My stepdad got hit on his motorcycle

[DW]

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.

[MagmarFire]

Ooh... Sucks to hear that. How bad is the damage?

[DW]

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?

[MagmarFire]

...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.

[DW]

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.

[Deku]

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.

[Mysterious F.]

Oh wow. I hope this situation improves for you and your family.

If you don't mind me asking, what is his job?

[MasterKeyX]

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.

[DW]

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.

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.

[MasterKeyX]

Sounds like he was good at what he did.

Can he get unemployment compensation?

[MagmarFire]

He'd better. If he doesn't, then WTF?

[DW]

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.

[MagmarFire]

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.

[DW]

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.

[MagmarFire]

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.