A FAMILY IN DISTRESS - REACHING OUT

I had a wonderful experience today...I hadn't expected it...in fact, I was kind of dreading the 9:00 appointment at the house with a nurse coming to take some information and blood samples for a life insurance policy. Whether or not they will find me fit is the subject for another blog...but as Janet arrived, large bag in tow, she gave me the most genuine smile. She lit up clear to the creases around her almond-shaped brown eyes. I warmed to her immediately and recognized that feeling that you have known someone since you were in your 20's. I offered her coffee and she took it like I do "I'll have some coffee in my coffee". We set to work filling in information on a form until we reached the question on mental illness, bipolar, and alcohol and were discussing how to answer when she revealed she understood...she had a daughter, age 30, Bipolar I, schizophrenic...currently in jail for accosting her with a heavy object; this not being the first time, she had had to put her in jail to protect herself and her son - the son of her daughter whom she has adopted.
She went on to tell how in jail they really don't insist they take their meds so the daughter is completely out of control and how until she is out of jail, there is nothing she can do to help her. This was a woman in pain. A registered nurse who has tried working through the public mental health system all to no avail. She has spent the past 11 years trying to get treatment for a mentally ill daughter. And nothing will get better because the daughter is in denial. She won't try.

It occurred to me that somewhere in this great land there must be someone, some group, some way to get social security for this daughter so that she has a means to live. So that she can afford a private doctor...A means to get Medicaid to cover the remainder.

Janet and I continued visiting through the appointment which we managed to make last three hours! We visited about many things. When she left, we had exchanged phone numbers and each made a new friend. We laughed at many of the same funny things and had similar roles in the family...I had at one time, what she has now. We both are musicians...But I promised her something else. I told her that I was going to do some research to find out if there wasn't someone who could help with her problem with her daughter. By mid afternoon, I had found a support group to help her; and found a group which deals with getting benefits for people with disabilities.. I have also offered to help with filling out the forms for Social Security for her.

One of the problems encountered is this...if the forms were all filled out and ready to sign...how to get them to her to sign in jail. Anyone have any ideas on that one.