Pam posted this message to catslaves and requested that someone post the
update to rpca.  They have finally received some positive news from VA, but
this is really a tragic update.

MaryL

Sorry not to update this earlier.  Rob came home on Friday the 9th.  We have
been really busy working with the hospice people and getting things done.
Good/bad news Rob has finally been declared at 100% disability, because he
is dying.  I originally thought this would increase our income by about
$700, but it will be going up from $1800 from combined VA/Military
retirement to $3200 VA.  Rob will still get his social security payments.
So we'll have about $4400 a month to cover the expenses, and they are many.
We have also been put in for house modifications and a Wheel chair
accessable van.  I'm not holding my breath on either one.  The current house
modifications have come to $2400 thanks to the honesty and decency of our
carpenter.

We will also be getting a settlement from the VA for all that money they
didn't send Rob.  It will cover our overdue bills and put a screen porch on
the back of the house.  The honest carpenter says that he can give me a 13'
by 20' feet screened in porch that will be wedded to the house for $10,000.
That works for me.  Our living room is 13' by 22', and we manage with that.
The rest of the settlement will cover a van if the VA doesn't come through.
We're looking at getting WiFi at the house since we have a floating
population of around 4-6 lap tops in action at any one time.  I can live
with that.

We're managing ok.  It really hit me when I walked into my bedroom and found
a single sized hospital bed where I used to have an old beat up queen bed.
I've moved into the library/Mike's room and am slowly becoming accustomed to
sleeping alone.  I doubt if I'll ever enjoy it, though.

Rob is doing ok, and better with physical motion daily.  I had to tell him
that I was going to have him put on night restraints if he didn't stop
sneaking off to the bathroom without someone spotting him so that he didn't
fall.  The hardest part is that he wants to just lay in bed doing nothing.
Today his CNA and I dragged him out to the dining room to play Heximos
(hexigon shaped dominoes).  Tomorrow, if the cold front and its rain doesn't
come through, she plans on getting him outside.  I just don't want him to
give up.

Love to all, purrs and thanks to everyone,
Pam S.