Please hang in there. Hopefully his will just be the darkness before the dawn. I too have fought with but my daughter, who a social worker with lots of disability experience was there to help me. Of course I was denied the first time, and we appealed. When I went to the second hearing, the board seemed to have the attitude of why did you wait so long? and I could have just screamed!! The good news is that once your wife is approved, everything is retro-active back to the time you first filed. In the meantime, maybe possible help can be found from family services or your church family. Please remember, people who care can not help unless they know that there is a need. Lisa