Hello to our good friends of Steve's Army.
We feel it is necessary to bring another attempt by our GOP legislators to "reform" Michigan Auto No-Fault to your attention. As most of you may know Steve is not an auto accident victim so his recovery is not paid for by our Auto insurance. Just the same, we feel the need to make you aware of this again.
This time, our legislators are trying to make you believe their changes will somehow benefit you more than the last attempt.
They are raising the benefit payment cap to 10 million. This sounds good at first glance because 10 million would cover all but a very small amount of catastrophically injured auto accident victims. While they guarantee at least one year of benefits, any subsequent benefits allowed are based on something called "reasonable progress". What this means is VERY FEW will get benefits past 1 year. Our legislature, GOP in particular, doesn't understand that catastrophically injured victims can go backwards faster than they go forward. Our experience dictates that these victims need daily exercise just to maintain their health and have any chance to progress towards recovery. To reduce, limit, or stop these benefits might condemn these poor victims to a nursing facility. These people have a right to a quality life, lets make sure they are allowed to keep it!
Additionally, the GOP is trying to get this reform passed before the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association is forced to turn over it's records to the public. A judge ordered the MCCA to turn over it's records but the judgement is under appeal.
These records are the missing piece of the puzzle that will determine if the current No-Fault system is sustainable. To vote on anything this serious without knowing the facts proves some politicians are not acting in the best interests of the people who elected them! You wonder what their motives are???
Michigan Auto insurance is expensive, however, the MCCA assessment is uniform, $186 per vehicle. No-Fault is not the problem. It is 3X more costly to insure the same vehicle in Wayne Country as it is in most of the suburbs because we have no consumer protection laws that would regulate this. Some people say just let the victim sue the "at fault" person. That doesnt work either because you never know how much money will cover your costs, so you tend to ask for more, which could bankrupt some and therefore not get you what you need.
THIS is simple. Tell your rep to get all of the facts before he/she "acts in your best interests"!! Tell them to fix something that really is broken, like our roads, not No-Fault that has worked perfectly for over 30 years! Ask them why they won't let the people vote on this topic?
We suggest that you contact your representatives and make them accountable. Feel free to post their answers to you on this blog.
Throughout our ordeal we have met many good people who would be severely impacted by this change. They deserve better.
Thank you for reading this and please continue to keep Steve in your thoughts and prayers. Good things are happening!
Rob and Linda
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Just wanted to wish all of You great people who make up Steve's Army, a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! It has been our priviledge to share our thoughts with all of you and receive your responses. Please continue to send positive thoughts and prayers Steve's way.
Take care of yourselves and eachother,
Linda, Rob, Beth and Steve
Take care of yourselves and eachother,
Linda, Rob, Beth and Steve
Tuesday, December 3, 2013
UPDATE 135
Hello to Steve's Army,
We hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and are doing well.
Good things are happening as we progress in Steve's recovery. We feel we will post more and write less. From standing to walking, we will let the videos speak for themselves.
Thank You for your positive thoughts and prayers, as you can see they are working.
Happy Holidays,
Linda, Rob, Beth and Steve
We hope you all had a great Thanksgiving and are doing well.
Good things are happening as we progress in Steve's recovery. We feel we will post more and write less. From standing to walking, we will let the videos speak for themselves.
Thank You for your positive thoughts and prayers, as you can see they are working.
Happy Holidays,
Linda, Rob, Beth and Steve
Saturday, September 21, 2013
UPDATE TO 134
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Update 134 from Rob and Linda
Hello to Steve's Army. Hope all is well with you who read this blog.
We continue to be humbled and amazed at the support Steve and we receive from you great people. The Golf Outing has grown to 49 teams this year. So many that we had to use the whole course. While this fact is wonderful, it did not allow me (Rob) to meet and greet every one of you at the "hole in one". It also did not allow our daughter (Beth) to do the same. At this point, allow us to express our sincere gratitude to all we did not meet and get to interact with. Please know that your continued support of this outing is making a positive difference in Steve's recovery.
To reinforce that last point, we have uploaded two videos that we ask you to watch. Great things are happening as we all stay the course. The first is Steve at therapy rising unassisted to a standing position. He did this 5X that day and we have him doing it now almost every time he stands up. As they say, "great things happen to those who wait----Outstanding things happen to those who get off their ass and do something!"'
