Blindsided by her medic daughter's death in Iraq, a disabled retiree struggles to raise her orphaned granddaughter when Veteran Affairs denies her death benefits promised to her. Dismissed as an isolated case, Grandma fights the system and changes the law.  (Based on a true story, have rights).

SYNOPSIS:

Retiree Susan Jaenke never expected her daughter's call to serve to segue into her own service in the autumn of her years.

Navy Reservist and paramedic Jaime Jaenke (29), emotionally conflicted between leaving her daughter (9) behind with Susan on their Iowa horse ranch, and a dire shortage of medics in the war against terrorism deploys to Iraq with Seabees (NMCB-25) for a nine-month tour.

In Iraq, Jaime's compassion and healing skills win her the title of Sweetheart of the Sandbox, until one fatal blast on a convoy mission.

Susan, 55, is designated legal guardianship per Jaime's wishes.

Their situation grows bleak when she is advised that, as a grandparent, she is ineligible for the death gratuity that Jaime promised to help raise her granddaughter. The Department of Defense points to fine print: This benefit is for “a surviving spouse or child ONLY." Despite Jaime's handwritten instructions that stipulate Susan be paid "as guardian of Kayla," "a medic has no authority to edit a federally mandated contract. Only Congress can do that. This is an isolated case, and one person will not change the law."

Jaime's daughter, at 9, is awarded Jaime's life insurance ($400,000) and her death gratuity, both placed in a trust fund, inaccessible until she's 18. Susan, living on a monthly disability check, gets nothing but Jaime's unpaid debts.

Should Susan get a job, making her grieving granddaughter a latchkey kid, alone, while Susan works? Or dare to fight the government?

When her granddaughter overhears gossip at school that she's soon likely to be a foster kid, she confronts Susan, “Am I up for adoption? Soon a foster kid?” Stunned, Susan insists, “No!" But doesn't mention that after paying off Jaime's debts, she's hiding her first foreclosure notice.

Burying her only daughter and losing custody of her granddaughter, too, simply cannot happen.

Susan arms herself with her Congressman, and together they bring “Jaime's Bill” to Washington to propose amendments to the Department of Defense benefits, especially for grandparents and non-spousal guardians who rear children, minors, of fallen soldiers.

Can Susan, from forgotten to coverpage headlines, keep collectors and Child Services at bay until her granddaughter turns 18?