But, my financial situation does not generally have anything to with the level of care that I am receiving at the VA.

I have Social Security and a nominal pension. It pays my bills and general living expenses.

My upcoming trip to Nashville is "over and above". The VA is taking care of everything; transportation to/from Nashville, and they are putting me up in a Homewood Suites for 4 months. Plus, a nominal reimbursement for food costs. The VA bills Medicare and the rest is absorbed by the VA. The only thing I pay for is minimal prescription copays. And, as I've said before, the care I will receive at the VA/Vanderbilt is World Class. They run a National Center of Excelence. As I was told before my first transplant; "Do you want to be treated by the doctors who wrote the book, or do you want to be treated somewhere else by doctors who are reading the instructions? For reference; for my age and the type of "donor" transplant I will receive, the going rate is around $800K in the private world!

I need to be able to reimburse my neighbor for taking care of my house, and mowing my yard, for 4 months. The same for the friend who is taking in my Springer Spaniel. And I need to able take care of my friends who will be with me everyday I'm there. It adds up to a lot more than I have.

Rant is over.

I can not thank you guys enough, ever!

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Dora Hates You