The second video is of Steve on his Terra trike. This is a recumbant trike that will get him some exercise, left hand and vision use.
We have been continuing with horseback riding and swimming and at the last swimming session, Steve actually took two steps unassisted while in the deep end of the pool. We also plan to do a "color run" sometime in September with Steve and a few of his friends/therapists.....we found that he could use the trike and they could push him if necessary. More to follow on that one!
One more thing, Rosie Jo our, now 46 pound "puppy", has figured out that if she lays in the path that Steve is walking, he has to step over her. We call it "puppy therapy"!
Additionally, please identify yourselves when you post a comment. Steve and family owe all who read this blog a debt of gratitude and we would like to be able to address you by name.
Please feel free to contact Steve at any time. Take care of yourself and eachother.
Rob and Linda
We continue to be humbled and amazed at the support Steve and we receive from you great people. The Golf Outing has grown to 49 teams this year. So many that we had to use the whole course. While this fact is wonderful, it did not allow me (Rob) to meet and greet every one of you at the "hole in one". It also did not allow our daughter (Beth) to do the same. At this point, allow us to express our sincere gratitude to all we did not meet and get to interact with. Please know that your continued support of this outing is making a positive difference in Steve's recovery.
To reinforce that last point, we have uploaded two videos that we ask you to watch. Great things are happening as we all stay the course. The first is Steve at therapy rising unassisted to a standing position. He did this 5X that day and we have him doing it now almost every time he stands up. As they say, "great things happen to those who wait----Outstanding things happen to those who get off their ass and do something!"'
The second video is of Steve on his Terra trike. This is a recumbant trike that will get him some exercise, left hand and vision use.
We have been continuing with horseback riding and swimming and at the last swimming session, Steve actually took two steps unassisted while in the deep end of the pool. We also plan to do a "color run" sometime in September with Steve and a few of his friends/therapists.....we found that he could use the trike and they could push him if necessary. More to follow on that one!
One more thing, Rosie Jo our, now 46 pound "puppy", has figured out that if she lays in the path that Steve is walking, he has to step over her. We call it "puppy therapy"!
Additionally, please identify yourselves when you post a comment. Steve and family owe all who read this blog a debt of gratitude and we would like to be able to address you by name.
Rob and Linda
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
Update 133 from Linda and Rob
Hello fellow Steve's Army friends; we hope all is well with all of you.
It seems at our last post we said we would try to post more and here we are in May with our first post of 2013.........
Steve is doing well , Voice is getting stronger and so is the Left Arm. He is working hard in and out of therapy and his efforts are showing merit. For the first time ever, Steve's bicep muscle in his left arm is flexible and not rock hard as it has been. He has used his left hand and arm to swing at a punching bag and to reach out and grab items. It is still not "automatic" but it is controllable when he puts his mind to it.
The Left side neglect issue is also coming along. Steve is able to read words across a row when the spacing and font size are "right". The last time we had Steve out in a golf cart, you would never know he was injured. It was too bad that was last October and we had to get the Golf cart back before the snow came. We are planning to do more of that type of driving this spring/summer.
Speaking of Golf, we hope you all got the announcement of the Golf Outing this year. Same place, Hartland Glen, and it is on the 22nd of June.
We have been involved in a couple of new ventures this year and they are keeping us busy.
The first is the Auto No Fault reform that the republican party is trying to push through.
THIS IS BAD FOR MICHIGAN AND IT'S CITIZENS!! Although Steve is not an auto accident victim, we are significantly trying to help defeat this bill (#4612).
As you may know, If you are the victim of an auto/motorcycle accident and have Michigan no-fault insurance, virtually all of your medical needs are covered by your auto insurance company (up to $485,000) and then the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA), for Life. This bill if passed would greatly restrict the amount of therapy and equipment you can receive and tie them to "significant progress" whatever that is.
The republican party says Auto No-fault is "unsustainable", and that your current medical coverage will be adequate to cover your needs. Michigan has had ANF since 1973, if it truely is unsustainable, why not prove it by turning the records of the MCCA over to the public? As to medical coverage, our family is living proof that good medical insurance doesn't even come close to covering our needs!
