Dream job part two

After several years of transferring from the scooter to various office chairs and the toilet, things were becoming hazardous for me. I fell several times while transferring and had to request handicapped accommodations such as bars in the bathroom. When I fell transferring to the office chair, my coworker helped me get up but someone reported this incident. It was announced that employees could not help me and if I could not get up myself, 911 would have to be called. Apparently, it was at an insurance issue. 911 was called twice, the first time they were nice, the second time they were not happy with the situation even though there were several months between the two calls. I had to switch to an electric wheelchair. I was told by a higher-level person that although I no longer could hide my handicap, I should not trust the administration to act in my best interest. They said there was still someone in the college administration that did not like someone with an obvious handicap working in such a public capacity. They said to be careful.

Unfortunately, the slow progression of my MS was changing. Things were taking a major turn for the worse. My legs were no longer just weak, they were useless except as a conduit for incredible pain the likes of which I had never experienced. I went to the neurologist and she put me on narcotics, I think it was oxycodone. I worked for two weeks while on this stuff but the pain just got worse, although a coworker said it did not affect my performance… She said she never knew I was on drugs. I don't know if that was a compliment or not. But it got to the point where I couldn't take it anymore and I had to go out on Disability more precisely the Family Leave Act.

 My direct supervisor told me that the college would hold my job for me but I had no official word in writing from the administration. At the same time she was telling me this, she also advised my coworkers, one of whom was a close personal friend for over 15 years, not to call me. She later told me that this was not her idea and implied that this ruling came from over her head.

 Meanwhile, several doctors were trying to figure out what was wrong and how to fix it. I went to appointment after appointment with specialist after specialist and week after week was passing. I finally found a doctor with a clue as to what to do for me. (Watch for another blog entry about my adventures trying to get a diagnosis or any help at all.) He wanted to do surgery to implant a pump to circulate a higher concentration of anti-spasmodic medication than I can get orally. The surgery was scheduled, then rescheduled then rescheduled again. In spite of what my direct supervisor said, the time allowed for the Family Leave Act ran out and I got a letter sent certified from the college. On the day the Act ran out, my job was terminated and I finally found out who in the it college administration had something against disabled people. The name was on the letter but out of respect for my friends still working at the college, I won't reveal who it was, although it is tempting.

 It's all very legal, but the college’s actions feel very disturbing and disrespecting of 10 years of loyal service. I totally understand that they needed to fill the director position and couldn't hold it open any longer but they could've called and made it more personal. I also know that they never got a new director after two years so they could have waited for me. Honestly, I physically couldn't do it anymore, but to handle the situation this way is inappropriate, inhumane and it sucks. I hope they are not teaching these human resource methods to their students. I don't want to give the impression that I didn't enjoy working there, and the people, both students and staff, that I had the pleasure to work with. It's just the ending that soured it. Thank you for reading, it's been very therapeutic to write it!