The topic of “Disability Living” brings people together throughout Canada. This happens because of nation-wide charities, government programs and supportive rallies, walks, and other fundraisers. It also occurs when something exciting is going on in news, or if there is a new milestone set for the disability community of Canada. This means there are many opportunities to gather with other individuals and groups to celebrate the amazing abilities of people with disabilities.
Disability Living is excited that this blog can be such a place, ever day. In addition to supplying positive stories for the disability community of Canada, Disability Living writes about “Snapshots of Canada.”
Snapshots of Canada is a title used to categorize stories that resonate with all people throughout Canada. They highlight current events, historical accounts, nation-wide resources, and reputable statistics relevant to the disability community.
This category has the potential to stimulate great conversation. In addition to contributing your thoughts, consider posting links to the articles, videos and other websites that interest you. Your action will allow this section of the blog to grow, and as a result Disability Living can publish more stories that are relevant to you.
Here is what we’ve been talking about lately:
Huffington Post Canada Features Article about People with Disabilities
The Canada edition of the Huffington Post features an article that warns about the dangers of ignoring people with disabilities.The article, written by Craig and Marc Kielburger, especially emphasises the importance of caring for people with disabilities in the developing world. They ask the question, “Why do we ignore people with disabilities?” This is a question that needs to be asked of Canadians, as well as people in developing countries. When there is an openness to communicate with individuals of all makes and statures, progress can be made to advance the disability community.
Paralympics Allow Disability Community to Compete Internationally
Originating in England, the Paralympics began as a sports competition for WWII soldiers with spinal cord injuries. As more countries and disabilities joined, the Paralympics were born. Disabled Canadians joined the competition in the 1968 games in Israel. The Paralympic games began to coordinate with the Olympic games in the Seoul 1988 games. Currently, all of the Olympic and Paralympic take place in the same city. The Paralympic games are for disabled athletes to compete in, but the focus of the sports is on athletic skills and ability, rather than disability.
Alzheimer’s in Canada: A Growing Problem
A recently published comprehensive research project now sheds new light on the rising problem of Alzheimer’s and dementia in Canada. The study, entitled Rising Tide: The Impact of Dementia on Canadian Society, provides current facts on Alzheimer’s in Canada, also projects thirty years into the future of Alzheimer’s and related dementia in Canada. These statistics are invaluable projections for the future. It is possible that these projected numbers can decrease through a national plan and preventative measures. The Rising Tide project not only researched that statistics, but also ways in which this can be prevented.
Now that you see what we’ve been talking about, let’s turn the tables: What have you been talking about?
Share exciting stories about how you see Canada coming together to celebrate and rally behind the disability community.
We enjoy hearing from you. You’ve been so wonderful to share with us! Keep up the conversation and please know we are reading every comment and look forward to moving these conversations forward with replies or follow-up blogs.
Disability Living exists to talk with you about what’s on your mind. From all of us here and at the National Benefit Authority, thanks for sharing!
I want to know why seniors aren’t allowed pets in independent living apartments.
Government says having a pet keeps a senior healthy and more independent longer.
I live in a privately owned complex and can have our pets.
I realize that they need to be cared for, and need to be walked (dogs) and cats need clean pans daily.
We pay a lot more for apartments in the private sector.
New buildings being built but from what I see they are Senior Communities, which our low income seniors cannot afford.
I am just about to enter into one of the subsidized housing units for persons over 55 and intellectually challenged individuals. There are no pets allowed and I had to give up my Teddy Chee Pom. I have been single for quite a few years and cannot afford the rents or pet deposits people are asking. Some are asking a full months rent/damage deposit and a half for pet deposit. I have raised my four children partly as a single parent. They are grown with their own children. The new housing has one bedroom, no air conditioning{ elder people suffer in the heat} and one tiny kitchen sink with no counter space. Dont get me wrong as I am grateful that I will have a place to call home. There is an appartment size up and down washer dryer, fridge and stove. The whole sqare footage must be all of four hundred square feet. No kitchen only living room kitchen. I am only getting $600 presently awaiting disability which will only be $725 approximately. No money to have cable or phone as hydro has to be paid by me. Presently looking for work. This has been going on for over well over seven years. I have been homeless a few times. No room for family dinners etc. as it is sooooo small.