There is a website that I suggest all of you visit. It is the Coalition Protecting Auto No Fault (CPAN) site http://www.cpan.us/index.php
PLEASE educate yourself and contact your representatives in the Senate and House and tell them you oppose this bill. The bad thing about this bill is the the republican party wants to pass it before the (MCCA) is forced to turn it's records over to the public due to Freedom of Information Act, What do they have to hide!!??
I'll get off my soapbox now and tell you about out second venture. It is 32 pounds of squirming puppy known affectionately as ROSIE-JO.We rescued her on March 9th at 18 pounds; needless to say she has turned our house up-side-down. She is part Lab (loves water)-Kangaroo (can leap tall tables with a single bound)-Deer(2/3 legs 1/3 body)- and Alligator(many-sharp puppy teeth) LOL!!!
She is sooooooo good for all of us and once she figures us out, and we her, things will hopefully get back to normal. In the mean-time, if you want to see a house in dis-array, stop by and laugh.
All this comes at the time our family room is being remodeled to add to the fun.
Thanks so much for checking in! We hope life is good for you and yours.
Rob and Linda
It seems at our last post we said we would try to post more and here we are in May with our first post of 2013.........
Steve is doing well , Voice is getting stronger and so is the Left Arm. He is working hard in and out of therapy and his efforts are showing merit. For the first time ever, Steve's bicep muscle in his left arm is flexible and not rock hard as it has been. He has used his left hand and arm to swing at a punching bag and to reach out and grab items. It is still not "automatic" but it is controllable when he puts his mind to it.
The Left side neglect issue is also coming along. Steve is able to read words across a row when the spacing and font size are "right". The last time we had Steve out in a golf cart, you would never know he was injured. It was too bad that was last October and we had to get the Golf cart back before the snow came. We are planning to do more of that type of driving this spring/summer.
Speaking of Golf, we hope you all got the announcement of the Golf Outing this year. Same place, Hartland Glen, and it is on the 22nd of June.
We have been involved in a couple of new ventures this year and they are keeping us busy.
The first is the Auto No Fault reform that the republican party is trying to push through.
THIS IS BAD FOR MICHIGAN AND IT'S CITIZENS!! Although Steve is not an auto accident victim, we are significantly trying to help defeat this bill (#4612).
As you may know, If you are the victim of an auto/motorcycle accident and have Michigan no-fault insurance, virtually all of your medical needs are covered by your auto insurance company (up to $485,000) and then the Michigan Catastrophic Claims Association (MCCA), for Life. This bill if passed would greatly restrict the amount of therapy and equipment you can receive and tie them to "significant progress" whatever that is.
The republican party says Auto No-fault is "unsustainable", and that your current medical coverage will be adequate to cover your needs. Michigan has had ANF since 1973, if it truely is unsustainable, why not prove it by turning the records of the MCCA over to the public? As to medical coverage, our family is living proof that good medical insurance doesn't even come close to covering our needs!
There is a website that I suggest all of you visit. It is the Coalition Protecting Auto No Fault (CPAN) site http://www.cpan.us/index.php
PLEASE educate yourself and contact your representatives in the Senate and House and tell them you oppose this bill. The bad thing about this bill is the the republican party wants to pass it before the (MCCA) is forced to turn it's records over to the public due to Freedom of Information Act, What do they have to hide!!??
I'll get off my soapbox now and tell you about out second venture. It is 32 pounds of squirming puppy known affectionately as ROSIE-JO.We rescued her on March 9th at 18 pounds; needless to say she has turned our house up-side-down. She is part Lab (loves water)-Kangaroo (can leap tall tables with a single bound)-Deer(2/3 legs 1/3 body)- and Alligator(many-sharp puppy teeth) LOL!!!
She is sooooooo good for all of us and once she figures us out, and we her, things will hopefully get back to normal. In the mean-time, if you want to see a house in dis-array, stop by and laugh.
All this comes at the time our family room is being remodeled to add to the fun.
Thanks so much for checking in! We hope life is good for you and yours.
Rob and Linda
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Update 132 from Linda and Rob
Hello, friends! Our resolution for 2013 is to write more frequent updates, so please don't give up on us and please keep checking in!
