State Benefits Update

I have confirmed with the "DWS" in Washington that the Food Stamps policy is federally mandated. I have to de-enroll from Utah and apply in Washington. Then vice-versa when I get released back to the Salt Lake VA. During this period, my kids would only qualify for food stamps if staying with a qualified family relative. But the state with come after us for child support.

It might be too late for us, but to change this for future veterans, please contact your federal representatives and ask them to get this changed.

Transplant Plan

I have been going through tests and we have been taking mandated classes for the past week and a half. I had a bone marrow biopsy today, my last test, and it was the most painful yet despite the extra local anesthetic. I did get the plan of the transplant procedures.

Date	Prodecure
2011-07-15	Pick line inserted (chest catheter into my heart)
2011-07-19	Admitted Chemo battery 1 (2 days)
2011-07-21	Chemo battery 2 (4 days)
2011-07-26	Stem cell transplant (Day 0)
3+ weeks	Released to outpatient status
Day 100*	Released to Salt Lake VA
* If everything goes well

Your prayers are appreciated!

State Benefits Update

Thanks for everyone's prayers. I wanted to give everyone an update. I have been in contact with Jason Chaffetz Constituent Services office, DWS Customer Relations office, Governor's Constituent Services office, and various VA offices. The only thing that has changed is I might be able to work with my case supervisor to keep the kids enrolled in CHIP. DWS has a state policy "wonk" looking into it. VA's DVOP representative is making some inquiries.

Please keep praying. Thanks.

Prayers Needed

As you may know, the VA is sending me to Seattle for treatment for my leukemia. They mandate a 24/7 caregiver or I will not get the treatment. By my preference and under their criteria, my wife is the best choice. Yesterday, however, we were informed by the Utah Department of Workforce Services ("DWS") that we will be dropped from all state benefits (financial aid, food stamps, children's medical) if Steph and I leave the state for the medical procedure since we will not be in the home. Additionally:

• Our kids are not covered medically if they leave the state. So we cannot bring our kids with me for the first weeks nor send our children to my family for moral support for the month prior to school without risking medical expenses.
• If anyone is gone from the state for more than two weeks, that person is dropped from all programs altogether.
• If Steph stays back with the kids, then the benefits will continue, but if it is longer than 6 months, the state will come after me for child support, but since I don't make anything it will be "not much".
• If Steph does go with me, Steph and I will have to apply for aid in Washington state even though they have a resident requirement that we will not meet. The kids will have to be applied for by a close relative in the state, but the state will come after us for child support.

So as a veteran, Washington, DC, mandates that I get treated in Seattle, but Washington, DC, and/or Utah also mandates the above. So I asked, "So what you are saying is because I am a veteran who does not live in the state where the treatment center is, I'm screwed." They replied, "Basically."

Five minutes later, they called me back to tell me they will run it by there Financial Aid department to see if there is a program or loophole to assist us and would let us know by today what they found.

Please pray!

FYI...My family found out that unless a person in Utah has a hard line (not VOIP, Cable, etc) you cannot call Medicare or medicaid in Utah. You get routed to California. So since I have VOIP, I cannot call my state's medicare or medicaid.

Transplant Plan

We leave for the medical facility on Sun, June 26th, The first week and a half will be intense testing, followed by a week and a half of waiting for the results. Then I start a week of heavy chemotherapy to kill off all of my bone marrow. They will put my donor's stem cells into me, will monitor for infection, graft-versus-host disease, and bone marrow recovery and will treat me as needed. The process will take 3-6 months (up to nine in extremely bad situations) and the average is four months.

Your help and prayers have been and will continue to be appreciated.

Thanks,

Joe

*GARAGE SALE FUNDRAISER* Saturday June 4th

Join the fun this Saturday, June 4th where we will be having a HUGE garage sale to benefit the Weigel family.

TIME: 9:00am until 3:00pm
LOCATION: Entheos Academy Charter School
4710 West 6200 South in Kearns

Thank You From The Weigel's

[Spoken At Fundraiser]
My father called me last night to wish me the best today and to enjoy “my day.” Though I appreciate the sentiment, the words made me a little uncomfortable. I have viewed these past months as God’s who has chosen to bestow his grace upon me for which am, and continue to be, deeply grateful. However, it is not only for my benefit, but also for the benefit of all those God has chosen to touch my life and to witness what He is doing in my life and the lives of my family. You bear witness to this:

He has given me my first family, my mother and father, my brothers and sisters, who were my first glimpses into the love of God for me, a deeply flawed person.

He called me to service to my country through which He saves my life today by securing my medical needs as an Army veteran and may yet save my life.

Through His faithfulness, He has saved me from myself, securing my place in heaven through His grace that I should not fear death. He has imprinted his word upon me over the years which bring me comfort that I should not fear life. He has given me His Spirit that I should not fear to be alone in suffering, something my Christ did not get.

He has given me my wife and partner in this world. She was the first installment on which and through whom He gave me a life long dream, my second family. She is my crown in whom my children are inlaid jewels that undeservedly grace my head.

He has given me His Church and many communities, including this one, to make all the above possible and so much more: prayers, encouragement, shepherding, meals, money, groceries, the opening of homes for us to live, offers of help for our kids and pet while I undergo my transplant, and this fundraiser. You have adopted me and my family as friends, brothers, sisters, sons and daughters.

“My day?” Hardly. I am the least in this. This is God’s day and we get to witness it. Therefore, “Go for Joe” if it pleases you, but I’d rather have you “Go for God,” and God willing, so will I for years to come.

Praise to my Lord, Jesus Christ!

Love in Christ,

Joe Weigel