First if you live in Ontario Canada it is illegal to charge a pet or damage depots it is also illegal to stop someone from having a pet unless that pet causes damages or bothers other tenants, you can check this with the Landlord Tenants board. I am a 56 year old woman that has worked hard all my life i have 3 grown children and 5 grand children, the last 6 years i have not worked out of my home i was a Foster Treatment Home for teens but as of last Dec.2010 that came to a end do to funding cuts so i was told, well that left me with no income, no unemployment INS and no health coverage or support from anyone, I am not able to work do to my health so i did the only thing left i applied for ODSP even though i did not want to but i was denied because i owned another house that i have a contract with people to rent to own this contract was drown up when i was still employed and they have another 2 years to get a mortgage, so here i am 2 hours from my family i have gone bankrupt , i have no income but the bills still come in my children and friends bring me food and pay what they can towards the bills, i can’t afford my meds so i suffer with the pain 24-7 This is how our system treats us they could not care at all that people that have worked all their life and given when there was a need to now end up with nothing i for one never thought i would be living like this at my age i feel very worthless and to be denied help from ODSP is a slap in the face from our government. Deb.
Hello …. I am 49 yrs old and have been on fulltime disability for the past 8 years. Fortunatelly I am very blessed to have a wonderful service dog. She is both a helper but, more importantly, she is a fine companion. I live in a retirement home and the other residents just love to interact with the dog, even just to have her sit next to them so they can pet her. It’s sad that many individuals had to give up their beloved pets just because they require a little help to get through their day.
I was also turned down for ODSP because between CPP and a small private pension. The private pension puts me $100 over their cut off. While residents here are on subsidies, they get their transportation paid to go to and return from medical appointments, Their toiletries are supplied, supplemental health insurance and medication plans are automatically provided. Because of $100 …. I have to pay close to $200 a month for private medical insurance ….. I take the city bus which helps bring down my transportation costs but occasionally have to use a cab service ($20 round trip …. weekly, that’s $80 a month. When it comes down to the absolute bottom. I have less money available to me than people who are on subsidey. I feel like I’m being punished because I worked for 25 years. I have less money a month for discretionary spending than the others …. I have to purchase: shoes, clothing, toiletries and all transportation on $100 per month. At least the cost of having my service dog is tax deductible.
Personally it is my experience that any type of service, equipment, treatment that is labeled for or designated for individuals with special needs is jacked up in price and the people who need it can’t afforded it How is anyone able to afford an animal when just getting by with daily expenses is next to impossible.
i agree with the lady called donna,i’m 69 years old and lived in an apt where i could have my cat ,i had to put her down because of some problems she was facing at 9 years old it broke my heart to do this but it was the oly thing i could do to give her out of the misery she was into but those 9 years were good for me i took her to the parks, we watched tv together , we knew and loved each other so much that since i had to put her down there has been nobody to replace her
I tried with you company to get disability and the thing is that I had to do it on my own and I have been living under welfare while waiting and it’s been about a year my income has been 200 dollars a month and I have been more stressed then ever, I have bipolar and have been living with it for years. I had no choice but to get a job and the things did not go to well I worked to days and they told me it wasn’t going to work out. So they let me go. I then got another job and I am almost at my three months I have already missed 4 days of work and it doesn’t look good. I don’t know what to do at this time I feel very alone in this fight and I feel as though I don’t have a chance in hell. What do I do I feel helpless!!!
Yours Truly Donna Lavallee
Hello Donna
I am fifty seven and have been homeless on welfare with only $165. support money left after shelter and to get a job I need a phone so I am left with nothing but the food bank. Well beggers cant be choosers we live in Canada where the Canadian Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms states. “Every Citizen has the right to be treated with dignity and respect”. I have had to borrow toilet paper. That is not dignity in any way shape or form. I have been going through my fight with chronic depression for years along with other health issues and unfair employed situations. Recently diagnosed with failing quick recall memory which has affected my ability to perform certain jobs. most for that matter. I tried to start a blog and eventually a group to fight these unfair tactics of government. The rich have been living off the backs of the poor. I could go on and on
Hi guys, i am 24 years old and i have been sick for 5 years. i had an amazing job at an engineering firm until i got really sick. it took one year and 3 different family doctors telling me i was depressed to finally have my job fire me. i never got a settlement and i never received any money. i lived for a year without an income. i continued to go through doctors telling them i had severe body pain, headaches, nausea, and severe night sweats. the days where so bad i could barely get out of bed. and naturally being only 20 at the time, i was depressed and had no friends to turn to. no one understood my pain and my anger from the pain. i was so damn angry.. no one was helping me no one could figure out what was wrong with me. i had no answers no money and no friends. but i never gave up. 4 years later and about 3 more family doctors later i found a doctor who actually gave a shit about me! and i was diagnosed with fybromialga, but i didnt take that too lightly because i dont believe that thats what i had, but at least it was something. so i finally was able to go on social assistance. although they dont pay much and dont cover the drugs i need. but its something. but now a year later after meeting my doctor i broke my neck rolling up my car window. and then three months later i am told after having a bone scan that it came back as cancer. IM 24.. and now im really angry and confused and i hate life! if only the previous doctors would have done their jobs and actually helped me, i would have gotten a settlement from my job and i wouldnt have to deal with the stress of social assistance and my not so bright future! so i come online here for some inspiration because all the shit i have been through all the friends i have lost. and all i read is old people bitching about there lives and how horrible it is…. well at least you had a young adult life.. and your not dead so suck it up!