Things roll along here. Our schedule right now is two days at Willowbrook, two days at Walk the Line, OT with a hand specialist, horseback riding at Banbury Cross, swimming, and massage (each once per week). A good, busy schedule. Just listing these places and activities gives you an idea of where we spend our time, but doesn't touch on the emotional impact of these things. Going to therapy has become a big part of Steve's social life (ours, too) and the people there have become his friends (ours, too). You walk into these places and feel so welcome and feel such hope and such confidence in the people working there. That part of therapy is hard to describe, but it's just as important as the physical work. We are thankful for these places and these people every single day.
Besides traditional therapies, many activities that we regard as therapy go on at home...working out on the NuStep (he now does more than an hour at a time without needing any assistance), playing games, using the reading machine, using his IPad, etc. He stays busy!
It's always fun and interesting to be caught off guard by improvements that Steve makes. They are small and subtle, but we are thankful for them. For example, he might use his left hand to do something new, handle eating more independently, or speak more loudly. All good things and wonderful moments when we notice what is happening!
He's been a bit knocked down for the past month or so with a toothache that couldn't be figured out. It's still not completely solved but it turned out that he also had an ear infection, which was the cause of most of the pain. Through all of that (he described the pain as a 6 on a scale of 1-5) he never missed a day of therapy and continued to work hard while popping Motrin!
Steve always looks forward to visits and texts from friends. Keeping in touch is so good for him in so many ways. Please know that you are always more than welcome to stop by, even if you haven't seen him in awhile. Even a few minutes with friends means a lot. Just give us a call! (two-four-eight-568-6091). If you'd like to text him, his phone number is two-four-eight-770-6092.
A couple years ago we received a Christmas card containing words that continue to speak to us. We wanted to share them with you: "Believe... in the confidence within ourselves and the strength unconditional love provides... in the healing power of time and hope... in faith, dreams, and unconventional beauty... and in the importance of living in the moment." Thank you for everything you do for us, and for continuing to believe in and support Steve!
Take care of yourselves and each other. Merry Christmas!
Love,
Linda and Rob
Things roll along here. Our schedule right now is two days at Willowbrook, two days at Walk the Line, OT with a hand specialist, horseback riding at Banbury Cross, swimming, and massage (each once per week). A good, busy schedule. Just listing these places and activities gives you an idea of where we spend our time, but doesn't touch on the emotional impact of these things. Going to therapy has become a big part of Steve's social life (ours, too) and the people there have become his friends (ours, too). You walk into these places and feel so welcome and feel such hope and such confidence in the people working there. That part of therapy is hard to describe, but it's just as important as the physical work. We are thankful for these places and these people every single day.
Besides traditional therapies, many activities that we regard as therapy go on at home...working out on the NuStep (he now does more than an hour at a time without needing any assistance), playing games, using the reading machine, using his IPad, etc. He stays busy!
It's always fun and interesting to be caught off guard by improvements that Steve makes. They are small and subtle, but we are thankful for them. For example, he might use his left hand to do something new, handle eating more independently, or speak more loudly. All good things and wonderful moments when we notice what is happening!
He's been a bit knocked down for the past month or so with a toothache that couldn't be figured out. It's still not completely solved but it turned out that he also had an ear infection, which was the cause of most of the pain. Through all of that (he described the pain as a 6 on a scale of 1-5) he never missed a day of therapy and continued to work hard while popping Motrin!
Steve always looks forward to visits and texts from friends. Keeping in touch is so good for him in so many ways. Please know that you are always more than welcome to stop by, even if you haven't seen him in awhile. Even a few minutes with friends means a lot. Just give us a call! (two-four-eight-568-6091). If you'd like to text him, his phone number is two-four-eight-770-6092.
A couple years ago we received a Christmas card containing words that continue to speak to us. We wanted to share them with you: "Believe... in the confidence within ourselves and the strength unconditional love provides... in the healing power of time and hope... in faith, dreams, and unconventional beauty... and in the importance of living in the moment." Thank you for everything you do for us, and for continuing to believe in and support Steve!
Take care of yourselves and each other. Merry Christmas!
Love,
Linda and Rob
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