SIMPLY THE BEST 5.0 STARS
On February 6, 1996, l was rear-ended at a red light. I was again rear ended as a passenger at redlights in 1997 and 1999. Although l did not know it at the time, that first accident was a life-changer. Within four months of that trauma, my MD had ordered me to stop all work. The next two wrecks contributed to my on-going difficulties. The path l was on was being documented in the medical. In June 1996, I filed my first SSDl claim. So began a journey of 13years. Thirteen long, confusing, terrifying years asl sought to care for myself, seek treatment, get better, and get on with what had become a new normal. "l was physically, mentally, and financially diminished; everything seemed to be spiraling downward. It was, and it was hard really hard. Add to that, l had no idea of what to do. The "Post Concussive Syndrome" l had been diagnosed with early on was not well understood by the wider medical community; many of who even denied its existence. Because of our soldiers (and football players), this is now widely known as "TBl" and better understood even by the public. Because of TBl, l could not "plan forward” among many other mental difficulties. l hope this is better recognized as a possible debilitating side effect of auto accidents now, and that help is at hand and offered early. With my original claim. l went to the hearing by myself. Mistake. Denied. At my next hearing, I went with an Advocate. Mistake. Denied.
l continued to do what those in authority over my life told me to do. Nothing was working. l began looking for a Social Security Disability lawyer. I spoke with a number, but no one was willing to take on my long, complicated, and confusing case. l ran in to someone who told me of Rosemary Schurman, a lawyer willing to take on confusing, convoluted, and therefore difficult, cases. Not a mistake! Although the entire journey took THIRTEENYEARS and generated three telephone-book-sized volumes of my case, the professionalism, eye to detail, perseverance, dogged determination, and high intellect of Rosemary Schurman walked the walk, with my hand in hers for more than half that journey. She never missed a beat. l am eternally grateful and deeply appreciative of the work Rosemary did on my behalf. We kept at it to the bitter end: Federal Court. It was a long haul, but with Rosemary, at least l had hope. Hope was in short supply. I was grateful realizing the reigning Judge took his job seriously; he had read my case! The "truth" won out. l could hardly believe the Judge had read my case, actually read it!
There were few bright spots in that long journey. Some were my friends who stood by me, and the Judge who actually read my case.
The brightest spot in that long journey was Rosemary Schurman. She believed in me, and we prevailed