Lets just jump right in……well, I know who I am……passive, a leader, a teller of truth, a lover of wisdom, being at peace, listening to God, a lot a lot a lot a lot of thinking, for I am a thinker by nature. I use reason and sensibility with a focuss that bends upon wisdom. There is a spiritual drive within me that sets a standard up with God’s will. What is important to the scope of reality is that I’m challenging myself up against great minds, some great ones never found a peace with God, unlike me, is what I’m saying. I look back in my past and I see blessing patterns, I see a language that God sends to me, teaching me always. That’s why God says be ready. Ready in your self as well as really for God.
I mean ready for God.
I’ve been diagnosed with clinical depression and generalized anxiety disorder. I take antidepressants and sleeping pills. Without the antidepressants, I would not be able to function at all on a daily basis. The side effects of the antidepressants are just as worse as not taking the antidepressants. I’ve had to be put on sleeping pills to help with the insomnia that the antidepressants cause. I’ve been battling this illness for the last 30 years and have not been able to work on a full time basis because of the insomnia. I went to find out about applying for CPP disability today and was told that it will take 6 to 9 months to hear an answer on whether I will qualify or not. At the moment I am unemployed and days away from filing bankruptcy. The only reason that I haven’t filed for bankruptcy, is because I’ve been told that “if I file for bankruptcy” it will be hard for me to find a job. I’ve always worked in the financial industry, therefore I’m in a bad situation. Would your agency be able to help me fight for disability? I don’t know where to turn anymore. Please help me.
Dear Slvie, I dont think it takes that long for a response from CPP because I applyed 4 times before I got my
disability approved. Each time it took about 3 to 4 months before I would get a reply. The reply was always because
my doctor did not say that my condition was SEVERE AND PROLONGED. I tell everyone about my dilema with
disability acceptance because I dont want you to go through what I went through.
Also, along with my physical problems, my doctor included the fact that I was depressed and have bipolar behavior.
That also goes a long way with disability. In fact I think they give disability to more people who are depressed and have some sort of mental illness .
I hope this helps
Hi everyone, those of you that are struggling with mental and physical disabilities and need CASH need to call the National Benefit Authority, its not a scam, the govt does NOT advertise free money, you can collect a one time lump sum between 15- 25000.. it takes time, paper work to do, and u need your doctor or specialist to sign off on it.. the money goes to YOU, its up to you to pay the National Benefit Authority for their processing fees, i for example have direct deposit for all my govt perks (gst childtax etc) so thus they will be depositing this money into my account very shortly, as i have just submitted my medical documents my doctor signed for me. Anxiety disorders, massive depression, ADD, ADHD, bipolar disorder and physical disabilities all qualify.. its a free call.. call this number,, free consultation over the phone will tell u if u qualify.. if its ON FILE that u have any of these, you WILL get the money. This money will help me and my son get back on our feet and be a bit happier. My son is just diagnosed with being partly Autistic, so guess wat.. I am eligible to collect the seperate $25000 grant for him as well. TAKE IT, u deserve it, and best of luck to you all.. I hope this info helps you. Their phone number is 1800-789-0080.
