u/Feebedel324

Edit: Thanks for some of the kind feedback. Please understand I don’t think I have a right to demand WFH. I’m just getting to a point where I’m not going to improve and don’t know what HR accommodations look like long term for chronic illnesses. It seems like so far my company has been good and will probably continue to accommodate me as much as possible with continued check ins and paperwork.

I do understand the need to re-cert every so often. I’d also ask you all to just give me some grace considering the mental and emotional toll a long term illness can have on someone. There is a lot of fear around losing my career and independence in addition to the other things I’ve lost.

Hi all. I am in the US. I never know how to handle this situation.

I started a new job in January 2021 and it was fully remote due to COVID. Sept 2021 I suffered a brain abscess and required an emergent craniotomy and then surgery on my lung. I was 31 and it was a stressful time. I mostly recovered but the abscess affected my vision. My sight has returned but I do have chronic fatigue, migraines, and hypersomnia from the surgery. It’s not going to go away. I have a neurologist and sleep doctor. I have a ton of meds to help me. They are great with helping me manage and filling out paperwork. We went hybrid a couple years ago, but this year they went from hybrid to 4 days a week in office. 70% of my team including my manager is in the field and works remote doing the same job. However, I am close enough to HQ to be required to come in. I can do my job remotely and I can come in if I need to, but it’s hard for me. The lights just drain me even with them being dimmed, I can’t take 10-15 min naps when I need to, I often have balance issues and driving or busy spaces are not easy when it flairs makes me nervous. I do have to travel some and can usually push through it/uber if necessary. They have accommodated me which I am grateful for. But I do have to meet every 3 months and it feels like I have to justify my needs over and over. I have so much anxiety that they will change their mind and I can’t imagine doing this same song and dance until I retire in 30 years. I don’t want to quit. I like my team and my job. I don’t want to move either. I understand legally they need to check in with me. I’ve been promoted 4 times in 4 years so I’m clearly doing well and I want to be a good employee. I don’t even know what I’m asking except, is there any world where I have more of a sense of security? I’ve come to terms with living with a chronic illness. But I feel like this is looming over my head. I want to work. But working from home gives me a quality of life I don’t have going into the office. When I’ve tried, I can’t function. Any advice?

I posted before about Lena before I’d read Grant County. I’ve now read all Grant County and am in the 7th Will Trent book. I honestly feel for Lena and am always a little surprised how much Sara blindly hates Lena. I feel like people forget:

1. She grew up with a drug addict
2. Her sister was injured and grew up blind
3. She grew up in a small town where homophobia was the norm
4. Her sister was brutally raped and murdered BECAUSE of Sara just as much as Jeffery was murdered BECAUSE of Lena. If Sara hadn’t treated the killers sister, he wouldn’t have come to Grant County to torment her.
5. Lena herself was drugged and raped while nailed to a floor.
6. Lena was targeted as a victim who clearly was suffering from major PTSD when she got sucked into her horrific abusive relationship. A relationship she tried to leave multiple times.
7. She had to endure an abortion from rape.
8. She was kidnapped and drugged AGAIN in the Will Trent Series and Sara almost left her there to die where Lena actively cut off a man’s arm to save herself and Sara before the house they were in blew up.

Like I get it - Sara also had her sister attacked, was also raped, and has had a lot of trauma, but she has a stable support system and upbringing. Which I think is something Sara ignores.

Lena has her issues. She’s stubborn, homophobic, and often refuses to take accountability or deal with her trauma. But man, I hate how Sara gets painted as a saint and Lena a sinner. I just need someone in the series to acknowledge her, breakdown her walls, and love her. I was hoping that would be Jeffery’s son, but he’s young and not quite mature enough. I feel like she just needs unconditional love in her life. Idk I guess that’s my rant lol. I feel like the books are disregarding Lena’s past.

Visited NYC for the weekend for some broadway shows. My friend and I were exploring in between and I said let’s check out Tiffany’s! It’s a classic, I’d love to just poke around and look at sparkly things. I’m not rich so I can’t really afford any of it lol. We went in a a very nice man understood the assignment or something. We chatted and explained we really just wanted to look around at the pretty things didn’t want to waste his time. Got to chatting and my friend and he had some stuff in common and he eventually was like, “do you wanna try a bunch of expensive stuff on for fun?” I was like “uh you sure?” He said yeah I wanna dress you two up - I have a vision. Let’s go somewhere else. Took us behind the wall where you can sit privately, gave us some sparkling waters, and started with my friend. He made her close her eyes and put on three pieces of jewelry while I geeked out. Then we got to guess how much it all cost. Her set was $120k. Then he did me. He said he was going to go all out lol. Did the same thing and I was decked out in $200k worth of jewelry. We got to take pics and just have a blast. I didn’t buy anything - just got to play dress up. I’ve literally never had so much unexpected fun. Is this a normal thing?!? He said next time let us know if we ever come back cause he could do better. I don’t even know what that means lol. Did I get some weird experience?! 10/10 recommend haha I know they are known for their service and hospitality but this felt a little extra 😂