Four and a half years ago, I began a journey I never expected or desired. In June 2020, I returned to work at Imperial Beach Library during the pandemic. The first day back, I realized things were not going to go very well for me because of all the cleaning/sanitizing chemicals used in the branch. My branch manager did her best to accommodate me during this time, but my asthma and the chemicals did not mix. As we looked up SDS sheets for the chemicals, my supervisor realized the chemicals were affecting her eyes as well. On June 30, 2020, I filed a worker's comp claim due to the chemical exposure at Imperial Beach Library. I was sent home to telework, and I started on my worker's comp journey. My supervisor also filed a claim, and then HR told all the staff working at IB to see a worker's comp doctor if they had any issues. Two other staff members saw a doctor. I am so thankful I was there because I was the only one who knew the chemicals were affecting me. Change happened at IB after I started teleworking to protect the remaining staff in the branch. The incident destroyed my career plan, but I firmly believe I was meant to be there to protect the staff working in the branch at that time.
I teleworked from June 30, 2020 - June 17, 2021 as a Librarian I at Imperial Beach Library and worked with Collection Development. On June 18, 2021, I promoted to Librarian II at Poway Library. I was so excited for this change, and I returned to in person work because the branch did not have twice a day janitorial cleanings. I hoped this would be good enough for me to remain in person at the branch, and it was good... for a week. I had an asthma attack due to Clorox wipes and perfumes at Poway Library. I was sent back to the worker's comp doctor, and I started teleworking again on July 1, 2021. Since then, I have not been in a branch. On December 14, 2021, my restrictions "no exposure to cleaning or sanitizing chemicals" was made permanent and stationary.
Through the next almost two years, I had high and low days. It was difficult supervising two employees who were in person in the branch while I was teleworking. I was the Youth Services Manager, but I couldn't do any programs. I couldn't help at the branch, which desperately needed a body there to fill the 40 hours I was teleworking.
To fill my 40 hours, I also covered Ask a Librarian during the week, worked with Learning, Marketing, and Engagement (LME) department, and worked with Collection Development.
Things started to look up at the end of July 2023 when my position was dual filled. My full-time Librarian I was promoted into the LII Youth Services Manager position at Poway, and I was able to transition my Youth Services work to her. A huge burden was lifted off my shoulders, and I knew things would work out for the best.
Then September 2023 happened, and for the next six months, I was sick with various respiratory diseases. I had pneumonia for six weeks, covid and the flu at the same time which included being in the hospital, a couple upper respiratory infections, one lower respiratory infection, and a sinus infection. I remember lying in the hospital, praying and asking God why I was so sick, when I would be healthy again, and not understanding why I was going through what I was.
I reached out to worker's comp to see if there was anything that could be done to help me with my sick leave, since I had run out of balances and was on sick leave without pay. I didn't get any answers from worker's comp, and that's when I realized the doctor had said I had a permanent restriction, but I wasn't permanently disabled.
My brother-in-law recommended a worker's comp lawyer to us, and in February 2024, I hired a lawyer. It's amazing what happens when a lawyer gets involved...
In May 2024, I drove up to Riverside to see a second opinion worker's comp doctor, and he agreed I was permanent and stationary. His report found me 26% total body disability with 75% of my asthma issues due to my worker's comp case. When I read the report, I felt seen. I felt heard, and I was so thankful. I agreed with his assessment whole-heartedly. He made my permanent restrictions: "avoid exposure to chemical agents and should avoid exposure to other individuals who use perfume."
But the case wasn't over yet. We still had to figure out what, if any, leave balances should be reimbursed. I went through all my sick leaves since June 30, 2020, and I cross-referenced them with my doctor's appointments. I sent multiple documents to my lawyers to use in court. But work didn't want to return balances. In September 2024, they said if we wanted to pursue leave balance reimbursement, they wanted the doctor to review his findings of 26% disability due to what they believed was an error in his findings. My lawyer asked if I still wanted to pursue the reimbursement, and Adam and I said yes. When the doctor got back to us, he upheld the 26% disability and added about 6.5 weeks of leave reimbursement to my case. I'm also getting a second settlement amount because the leave reimbursement got me Injury leave. I cried when I got the e-mail about the decision. I couldn't believe it. I just wanted time back. I never expected to get more money. And the amount of money I'm receiving makes up my lawyer's fee and then some.
But my dual fill was still keeping me in limbo at work. I was happy working four positions, helping different departments and branches, and my Poway supervisor was always amazing and helpful.
