Another Trip to the Hospital

Saturday, October 25, 2008 – 10:10 A.M. This has been a strange week to say the very least.  First, there was my sister's birthday dinner, to which I did not go, then, on Thursday, my sister came to see me, bringing with her some new ink cartridges for my computer printer and a new winter coat.   Friday I was not feeling well.  I seemed to be having similar pains to those I had when I was in the hospital with my infected kidneys.  I tried telling the people who helped me, but they said it must be my imagination.  As it turned out, they were entirely wrong.   Yesterday morning I awoke with a lot of pain.  I called for the paramedics, and was taken to a hospital outside of Denver.  I received extremely good care there, and after being examined and blood work being done, I was diagnosed with having an acute urinary tract infection, along with a kidney infection.  I was put on an IV for a while, given some medication, and then sent home.  I am feeling much better today.   There is a brief lull in the dispute with my family concerning the money from the sale of my house in Virginia.  My brother has concocted what he considers a fair settlement with me.  If put into place, it would extend over a period of more than ten years.  I do not want to accept it, because in my family, nothing is ever given freely -- sooner or later, there is always some type of catch.   Most of the money would be coming from my brother because my sister does not have as much.  She feels that I should accept my brother's offer.  She says that he has never treated me fairly, that he hardly ever has contact with me, and that she thinks my brother owes this to me.   Although I have made a mental decision not to accept the money, I am putting off saying anything until I see my mental health therapist this coming Monday.  My sister says that my brother and his wife are very upset because I have not responded to my brother's offer yet.  She told me that she tried to tell them that they needed to give me some time, because they do not know all of the things I am trying to deal with at the same time.   It has been made clear to me that my brother and sister are now aware that they did not live up to their end of the original agreement that we had.  I am fully aware that they are trying to make amends, but I am stubborn to the point where I just feel it is too late for that.  I have lived for eleven years without their financial help, so why should I accept it at this time?