What I can be if only!

BRIDGEPORT, OKLAHOMA

United States Post Office,

A drawer of distinct age smell and aroma.

My development is a historic process.

The town itself, almost hit glory.

See the view yourself what is left.

Me, the drawer that could tell plenty of stories.

Please look beyond the stressed.

Bridgeport almost became a booming crowed town.

A lady named Cleo Beatrice Utterback, stepped down,

Her first step in Oklahoma, at the age of ten.

Her parents and sister with her.

Came on a train they did 1901, then.

Lines going through Bridgeport included,

Choctaw, Oklahoma, Gulf RR(becomes Rock Island) plus these secluded,

Enid and Anadarko Railways(later called Rock Island). 

Her father was a mercantile man of high end.

Homesteaded fertile land of the Canadian River.

Eventually they moved to Oklahoma City.

Bridgeport still has plenty to say. Plenty to blend

Stories or history that makes one quiver.

How about a little ditty?

What can a drawer of the post office

still offer, from Bridgeport, Oklahoma?

Maybe a history pocket?

Without any drama, recycle in mind, always wanted to be a frame.

That is it.  This woman that picked me out of the mess an fuss.

Has a hankering to redo me.

A plan to sand

Off the old, hope to gain some fame. 

On the outside black paint by a brush.

Inside white color with sprinkles of glitter.

Then deduct the wood on my bottom.

Replace the wood with glass and a sleak back.

Then I am a frame to pictures of Bridgeport, Oklahoma

Pleasant memory married to this craft idea. 

Bridgeport postal drawer will live on; I hope in a galleria.

Don't forget this is close to the bridge filmed in the Grapes of Wrath,

A film about  Oklahomans that took a well known path.

This is a picture of a house, the gas pumps taken out.

But shows you more of that 30's era of gas station history.

Just a drawer I am, but my aspiration is for you to enjoy,

This poem and keep Bridgeport in your head before more is destroyed.

High cost of drugs? This may be of help to some!

Recently, in an online group, a person was talking about the high cost of brand names drugs.  It is a fact that sometimes people require the brand name.  Precise concentrations, allergies, and other factors are contributions to this requirement.  Insurance programs do have a process for handling this requirement.  The Doctor's office must fill out a Prior-Authorization(PA) form.  Yet, this takes time and the patient needs the medication before the process can be complete. A few insurance companies will pay for a few days of the drug while this process is in the works.

Six hundred dollars a month is the cost this person is paying until the PA is complete. How many people can afford this alone? Those having children or family members with special needs(health conditions)? Or, along with paying insurance costs?  

I had to post some information.  Next year under the new law things may change.  This information is intended to help.   Please use the information if it helps.  BUT, remember to ALWAYS CHECK WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS and realize things change.  Now that is said I pray this can alleviate some issues for some people.

I am cooking cookies and fighting a dog that wants them while writing this.

Sandie, our dog, helped herself to the cookie dough on the spatula!  Can I have a break on some spelling please? 

Back to the help with drug costs.  There are sites that can give you information on how to get Patient Assistance. I will provide a few. Usually the assistance comes from drug companies.  Besides these sites one can check with organizations such as Cancer Association of American, Leukemia Society and on and on.  

Income restrictions do apply.  That said, there are allowances to adjust the income.  Cost of total prescriptions, out of pocket insurance costs along with other reasons can help a person qualify for help.  Copay assistance is available also.

If you think only low income people can get aid with prescription costs, think again.  Many companies will pay for the copayment of a brand name drug.  Check online.  Type in the company that makes the drug or the brand name of the company.  Ask your pharmacist or doctor if he has any copayment cards.  Check online for Rx coupons.  There could be a one time deal.  The reason for this is to have a person try a drug before then given time for the patient to make budget considerations.

REMEMBER TO CHECK WITH HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, THIS IS ONLY INFORMATION AIMED TO HELP IF POSSIBLE.  Liability is on yourself to check up to date information.  I mainly wish to provide help that some people may be unaware of.

Here are a few online sites.

           >>>https://www.rxhope.com     >>>http://rxoutreach.org  >>>http://www.healthfinder.gov/rxdrug/

           >>>http://www.webmd.com/healthy-aging/patient-assistance-programs-for-prescription-drugs

           >>>http://rxassist.org/      >>>www.needymeds.org      >>https://www.pparx.org/ 

          >>>https://www.pparx.org/prescription.../co_payment_programs   

          >>>http://www.scbn.org/ (FOR UNINSURED ONLY)   >>>http://www.panfoundation.org

         >>>http://www.chelincoln.org/project_spotlight/health_360.html  >>>https://theassistancefund.org

        >>>http://www.patientadvocate.org/patient_services.php?p=751

RECALL I STATED A FEW COMPANIES PROVIDE PATIENT ASSISTANCE  and to try looking up there information?  Here are a few sites as examples.

