The Desert Colossus

Community => General Discussion => Topic started by: DW on July 30, 2010, 11:20:52 PM

Title: My stepdad got hit on his motorcycle
Post by: DW on July 30, 2010, 11:20:52 PM
He's alright, just...definitely not in any condition to be working. I might not be around much as I may be filling in for his job the next two weeks until I leave for college.
Title: Re: My stepdad got hit on his motorcycle
Post by: MagmarFire on July 30, 2010, 11:45:45 PM
Ooh... Sucks to hear that. How bad is the damage?
Title: Re: My stepdad got hit on his motorcycle
Post by: DW on July 31, 2010, 11:34:48 PM
Open wounds everywhere. Every day he's getting more immobile. Back and shoulders are pretty much gone. I don't know what to do, this is going to be long term. There's no way he can work, and they're self-employed. He doesn't have a boss or a salary, they're talking to an attorney to see if they can get compensated by the lady who hit him since she was at fault. That can only work so much, though...if he gets covered for the jobs he has to turn down, after the first few weeks they won't be getting anything because his employers will just be turning to other people to get the job done. He's spent three years building up contracts with enough people to have a constant workload, and now it's going to be lost and he starts over from square one. We just took out a loan to put me through college because Obama just happened to sign a bill recently that cut down the maximum federal financial aid to $5500, meaning they've taken out a loan for four times that amount that they have to pay back starting in January. All I can do is buy them two weeks, but that won't do crap. How the hell are they supposed to live?
Title: Re: My stepdad got hit on his motorcycle
Post by: MagmarFire on July 31, 2010, 11:49:30 PM
...Wow. That really, really sucks, man.

There's gotta be a better way to get compensated. Isn't there a source of income for people who can't work anymore? Social Security, maybe?

Yeah, I know you can't live off of it, but that can't be the only thing that's out there, too.
Title: Re: My stepdad got hit on his motorcycle
Post by: DW on July 31, 2010, 11:58:07 PM
Getting an insurance company to cover a job like his is...there's just too many loopholes. In this economy, there's no way he can get a job while injured. I'm going to see if I can go to college in the Spring instead so I can buy them more time. Maybe defer the loan too.
Title: Re: My stepdad got hit on his motorcycle
Post by: Deku on August 01, 2010, 10:32:04 AM
Oh my God, that's awful. I would be sick to my stomach about it if I were your step-dad. I'm so sorry. If I were a rich man, I'd donate to the cause, but alas I am young and minimum waged. I'll pray for you guys for sure, and I hope everything works out well.
Title: Re: My stepdad got hit on his motorcycle
Post by: Mysterious F. on August 01, 2010, 01:35:59 PM
Oh wow. I hope this situation improves for you and your family.

If you don't mind me asking, what is his job?
Title: Re: My stepdad got hit on his motorcycle
Post by: MasterKeyX on August 02, 2010, 10:55:41 AM
I'm sorry to hear that, Shika. That really sucks :/ I wish I could do something to help...

I'm sure things will turn out okay, and you working to help them is a wonderful gesture. I know things look tight, but you'll pull through.
Title: Re: My stepdad got hit on his motorcycle
Post by: DW on August 03, 2010, 08:52:14 AM
I start doing his jobs today. Unfortunately, I can't do some of it because I need to be licensed, and I don't have time to get licensed before New York. So me and Scotty (whoever here remembers him) are doing yardwork and such, and whatever else pops up that doesn't require a license.

Quote from: Whocares on August 01, 2010, 01:35:59 PM
If you don't mind me asking, what is his job?

He does maintenance for apartment complexes and real estate agencies. Basically goes to houses and apartments and fixes whatever's broken, plumbing, painting, yardwork, random odd jobs.
Title: Re: My stepdad got hit on his motorcycle
Post by: MasterKeyX on August 03, 2010, 10:43:19 AM
Sounds like he was good at what he did.

Can he get unemployment compensation?
Title: Re: My stepdad got hit on his motorcycle
Post by: MagmarFire on August 03, 2010, 02:58:26 PM
He'd better. If he doesn't, then WTF?
Title: Re: My stepdad got hit on his motorcycle
Post by: DW on August 14, 2010, 10:28:33 PM
So they have a good estimate now. He's out for 22 weeks at least while they try to fix his neck. It's all straight and out of shape, that's why he can't move it.

Meanwhile, I leave for New York in under eight hours.
Title: Re: My stepdad got hit on his motorcycle
Post by: MagmarFire on August 15, 2010, 02:08:00 PM
I'm glad that it doesn't sound as permanent as I thought it would be. Very glad... v.v I hope he makes a swifter recovery.

Enjoy New York, by the way.
Title: Re: My stepdad got hit on his motorcycle
Post by: DW on August 19, 2010, 07:47:02 PM
So he went to a chiropractor, who said they should demand an MRI, and when they got it they found out he had a fracture and bulging disc as well. Yay.

I'm in Illinois for two days, and have internet access. Afterwards...who knows? Trip's been fun so far, we stopped at the Field of Dreams on the way here.
Title: Re: My stepdad got hit on his motorcycle
Post by: MagmarFire on August 19, 2010, 08:04:56 PM
A fracture couldn't have been unexpected with that kind of accident, could it?

"Field of Dreams"? You know, that kind of sounds like an RPG location.
Title: Re: My stepdad got hit on his motorcycle
Post by: Hi no Seijin on August 19, 2010, 09:16:19 PM
It does.  But I'm guessing the Field of Dreams is a baseball stadium?
Title: Re: My stepdad got hit on his motorcycle
Post by: MagmarFire on August 20, 2010, 04:50:41 AM
I kinda had that thought myself. It makes sense.
Title: Re: My stepdad got hit on his motorcycle
Post by: DW on August 20, 2010, 04:56:48 PM
The Field of Dreams is a Kevin Costner movie about this guy who dreams of building a baseball stadium in the middle of his cornfield. He does so, and dead ballplayers show up and start playing. It's really a great movie, and I haven't seen it in ages so I can't do an adequate job of explaining it. But the house and field are still the way they were when the movie was shot, and you can go play on it and stuff.

And yes, a fracture was expected, but they said there wasn't one until now.
Title: Re: My stepdad got hit on his motorcycle
Post by: MagmarFire on August 21, 2010, 09:05:13 AM
Hmm, I wonder if there's a TV Tropes page on it...

So the fracture just simply appeared after the fact? Strange.
Title: Re: My stepdad got hit on his motorcycle
Post by: DW on August 21, 2010, 08:49:11 PM
It was always there, they just didn't find it until now.
Title: Re: My stepdad got hit on his motorcycle
Post by: MagmarFire on August 22, 2010, 10:29:40 AM
Ah, I see. Sorry for the misunderstanding. ^^;
Title: Re: My stepdad got hit on his motorcycle
Post by: DW on October 09, 2010, 10:31:35 AM
He got released to work light duty at the beginning of this month; he's not 100% yet and he's still getting really sore, but he can at least do stuff now.
Title: Re: My stepdad got hit on his motorcycle
Post by: Keaton on October 09, 2010, 03:05:09 PM
You are an unlucky guy, Shika.
Title: Re: My stepdad got hit on his motorcycle
Post by: DW on October 09, 2010, 08:37:06 PM
Unlucky? He can work again. He got most of his contracts back too, since the people they hired to replace him were terrible.
Title: Re: My stepdad got hit on his motorcycle
Post by: MagmarFire on October 11, 2010, 07:18:35 PM
Nice to see he's making a noticeable recovery. :D