I am the longest living person on earth born with my particular form of muscular dystrophy.  For 22 years my insurance company allowed me to live as much of a normal life as possible under my physical condition, allowing me to do whatever I wanted, when I wanted, and paying all costs for my personal attendants. 

My money eventually ran out through my insurance and I had to turn to the state and federal government for help.  They drew up a waiver for me which would allow me to stay at home rather than me having to go to a nursing home -- where even my own doctor says I wouldn't make it very long.  I truly appreciate this, but they have a stipulation which keeps me a prisoner in my own home.  They will not pay for my attendants to drive me anywhere.  And what makes this even more sick is that they won't even let them drive me anywhere even if they were to volunteer to do it free of charge or even if I or someone else paid them for it.  Does this make any sense whatsoever?  They say they're doing this for my "safety and well-being."  Yeah, whatever.  What about my mental well-being?  Does this not count?  I'm sorry, but isn't being continually depressed detrimental to my health, safety and well-being?  Have they so quickly forgotten that I went for 20+ years having my attendants drive while I was on my insurance and that I'm still here to tell about it? 

They just want to throw me in a nursing home because I've bucked them in the past and I'm bucking them now.  I'm just asking for fairness and freedom -- that's all.  They're acting like I'm asking them for a million dollars. 

Here's a quote from one of the higher ups: "We have a budget and we can't afford to pay someone to drive every little old lady who wants to go to church."  First of all, that's a very derogatory statement and, secondly, a very asinine statement because they wouldn't be paying out anything extra, because my attendants are already on duty!!!! 

Another thing they said was that the taxpayer wouldn't want to spend their money on me going to a friend's house to play cards, go to the mall, go out for dinner -- basically live a normal life and maybe have some social enjoyment.  I 100% disagree.  I know that the taxpayer would rather have their tax dollars go toward the activities I just described rather than have me quickly rot away in some death house nursing home. 

It isn't that they don't want to pay my attendants that bothers me as much as the fact that they won't let them drive free of charge or let anyone else pay them.  It's not only wrong -- it's ridiculous!  Another sad thing is that out of the 310,000,000 people in this country, there's only about 12 who have a say in my life. 

I'm asking tens of thousands -- if not millions -- to help me out and sign this petition.  I also ask anyone who signs this to please encourage all of your friends and relatives to do the same.  Please free me from the imprisonment of my own home.  Thank you. 

Sincerely,

Gyle Peterson