Thanks Glenn and Bob B - I was hoping some of you would back me up on Mike. And Sarah Mae, Glenn and Bob are two of the most prominent and knowledgeable members on this site. MrsB is another but she is on vacation now.

I know what I said about Mike sounds like it's too good to be true and in many instances it is. But in Mike's case it's all very true and there is no telling how many people he has helped over the years and he does not charge anyone a red cent for his expertise.

Call him Sarah Mae - you've got nothing to lose.

I told my mom about what you said, and she was pretty excited about that. We definitely don't have money for a lawyer... but we are both a little worried that if we appeal with his help and get denied, that we won't get a second appeal and will have to start all over. We really need this now--not years from now. I don't have enough to pay my bills past December, if even that long. But I do plan to contact him regardless and see what he says. I have to wait, though, for a decision. I haven't gotten denied or accepted... I don't know how long it will take.

As far as this thread getting off track, so many of them do. I rarely see one topic only throughout a post--there are several topics and conversations going on.