michelle
I had my child removed from me because MCFD here claims to be “aware” of mental health diagnoses of which they were claiming to have been made by their own phychologist who I only saw three times, thats three hours in total. A year later out of frustration I contacted my Preimer Christy Clarke and now MCFD claims they have no such document and that they were not aware of any mental health issues. The removal states quite clearly the opposite but team leader Helen Wagg who first made the request to me back in 2003 is now moved on and can no longer be held to answer. Same is true of the FRA worker who made alligations, and then also investagated her own alligations retired when I told her I intended to fight this though and find out who said what. Leagle aide out here is a joke. This all could have been cleared up if my lawyer would have invited my mental health practioner to go to court but he would not. The MCFD team leader made the claim I have bi polar, and I am also a welfare scammer. It took over a year to get someone to look into this and not until she left the office. I was black listed as a parent for having boarder line personality disorder. MCFD makes me out to be a monster but has no facts nor are they being asked to provide any. I was told to lie to my family docter by this ministry to cover the actual costs of daycare because it was more then I could pay. I agreed to at first until they wanted all five week days. I then asked for a letter to back me up that they asked me to lie. They refused to write the letter I refused to keep lying to my docter. A month later my child was removed, based on a question of mental health. Is there an area in the mental health feild or this site that can help me? Even if I hadnt told the lie to the DR it was already in my file before this child was even born. I find it very questionable. Because I have my mental haelth file and MVFD files MCFD is caught red mouthed for a few lies they told because my mental health care provider took notes of every conversation she had with them. Not once was she asked for my evaluation.
Hi there.
Thanks for sharing your story here. It sounds like you have been on quite a journey.
There is a lot that you are facing in life, and I commend you for requesting more information about boarder line personality disorder and other mental health assistance programs. I have some information for you and will be happy to bring you more resources in the near future.
http://www.disabilityliving.ca/people-with-disabilities-mental-illness/
http://www.disabilityliving.ca/people-with-disabilities-mental-health/
I am sorry for not trusting in your company the first time I called in but I feel better about it now and would like to try it
Was just wondering if anyone has a mental illness which gets worse and forces you to leave a job. What did you do next? Apparently I have PTSD and Major Depression. Couldn’t deal with call center work, too many voices around me, too many customers yelling, too much to handle and management looked at me like I had two heads. They pretty much spoke to me like a 3 year old. What do I do now?
you are not alone depression is the devil that controls my brain i can not work i do not like to be around people it causes me to panic it takes less then a second for me to go from ok to panic mode, even when i am home alone i can not handle any change in my plan for the day it confuses me as to what i am to do so i go to bed were i feel safe. Depression is hell. Deb.
Hi everyone. I am new here. I really empathize. I hope the nba will help us all. I have complex/severe ptsd and although I continue to get emdr and tir as well as other holisitc approaches I am afraid of many of the ame things… homelessness, poor nutrition and poverty. I am facing some hard times and ahead, this I know. I am going to share my home with college/university students. Sometimes shared space/co-opping to make it is worth it. And faith.
i want to no why myself and my son keep getting denied. we both have seizure disorders. we have gone to our family doctor and to our specialist and according to them we do not need the disability as we are able to work. well as soon as you tell our employer about it they dont like it. i used to have a good career in driving transport now i cant even get a driving job. i live barely from pay check to pay check. i can not afford my meds and my family is falling apart. the wife and i dont even talk and when we do we fit. what is the NBA going to do. you keep saying we will help and nothing has been done. i have even come close to suicide and so has my son his family has already fallen apart and he has a new baby on the way shortly…please let us no what can be done. thank you garry bieber/ tim bieber
I am living with a disability which i had at the age of 7 and it was corrected and now at the age of 40 losing my hearing is awful its driving me nuts . my hearing aids sound like a sea shell continous in my ears i dont wear them and i get infections alot. i went back to college in 2009 at the age of 43 got my certification as a dietary aide worker. I went and did my community hours at a retirement home and found out someone told the HR personal i had a service dog. which i did not at that time. every time they posted a job i applied they never hired me . so 2 years have come and gone and i finally got a job but since my husband is at home and runs his own business there is no need to take my service dog he is very well cared for . but if i would have insisted on the acommodations at the retirement home i bet i would have a job now or lets see how long it takes them to come up with an excuse to release me . it sadens me greatly that places work places get away with it when they are asked the lie and make not nice things to get away with it. i called the MPP in our area he called me i talk to him about it and about the place that has ignored me HE HAS DONE NOTHING TO HELP ME NOT ONCE IN 3 MONTHS HAS HE EVEN CALLED guess whos not getting our vote not now not ever that is discusting when you reach out for help and one of the people is an offical and he does nothing it makes you wonder is there anyone who will help anyone who has what it takes to stick there necks out and help us with disabilities well i for one would in a heart beat no matter what because i believe in me and i believe in those with disabilites.
