Requesting your help

I sent this email out today to everyone that I had emails for - but I thought I would post it so we can get help from everyone!

Dear Friends –

I am contacting you to ask for your support to hopefully help us and many others in our situation. As you all know, Mike was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer in September and was medically retired from the AF. Because Mike was retired at 19 years 4 months, we do not qualify for “concurrent receipt” which means both the VA benefit and the AF retirement. The way the law currently reads you have to have over 20 years in to receive that benefit. I have never understood it. If you have been medically retired, especially at 100%, the concurrent receipt can go a long way to help financially. Mike is unable to work, and honestly, I have not been able to work because of Mike’s needs. I am sure that we are not the only ones.

Below is some information from this article: http://www.military.com/features/0,15240,191302,00.html

President Obama has asked Congress to phase in "concurrent receipt" for all Chapter 61 retirees – those who received a disability retirement from the Department of Defense. This week we explain more details of the plan which, if enacted, would boost pay for 103,000 veterans by more than $2 billion through 2014.Concurrent receipt means being able to receive both VA disability compensation and military retired pay earned for years served. For many decades, retired pay had been reduced by the amount of disability pay. The schedule to expand CRDP to Chapter 61 retirees would begin Jan. 1, 2010, for those having fewer than 20 years of service and VA ratings of 100 or 90 percent. Full retired pay would be restored on schedule dates, rather raised incrementally as was done after CRDP was launched.

So on behalf of Mike and other fellow servicemen, I am asking that you send an email or call or write your Congressman and President to show support for this initiative.
Mike is still doing well and fighting everyday. Thursday, June 4 will be our 9 month anniversary since diagnosis. This is a praise moment because the most time they gave Mike at diagnosis was 9 months. We are blessed to be near family who help out and have supported us both financially and emotionally. We are also blessed by your continued prayers and support.

In His Hand and Holding On!!
Deanna