   >>>http://www.pfizer.com/health/financial_assistance_programs/patient_assistance_programs

   >>>http://www.astrazeneca-us.com/medicines/help-affording-your-medicines

   >>>http://www.merckhelps.com/mpap/

HAVE INSURANCE AND THINK YOU ARE BEYOND THE DRUG HELP FOR COPAYS? Try or use these sites as examples to check copay cards.

   >>>http://www.mypfizerbrands.com/home?         source=google&HBX_PK=s_copay+card&o=111430894|284395621|0&skwid=43700005603470797

  >>>https://www.cellcept.com/copaycard

  >>>http://www.natlconsumersleague.org/health/106-prescription-drugs/768-ways-to-save-on-rx-meds-co-pay-cards-and-other-resources

RECOLLECT MENTIONING COUPONS? CHECK for your medication brand name specifically when looking for help.

   >>>http://www.freecopay.com/

  >>>http://www.goodrx.com/topamax

ASK FOR HELP.  Doctors, nurses and pharmacists may have the information you need.  Give them a break.  Focusing on your health issues and you the patient occupy a huge percent of the brain.  The desire to be correct comes before the price considerations.  Knowing the pharmacy side a little better, I suggest asking during a time when business is slower,  Saturday afternoons, Sunday afternoons and in the evening between 7 and say 8:30 are better to get the attention of a pharmacist for this type of question.  Please understand I expect all providers to do their jobs. I know however these times provide a break from the pressure of heavy work times.

Some organizations give prescription support also.  Here on some examples of links to try.

>>>http://www.cancer.org/treatment/findingandpayingfortreatment/managinginsuranceissues/prescriptiondrugassistanceprograms/prescription-drug-assistance-programs-toc

>>>http://www.lls.org/resourcecenter/helpfulorganizations/financialresources/insureddrugcosts/

Furthermore, seek out local agencies for guidance.  These organizations are there to serve the public.  Call the local Health Department, Department of Human Services and various other agencies.  

Going without medication can increase costs of healthcare for every person.  By giving you this information I hope it keeps a person out of the emergency room.  TRY NEVER TO GO WITHOUT MEDICATION.

I APOLOGIZE FOR REPEATING MY SELF ON THIS POINT.  THIS IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE FOR MEDICAL ADVISE, INTENDED TO REPLACE YOUR PROVIDERS OR INDICATE SWITCHING MEDICATION AND ON AN ON.

Please let me know if this is helpful.  Leave a comment.  Do you like my writing?  Think this is a subject that needs to be written on more?  What are your needs for information?  

Thank you for your time.  

San Diego Mission Bells Ringing

http://youtu.be/dG0jhzAFGyk

Goodbye Wayne!

From the A-Team Wednesday's Crew Preparing Grocery Sacks at Skyline Urban Ministries. Tell Carmack "Hello" for me. I am sorry I missed your Funeral Wayne.

A man that gave plenty to the community.

http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=J.-Beal&lc=2327&pid=172764528&mid=6153742

Pushing Begins in Labor and Continues Through Life

 

18, Graduation soon, but still pushing.

Pushing Begins in Labor and Continues Through Life

Today is the day after my son turned 18 years old.  Reflecting back, I realize when they told me to push during labor, that was the begining of a continual process.   Whether your child has special needs or is quote "normal," it is a parental job to push children beyond their comfort zone.

Sometimes I have felt guilty for being "General Mommy or Sergeant Mommy;" so nicknamed by dad, my husband Bill.

Bill Adcock husband to Sandra and father of Tanner, now 18.

Tanner was not an easy baby.  He had troubles eating from the start.  He through up and would be considered a colic baby.  Working with doctors and listening to the expereince of my mom(mother of four) resulted in putting rice in each bottle to help decrease the throwing up and weight gain proceeded.

At the age of six months, Tanner landed in the hospital for RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus).  Funny now but not at the time my sister recalls that I was not making sense and thought I was kidding when I called her to tell her  You see I was a nervous parent going from the doctor's office straight to the hospital and told her he had RSVP virus.

The hospital stay was almost a week.  It may have been worse for my husband and I to endure than Tanner.  Seeing your child in an oxygen tent and having tests ran in a haze of a short time is traumatic.  Then they tell you to move because you are in the way! Parental rights show up in your eyes resulting in a "Please" being spit out immediately and apoligetically.  He came along fine after about three months of nebulizer treatments, beating on the chest with a suction cup to break up secrestions and being on/off antibiotics.

