Getting somewhere and nowhere at the same time.....

[DeeDeeandthe3]

I have had my first surgery to remove the huge melanoma from my head, and I will be seeing the specialist head and neck surgeon tomorrow to discuss upcoming operation. I am still in good spirits ( vodka and baileys) and while I have down days, on the whole I am doing well. Financially though life is sucking hairy dogs balls. My husband and I only recently bought our first home and moved far away from family and friends obviously not expecting this silly cancer to pop up. Now we are faced with the reality that I will not be returning to work next month as planned and that hubby earns just over the limit for us to qualify for any centrelink payments that would most definately ease my anxiety and our financial pressures. Have any of you dealt with this side of centrelink and found a way through.... its all so bound up in red tape. With 3 small children the other difficulty I face is who will watch them whilst I am recieving treatment, although preschool has offered to help where they can, its not a long term solution. I just don't know how much I will be able to do after this surgery and then during chemo.... Have any other mummy's had to deal with this? Please throw me a rope if you have any suggestions. xxx DeeDee

[purpleangels]

Deedee!! Centre link SUCK!!!! I earned $6.50 gross a fortnight too much for my husband to get his healthcare card back..............don't get me started.....anyhow- we have had amazing assistance from a financial counsellor the Cancer council set us up with (working pro bono) and he is going to advocate on our behalf with centre link. (we are in NSW, could be different in other states). Anyway......I think you need to look into salary sacrificing your husbands income that is over the threshold, as this can reduce the income for centrelink purposes from what I understand (I'm an art teacher so Maths is NOT my forte).... But I reckon it would be worth a call to the cancer council and asking them about financial planning assistance. Also, the cancer council can give you a one off payment to pay a bill, see your hospital social worker for more info..... Otherwise, investigate getting access to your super early (if you have some), or accessing your husbands under the hardship clause. Also, if you are in NSW.....my kids go to family day care, and when we first got back from Sydney after my husbands big op, northern rivers family day care organized the government to pay for child care for the first twelve months we were back. Worth an ask........and they also can do in home day care (usually for shift workers) that we are trying to access to give me some time to sort the house out when I get home from work, so they would come into our home, feed and bath the kids and put them in bed......again, depends on your area and the availability of carers, but worth an ask...... Otherwise, swallow your pride, call in any favor you have ever given someone, and ask ask ask for help (I swallowed my pride and asked the lady round the corner to take my daughter to school a couple of days a week- her daughter is in same class, and she was so happy to help.) when your chips are down, people will help, and a social worker told me very early on that most people want to help, they don't know how, and they feel helpless, and they feel good when they do help, so let them. Hard though! Tough independent women we are!! Hope this helps! PA

[exhausted]

Hi DeeDee PA has given you some good advice. Could your husband reduce his hours and that way help you at home and also put him below that magic threshhold? But all in all considering your great taste in "spirits" it sounds like you are doing well!!! Hugs Terese.