Tomorrow is three years since I was initially made permanent and stationary. Today, I start as the new Librarian II at LME department. I get to only work with one department in a permanent position due to the County accommodating my work restrictions. I will be transitioning out of Poway and to LME for the next six weeks, but effective February 1, 2025, I am fully LME's! It's been a long, painful, amazing journey these past four and a half years. I have cried and prayed and thanked God and questioned God and wondered and known... but there is one constant that I've never wavered on. I've trusted God through this entire process. I knew He would be with me, protect me, and His Will would happen. I am so thankful this permanent injury did not end my library career. I'm so thankful for the air I breathe, and I look forward to getting healthier and healthier.
I teleworked from June 30, 2020 - June 17, 2021 as a Librarian I at Imperial Beach Library and worked with Collection Development. On June 18, 2021, I promoted to Librarian II at Poway Library. I was so excited for this change, and I returned to in person work because the branch did not have twice a day janitorial cleanings. I hoped this would be good enough for me to remain in person at the branch, and it was good... for a week. I had an asthma attack due to Clorox wipes and perfumes at Poway Library. I was sent back to the worker's comp doctor, and I started teleworking again on July 1, 2021. Since then, I have not been in a branch. On December 14, 2021, my restrictions "no exposure to cleaning or sanitizing chemicals" was made permanent and stationary.
Through the next almost two years, I had high and low days. It was difficult supervising two employees who were in person in the branch while I was teleworking. I was the Youth Services Manager, but I couldn't do any programs. I couldn't help at the branch, which desperately needed a body there to fill the 40 hours I was teleworking.
To fill my 40 hours, I also covered Ask a Librarian during the week, worked with Learning, Marketing, and Engagement (LME) department, and worked with Collection Development.
Things started to look up at the end of July 2023 when my position was dual filled. My full-time Librarian I was promoted into the LII Youth Services Manager position at Poway, and I was able to transition my Youth Services work to her. A huge burden was lifted off my shoulders, and I knew things would work out for the best.
Then September 2023 happened, and for the next six months, I was sick with various respiratory diseases. I had pneumonia for six weeks, covid and the flu at the same time which included being in the hospital, a couple upper respiratory infections, one lower respiratory infection, and a sinus infection. I remember lying in the hospital, praying and asking God why I was so sick, when I would be healthy again, and not understanding why I was going through what I was.
I reached out to worker's comp to see if there was anything that could be done to help me with my sick leave, since I had run out of balances and was on sick leave without pay. I didn't get any answers from worker's comp, and that's when I realized the doctor had said I had a permanent restriction, but I wasn't permanently disabled.
My brother-in-law recommended a worker's comp lawyer to us, and in February 2024, I hired a lawyer. It's amazing what happens when a lawyer gets involved...
In May 2024, I drove up to Riverside to see a second opinion worker's comp doctor, and he agreed I was permanent and stationary. His report found me 26% total body disability with 75% of my asthma issues due to my worker's comp case. When I read the report, I felt seen. I felt heard, and I was so thankful. I agreed with his assessment whole-heartedly. He made my permanent restrictions: "avoid exposure to chemical agents and should avoid exposure to other individuals who use perfume."
But the case wasn't over yet. We still had to figure out what, if any, leave balances should be reimbursed. I went through all my sick leaves since June 30, 2020, and I cross-referenced them with my doctor's appointments. I sent multiple documents to my lawyers to use in court. But work didn't want to return balances. In September 2024, they said if we wanted to pursue leave balance reimbursement, they wanted the doctor to review his findings of 26% disability due to what they believed was an error in his findings. My lawyer asked if I still wanted to pursue the reimbursement, and Adam and I said yes. When the doctor got back to us, he upheld the 26% disability and added about 6.5 weeks of leave reimbursement to my case. I'm also getting a second settlement amount because the leave reimbursement got me Injury leave. I cried when I got the e-mail about the decision. I couldn't believe it. I just wanted time back. I never expected to get more money. And the amount of money I'm receiving makes up my lawyer's fee and then some.
But my dual fill was still keeping me in limbo at work. I was happy working four positions, helping different departments and branches, and my Poway supervisor was always amazing and helpful.
Tomorrow is three years since I was initially made permanent and stationary. Today, I start as the new Librarian II at LME department. I get to only work with one department in a permanent position due to the County accommodating my work restrictions. I will be transitioning out of Poway and to LME for the next six weeks, but effective February 1, 2025, I am fully LME's! It's been a long, painful, amazing journey these past four and a half years. I have cried and prayed and thanked God and questioned God and wondered and known... but there is one constant that I've never wavered on. I've trusted God through this entire process. I knew He would be with me, protect me, and His Will would happen. I am so thankful this permanent injury did not end my library career. I'm so thankful for the air I breathe, and I look forward to getting healthier and healthier.
God's promise to me in December 2024 - 2025!
God's promise to me in 2021 - 2022!
God's promise to me in 2023!
God's promise to me in 2024!