Tanner was sick off and on quite often.  It seems I can remember all of his early holidays being sick.  My sister, that dresses very professionly all the time, was thrown up on and her car when she took him to the doctor for me right before his first Christmas.  That was one of the first holidays he was sick on.

Tanner weighted 17 pounds at one year old. Both my husband I worried about him.  He didn't or wouldn't eat well sometimes.  He stayed on his formula until he was about two years old or a bit older.  He refused milk.

At thirteen months if was obvious we were dealing with more than one could understand. My husband moved a toy or his cup about an inch or two.  He came back running to move it back to the exact position.  I new then and along with some other things observed there was something "wrong" or not quite right.

I am telling you all this for a reason.  This made it hard to make hard choices when he was older.  Worring about his health and weight gain, we let him start eating an unhealthy diet.  This wasn't at the time but it developed into a stance later on.  This also made being hard on him extremely trying.

Thus, began the parental divide on how to parent.  How do you face the something "wrong" or not normal along with health concerns?  I realized that at a certain point I couldn't go the path of least reistance.  Everyone had advise but I read while seaching for the reasons.  Family said not to worry and my husband appeard to me to like "denial."

Then and there I decided a proactive approach was best.  I proceeded to get Tanner into Preschool at age three.  I pushed for extra therapies like, speech and music.  I enrolled him in Kindermusic because of the benefits I had read about music in special needs and other areas of life.  One of his first sentences he said was sung back to me.   On our way to music class I sung to him, "Now it is time for music, music, music."  He was restless and sung back, "Now it's time for Grandma's, Grandma's!"  I was proud.  He had talked some but not like that.

The school said to make picture books and have him say what the picture was.  I made a jillion picture books.  Tanner would have to say his ABC's as I wrote them in the dirt at the park before he could swing.  Later he would have to write them.

I made 26 pages of huge ABC's on letter size paper.  Sensory issues were present and I read about trying differnt tactile approaches.  I cut out Sandpaper ABC's.  I found the experts that I thought could help me with advancing my son's chances of a better life.  I used the program "Handwriting Without Tears," to help him with writing.  This was on top of what the school was doing for him and the extra therapies I could afford like Speech and Occupational Therapy.

Do you see the pushing going on?  This continues for 18 years.  Tanner has autism so pushing can be a delicate balance.  I have him volunteering to gain job skills.  Do or did I feel guilty for being "A hard A$$?"  Sometimes!

Yet, let us ask the questions of what might have happened if I had given up?  Believed those provider's that were foolish to advise me to put my son in an institution?  Gone the path of least reisistance?  I doubt my son would be where he is today.   This has meant many battles in my marriage and in parenting my son with my husband.

Sometimes those with autism have problems with hygeine.  Tanner doesn't like his hair cut or wash it well all the time either.  I have wrestled with this for years. His counselor said to do one thing and my therapist disagrees.

This means another "Big PUSH" to help him into adulthood.  The ultimatum will be to keep his hair clean with two warnings, with the third resulting in a BUZZ CUT!  I have said this before.  Yes, I am human.  I don't follow through on everything. Parenting cam be DEMANDING.  Fights on how to parent wear you out.  However, this time I have the resolve to do it.

Thus, remember from the start of labor and delivery of your child when they tell you to "PUSH" it means for life not only during birth!

Old Timers

Old Timers

            According to ‘Old Timer’s’ you are not an ‘Old Timer’ unless you are their age.  That also means that you do not have bragging rights until you are that magical age.  That age is when you have earned the badge of life the hard way.

            Now this is all relative.  Those that are close to a hundred will say those that are eighty are babies.  Those that are eighty will say the babies are in their fifties. I am fast approaching fifty and think all those under me are kids and babies.  One thing I hear all these groups add is to be careful not to hang with old folks; those that are old in spirit.  The best advice that has been given by all those older than me is to remain young in spirit.

            A lady I was checking out, at my job when I was sixteen, set me straight once.  I told her, “Don’t you think you ought to slow down.”  She had just gotten back from Europe and was going golfing.

            “Honey dear, if I slow down. I just might find something wrong.” replied a spry white haired lady in her late seventies dressed ready to golf.

            That has always made me stop and think.  Now when I feel sad as I approach fifty, I think of her and Lyle.

            Lyle came into the pharmacy and said, “Hurry Sandy! I have to go to work. I mow yards. I work for an old man.”

            I had to ask how old the man was.  Lyle was in his late eighties.  As it turned out the old man was in his late nineties.  So, according to the ‘Old timers’ we are not old unless we are their age, have lived through and shared the ‘Old timer’s’ hardships.