Ivan.... I think there's TWO problems here, m'dear. One is a monetary issue, and the other's your inability to move past the event/person/entity that caused you so much grief in the first place. There's one action I can think of you may possibly be able to make which MIGHT get you that money back. Why not take the both the physician AND the PD Assoc. to Small Claims Court? Filing fees are just a few dollars, you get to court really fast (often within a few days of filing) and this is, in my opinion, a place where you will find a fast, "down-to the-level of-the-common-man" kind of justice. In addition, monetary reward limits in Small Claims actions, while set by each individual state, are generally within the amount you've lost (most states are set between about $3000 to $5000). The "other side" might even end up in default because it's unlikely they'll send a representative to a Maine courtroom (presuming the jurisdiction of this case is the state of Maine rather than the state of Florida) as that would prolly cost them a significant amount of money above what they stand to lose if they meet you in a court of law. This does NOT _guarentee_ you a return of the money! But I believe IF you make up your mind BEFORE you go to court that WHATEVER the results may be, you'll accept the decision as the END of the problem, THAT will lay this issue to rest - FINALLY. Ivan, it would be nice if the world was a fair place - where all would be treated with the respect and compassion. But HEY - it ain't, and it's going to go rolling on no matter what happens in our respective lives. Let go of the grief, m'friend, and don't take anything that happened to you in this event personally. It was just "one of life's dirty tricks," over which we have no individual control. Barb Mallut [log in to unmask] ---------- From: Parkinson's Information Exchange on behalf of Ivan M Suzman Sent: Friday, September 05, 1997 5:35 AM To: Multiple recipients of list PARKINSN Subject: Dear Friends, please help... Dear World Listfriends, I am in great pain as I write this letter to all of you. What you are about to read is not what I visualized I would ever have to write you about. Every time I turn on my computer to get my e-mail, and see among the many wonderful messages, the informative and encouraging posts by Larry Hoffheimer, who is not only a list member, but also the National Parkinson's Foundation's Counsel, a Udall Bill star proponent, and a top-notch Muhammad Ali promoter, a wrenching, deep, painful, wound stabs and stabs at me. This happened to me again about an hour ago. Like any person living with Young Onset Parkinson's Disease, I want to feel hopeful and encouraged by Mr. Hoffheimer's energetic work, but instead I feel jaded, disheartened, used and abused, and my stomach ties up in knots. I am going to pour out my guts to you, and tell you what happened. Maybe somebody can be the healer I need so badly. Please consider this letter to be an Open Appeal to all list members who have time, to PLEASE help me close a TERRIBLY painful wound. . I need YOU to help, because, I feel that we are a Caring Community of Support, unlike any other. Somewhere there is a list member who has the answer, the resources, the ideas, the contacts, the negotiating skills. In May of 1995, after 4 months of detailed preparations, I was thrilled, because I had saved and borrowed $3400.00. I could finally travel to Florida with a hired Certified Nurse's Aide, for an appointment with a FAMOUS neurologist at the reknowned National Parkinson's Foundation Clinic in Miami. My dream of getting help from a world-famous clinic dominated a happy, but cautiously undertaken, plane ride to Florida. The two of us first spent a week on the beaches, resting from the exhausting Maine winter, and then, both somewhat restored, drove to Miami and registered at the Day's Inn, near the NPF office and laboratory complex. We began to make the final preparations to see the NPF's doctors. During,the soothing, warm evening in Miami, the CNA (Arthur Lemieux) and I reviewed, refined and re-defined my many questions for the young neurologist. Both of us hoped this appointment would dramtically improve our handling of my symptoms, and our understanding of Parkinson's. I planned to share our Florida experience with my friends in the Greater Portland Parkinson's Disease Support Group, which I had founded two years earlier, in the spring of 1993. TO our absolute HORROR, when we presented ourselves at the appointed time, 2:00 PM, the doctor was NOWHERE to be found ( Juan Sanchez- Ramos). He is the NPF magazine editor, and one of five doctors at the NPF clinic. I have never recovered from the shock I experienced at that moment. The NPF staff had set up my appointment, and had confirmed it just hours before, by phoning our room at the Day's Inn. No one ever told me why the clinic doctor was not present for my 2:00 PM appointment, or why the NPF had no covering or substitute doctor available to see me. They BUNGLED my plans, and I am still suffering the consequences. Mr. Hoffheimer eventually wrote me, in his official role as NPF counsel in Washington DC, to say it was NOT the NPF's responsibility to refund me the $3400.00 I had to spend on two round-trip flights from Maine ( about 6,000 air miles), hotel costs for two nights, and three days' transportation, food, and other basic traveling expenses, plus Mr. Lemieux's fees. Larry's letter killed any hope of restoring me the $3400.00 I had spent. I didn't realize that I was being discarded and buried. But now I RISE to ask again for help. I think many listmembers know me now, and my dear cyberfriends, somehow, I think you can answer. I had to go back to Maine with my Certified Nurses' Aide immediately after the scheduled, but unfulfilled appointment. The airplane tickets were not transferrable to other flights, and Mr. Lemieux (my CNA), who had been given permission to go on temporary leave to travel with me, had to be back in Maine at work at the Nursing Agency that employed him to care for me and other patients. Much of the money was borrowed. Because I live from one month to the next on Social Security, which is $664.00 per month, and charity, I have suffered a devastating loss. Every time I see "National Parkinson's Foundation" I feel like throwing up and I get depressed. I do not want to feel this way, but I can't stop the pain. Mr. Hoffheimer, NPF staff, and fellow PWP's and caregivers, would you PLEASE help me resolve my horrible loss. Two and a half years of pain is eating at me. Enough is enough! Painfully, Ivan Suzman 47/10