination of mental and physical.  I've read her blog, and she seems to be a very smart, articulate, on-the-ball woman.  She must see the dire straights that you are all in, and want to pitch in.  How can she go walking for miles with you on some days, but be unable to even get out of bed to take care of your kids for a few hours here-and-there so you can get a part time job?

Trust me...I feel your pain.  There are days I dread getting up and going to work, but it's what we need to do. 

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