sad and hurt
hi everyone..i have life insurance with the national benefit which i pay monthly..I to live with a disability, bad back,post traumatic stress disorder,depression over the years,irratated bowel syndrome,bad back & hips,sleep apnea,fatague the list goes on and my boys each have adhd..Michelle preston that number isn’t in service i will have to look it up on my papers but did not know about this 25000.00. People it took me 2 and half yrs to get c.p.p and 1yr for odsp..But now I only get medical benefits from odsp cause of cpp and my husband income..don’t give up i nearly did living with 1 pay chq and 3 small kids that eat me out of house and home lol..go to your ndp see if they can help and direct you in the right direction…there is a lawyer in toronto a russell howe that helps with this look him up..gl
I am 50 years old and have been suffering with pain for most of my life. I was abused at the age of 5 by my mother which left me with a disfuntional hand and pain in my legs. I suffer with depression, headaches and pain daily. I was dignosed with carpel tunnel and trigger finger”only pain killers no other help” I’ve been off work sence the end of July. My family dr. had been away so I had to see an other dr. We didn’t hit off from the start so this made it hard. Now she wants me to go back to work because my xrays and blood word came back normal. I am still in alot of pain and feel I am unable to do my job as a cleaning lady at this time.
I’ve gone through all the forms and things for NBA, but I have to say I am worried. Doctor says mental health problems is one of the hardest things to convince the government you have. He said he doubts very much that I’ll receive any acceptance or one penny from the government for it, even though I’m currently on EI sickness benefits (I’ve tried working for most of my adult life due to the fear of being put on a program that leaves little to no support). I earn 194.00 a week now and have to move out of my apartment because I can’t afford rent and food. The reason it’s so little is because my last job paid just above minimum wage…..in other words you have to make a ton of money in order to be secure. I’m not the hardest hit person in the world but I’ve been messed up for a long time, since I was a child. Depression, axiety, post traumatic stress, hospitalized more times than I can count, memory loss, migraines, anger, frustration, anti-psychotic meds, trouble with the law, isolation, the list goes on. I don’t even know what normal is so I can’t answer questions like “what’s wrong with you”, or “what makes you disabled”. I just don’t know because I don’t know any different. The list is from what others say is wrong with me. I can’t afford psychiatric counseling, I don’t know where to turn to get help, or even where to start looking.
I do have to say though, it is NOT a scam. The CRA recognizes them, and they are very helpful. The fellow who’s taking care of my case is awesome!
i have just found out that the govt helps the disabled and our son has had adhd for a long time and some learning disabilties and it is recorded in school so how do i go about getting the money im entitled to and do they back pay
I’m so happy you found this information out Tammy. In some cases there is a back-pay, and with the help of a specialist you are sure receive all the money that is owed to you. However, I understand your desire to find out how you can do this will as little free as possible. Sometimes it is hard to know where to begin this process, so I still suggest that you contact The NBA for a consultation. This will give you the opportunity to talk to a specialist. Best of luck to you.
plus i and my hubby are both disabled and also didnt know about this so how do you go about getting they money and first and foremost how do you get this without having to pay someone cause i heard on the news one day that there are organizations out there that do the same thing but they dont charge so im gonna look into it and get back to you all talk to you later
How do I find disability subsidized housing easily because I am a little slow and get frustrated fast. I could not find it on my own, though I tried and tried.
Who do I call in the Ottawa area about that, and would you have the phone number?
Gratefully yours,
Lorraine Spence
505-22 Dalrymple Drive
Rockland, ON
K4K 1N9
I’m relaying that to our network of resources in Canada! Hopefully we’ll get a helpful response soon, Lorraine!
link:Thank you for Posting & I got to read nice information on your site.
New beautiful subject thank you for this information
I was diasnosed with eresve depression 2 years ago, I also have fibromyalgia , connective tissue disorder and a shoulder problem. I am so so alone. Its funny in an ironic way one of my sisters has been out of the hospital for depression after serving our country for 20 years she has to fight for help. Back to me Pschologists aren’t covered by ohip so I have to pay out of the disability monthly payment, along with my phiso and deep massage theraphy to help desensitize my body even a little to help with my daily pain. The government gave me counselling at a local centre only I was told I could only have 6 sessions. Six sessions to build trust, hurry and tell your story with only 50 minutes the clock ticks quickly and then be told our time together is over. One in 4 canadians have depression, teenagers are committing sucide at higher rates all the time, the age is getting younger and older. My girlfriend couldn’t handle the pain anymore so she tried to commit sucide she is still on the waiting list for a psychiatrists. Why aren’t psychologist covered they save lives. Right now I am living day to day as I wade through years of pain. I am turning 50 when will the government invest in mental health and make it a top priorty for coverage like Pysychiatrists are covered. Are lives our lives not worth saving.
