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| Me in my scooter. This picture was taken during a church member's wedding last summer. |
Often we take this time of year to make our New Year Resolutions, or rehash news events that happened during this year. But, this year I want to rehash a story I told back in April of this year. I should have saved the story here in the newspaper archives but I didn't. In retelling the story it gives me more time to reflected what happened in a purely personal level. I know it's not normal for a newspaper editor to tell about his personal life, it seems unseemly. But after reading it again you can see there's a message to be shared, that God works in our lives, and brings help when you least expect it. Editors of newspapers have this veneer of being speculative, over many areas of live. Guess that comes from being burned to many times, or disappointed from people who turn on you for no reason, you grow doubtful over things that can't be seen or felt. I even found myself at times questioning my faith in God.
One of those things I grew speculative was how Medicare had seemed to stop being an financial aid program for those of us who need to use these electric wheelchairs (Power Chairs), and these electric scooters for active disabled people to get around, that had become dictatorial in what kind of power chairs, and scooters that we the consumer are to have, so much so that those who need these chairs, end up with worthless junk.
But, then again you can say that about anything whether you buy on on your own, or some sort of medical insurance, you still could up buying a lemon.
Last year was my due date to be able to get a new power chair, or scooter through medicare, which happens every seven, or eight years. These chairs are like shoes, you have to find one that fits you. I knew Medicare would never pay for a scooter I wanted, or needed, they would saddle me with the cheapest one they could pay for, I end up with one that would fail me.
So, I decided on my own to purchase a scooter, which I actually wanted, and provide me the best service, and usage. I found a dealer who sell these machines, by a layaway plan, I agreed to pay monthly on the scooter until it was paid for, then they would send it. At first, I was fully willing to pay the bills on my own.
I told this story in my facebook page, and my plans to hold my little Medicare revolution, showing that people who need to use these devices there's ways to get these scooters, and power chairs besides going through Medicare. By buying one outright out of pocket, if you can find a dealer who takes payments, just like you would with a car.
Then some facebook friends decided to aid in my quest, then the church I'm a member of got wind of my plans, and the members of the church decided to pitch in on this. Something remarkable happened, right before my eyes, what would have taken three years on my own to pay for this machine that cost roughly over $3,000. Took a mere five weeks to pay the whole bill! Not only the church helped for the most part, but some community support from local citizens! It was like I was in the movie "It's a Wonderful Life"! I knew it was God's hand at work, it had to be. The message of this real life story is through God, anything is possible. Once again thanks to all who helped back in March of 2018.
WORLD NEWS HEADLINES
( From the UN News Service, and other sources)UN News 2018 Recap: In Case You Missed It.
At UN News, 2018 kicked off with UNICEF’s “challenge” to all nations to make sure more newborns survive their first days of life by ensuring they are protected from treatable diseases as well as having access to proven, low-cost health solutions in their first months.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/12/1028631
THE COMMITTEES: Setting out to ‘transform the world’ in the General Assembly's Second Committee.
How is the UN tackling its most ambitious and far-reaching project: the 2030 Agenda to “transform the world”? This is the mammoth responsibility of the UN’s General Assembly’s Second Committee – the body which deals with “economic and financial matters”. Here is the second in our series on what happens at the UN when the world leaders have gone home at the end of September, and the Committees get going on turning pledges and ideas into action.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/12/1029201
CLIMATE CHANGE FOCUS: Fighting drought with Somalia’s sand dams.
The construction of sand dams which retain water above and below sand bars, is improving access to water supplies for people in Somalia as the country continues to weather periods of damaging drought.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/12/1029191
UN rights expert urges full investigation into death of migrant girl, held in US.
A United Nations rights expert has called for a thorough investigation into the death of a Guatemalan migrant child, while she was in the custody of United States immigration authorities.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/12/1029281
Disarmament for a peaceful world, defines work of UN General Assembly's First Committee.
Every year in September, the United Nations General Assembly makes the headlines as world leaders gather at UN headquarters to set the agenda for the year ahead. But for the nitty-gritty discussions of how to turn decisions into action, Member States break out into six specialized “Main Committees”. For this first in our series of Committee explainers, we'll take you inside the work of the First – tasked with addressing issues of disarmament and international security.
https://news.un.org/en/story/2018/12/1029221
