AMERICA’S JOURNEY TOORBIT EARTH The First American in Space
HER PATIENCE PAID OFF
After Multiple Denials, Beverly Won Social Security Disability
On May 5, 1961, Alan B. Shepard became the first American to enter space on a Mercury capsule named Freedom 7. It was an incredibly momentous event, but what all had to occur for it to even happen? Let’s take a look at what led up to Shepard’s launch into space. During the 1960s, the U.S. and the Soviet Union found themselves in a space race. The United States first began their space mission in 1958 with Project Mercury. Project Mercury had three goals in mind: orbiting a crewed spacecraft, investigating the ability to function in space, and safely recovering the spacecraft and the crew. Before the first American took flight, the U.S. conducted several test launches to see what they needed to adjust and modify to be safely launched into space. The first successful launch of Mercury without an astronaut occurred in December 1960. But before they attempted to launch an American into space, NASA tested the Mercury capsule in January 1961 with a chimpanzee named Ham, who took a route that was similar to the one Shepard would eventually take. After going through numerous simulations, NASA decided that Shepard would be making the first flight. He began his mission on May 5 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and over half a million Americans watched the launch on nearby beaches. Shepard took his orbit around the Earth and made a successful return. He then received NASA’s highest reward, the Distinguished Service Medal, from President John F. Kennedy on May 8, 1961. Although the Soviet Union sent the first human into orbit in April 1961, this didn’t stop the U.S. from pushing forward. Instead, the bravery of these men inspired the U.S. to go to new heights and have the first man on the moon in 1969. There are still ongoing debates about whether the U.S. or the USSR won the space race. Either way, this race allowed the world to conduct more research on our galaxy. As a whole, this event led to tremendous efforts to push the limits of human capabilities, create new technology to explore outer space, and see what our universe holds.
In 2019, every day at work was an uphill battle for Beverly Temple. She was a medical support assistant at a local hospital and struggled with depression, anxiety, arthritis, and heart problems. Eventually, edema appeared in her legs and feet. The painful swelling made walking almost impossible. “I started getting sick with my edema and just falling, sometimes
I’d fall at the counter and [my coworkers] wouldn’t help me,” she remembers. “God whispered in my ear and told me, ‘It’s time for you to retire, because they’re not helping you and they’re not going to help you.’” Fortunately, Beverly’s friend Belinda Brooks was on her side. Belinda recommended that, instead of retiring, she contact Packard Law Firm and apply for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits. “[Belinda said,] ‘If you go the other way with disability without a lawyer, it’s going to be forever for you, and you deserve it now,’” Beverly remembers. “I called Packard and they helped me right away!” Beverly’s case was complicated. She had medical coverage through the VA, so she was able to see a psychiatrist and psychologist. Fortunately, her doctors agreed to help, but her claim was still denied twice. COVID-19 slowed down the appeals process. Still, her case manager, Amanda, didn’t give up! We finally got Beverly an audience with a judge. She talked to him on the phone and he was moved by her story. “The lady [from Packard] called me right back, and she goes, ‘You know, we won!’” Beverly recalls. The SSDI benefits were life-changing for Beverly and her husband, Rodlaroc (who is also her caregiver). Beverly said she feels blessed to have Medicare and finally get the specialized medical treatment she needs.
“I appreciated that Packard didn’t ask for any money until I got paid! It was actually a blessing to my life,” she says.
If you know someone like Beverly, please send them to our website or pass along our phone number. We’ll help them pursue their benefits, no matter how long it takes.
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