An interesting discussion is worth comment. I think that you should write more on this topic, it might not be a taboo subject but generally people are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers
Hi .. well where do i start ..I’ve always been a quiet posern and to myself all my life. Never been one to talk to anyone about anything not even when something was bothering me. I’ve been told that I am cold in some ways. Laughing is something that I don’t do a lot of. Even when a joke is told or a comedy is on tv which everyone else laughs at. Trying to keep my mind on one thing for a certain period is very difficult for me. I’m always changing the subject then I go back to it. For 5 yrs from the age of 20 to the age 25 .. I use to drink all the time from the time I woke up til I passed out , then I would start again. Plus, I use to take street drugs .. cocaine, uppers, downers and other drugs. I was trying to hide as some people would describe it. It was to deal with being depressed wanting to be happy and content.Then I was diagnosed with bi polar back in 2005 which is a disorder that is past down from generations. My mom fully understands now why I was/am the type of posern that she had seen growing up and to this day. I also have fibromylgia which i was diagnosed with back in 2002 but the government didn’t recognize as a disorder unless you have a severe prolonged illness. One of your other readers had the same problem with CPP .. Once I got diagnosed with bi polar was when the government realized that I had another illness. So they accepted my application at that time which I did get a check from 2002 up to 2005 .. now I am on both disabilities .. ODSP and CPP . They aren’t the only illnesses I was diagnosed with. I also have Hep. C which also was diagnosed back in 2002. Even the medication that they have me on helps a bit but there is no miracle ones out there. I’ve tried natural herbs, nutritional drinks and other things to try to work for me with the bi polar and the fibromylgia including exercising. I do deal with life and I’m not on street drugs or alcohol even though it would be so easy for me to go back to that way of life. My son is the one major reason that I’m not on them. I am one to clutch onto a posern if you would like to describe it that way to be able to get through life and stay away from the way I use to be. I hope your readers can relate to part of my life. Pauline
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MARK ARGENT says:
May 6, 2012 at 2:36 am
HI ALL , I HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD ALL MY LIFE, SINCE I WAS 14 YEARS OLD HELPING MY FARTHER, BUILDING THINGS. FURNITURE, HOUSES, ETC . LEARNED A LOT . HAD MY OWN BUSINESS IN 2001 MY OWN BOSS IN MY STORE , LIFTED A HEAVY ITEM, OVER MY HEAD AND HEARED A POP IN MY BACK . COULD NOT WALK THE NEXT DAY, SAW FAMILY DOCTOR , GOT CAT SCAN, FOUND OUT THAT I HAD A HERNIATED DISK. ALSO DEGENERATED DISKS, FROM ARTHRITIS . WAITED FOR 2 YEARS TO FIND SERGON TO OPERATE ON MY BACK. ALL THIS TIME I WAS IN PAIN SO MUCH I COULD NOT SLEEP. ONE KIDNEY SHUT DOWN , ALL MY STOMACH MUSCLES WENT RIBED . LOTS OF ICE, TO TAKE KEEP THE SWELLING DOWN . FINALY HAD SURGERY , 4 HOURS LATER WITH 6 SCREWS 2 RODS , AND A FUSION ON THE LOWER BACK . STILL WITH LOTS OF PAIN. FAMILY DOCTOR GAVE ME OXIY COTTON , THEY DID NOT WORK, AFTER TWO YEARS STOP THEM . LOST MY SHORT TERM MEMERY , AND SOME OF MY EYE SITE. ANY WAY NOW I GO TO MY CHIROPRACTOR, FOR PAIN MANAGEMENT, AND ICE . AS OF NOW I DO NOT RECEVE ANY MONEY FROM ANY GOVERNMENT. I WORK 2 DAYS AWEEK , AND THE REST I AM IN PAIN . THIS HAS CHANGED MY WHOLE LIFE AROUND. I DO MORE THINGS FOR MY-SELF NOW. NOT FOR OTHERS, I NEVER THOUGHT THIS WAY BEFORE. WE ALL HAVE TO LOOK AFTER OURSELVES. SO KEEP YOU BODY, MIND, SPIRIT, CLEAN. ON MY DAYS OFF I GO WALKING THOUGH THE PARKS, OF TORONTO. AND TAKE PHOTOS OF WILD LIFE ETC. IT TAKES ME TO ANOTHER PLACE AND TIME. THANK-YOU FOR READING THIS ARTICLE ON PART OF MY LIFE . MARK