From dead to NED.

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Comments

  • sheri22
    sheri22 Member Posts: 273
    now enjoy
    That is great news looks like you and your family will be having a great summer enjoy
  • lmliess
    lmliess Member Posts: 329
    You are an inspiration!!
    That is great news. I feel like there is no hope sometimes (very rarely but I have my low points!)because I get tired and think about what still lies ahead, but your story gave me the kick in the butt I needed!
  • pamness
    pamness Member Posts: 524 Member
    What an amazing story
    I am sort of speechless about what you have done and the outcome. Congratulations.

    Great advice about the insurance.

    Pam

    I hope you will give advice, hope and encouragement to people on this board now, next year, and for the very long future you will have.
  • dianetavegia
    dianetavegia Member Posts: 1,942 Member
    snommintj said:

    Put it on my tab
    I was self employed. I made decent money. When my step father had a heart attack my wife forced me to get insurance. I got the absolute best insurance money could buy. Everything was covered 100%, no copay, low deductible. I had the option of choosing $1 million or $2 million in coverage. The premium was about 25% higher for the $2 million plan. I did the math and somehow came to the conclusion that 1 million would be enough coverage. I figured I could get a heart, lung, liver and kidney transplant for 1 million. I never contemplated cancer. Who knew I would be diagnosed. Because I had incredible insurance, I never looked at my hospital statements. Then, about 7 months into treatment the hospital told me I had maxed out my insurance. WHAT? So insurance wasn't going to pay for my last 3 rounds of chemo. Well I kept all my bills and found many things the hospital had charged my insurance for that they shouldn't have. Including a charge for two port placement surgeries. I did in fact have 2 ports placed, but only because they put they 1st one in backward. I found enough to get my last 3 rounds covered. After that, no insurance. Well, I told them to put the rest on tab and I would get to it when they fixed me. My treatment didn't change, noone has said anything to me. They keep treating me and billing me.

    If anyone ever asks, tell them to pick the $2 million option.

    Insurance, etc.
    I asked my oncologist about the $30.00 co pay for my early blood tests and disconnect from the pump. He waived those permanently and only charges me my co-pay on office visit/ chemo days (same day at this time). That cut my bi-weekly from $90 to $30~

    Our local hospital has an 'Uncompensated Patient' grant which we qualified for. They picked up all but my first $400.00 payment after insurance. I had to ask if there was any 'help' available. Every hospital co-pay on CT scans, surgical procedures, etc. has been covered. I have to reapply every 90 days but it is a great help! At this point, I have a stack of doctor bills, lab bills, anesthesia bills, etc. that I cannot pay. I've written letters to each of them asking for 'help' with those after insurance payment balances and expect some to be dropped. It's God's bills at this point because there is nothing I can do to come up with this money.

    I'm 58 and in Georgia, there is no medicaid for adults unless you've had an abortion, miscarriage or are pregnant (or illegal alien). Go figure.
  • usakat
    usakat Member Posts: 610 Member
    NED!!!
    Good stuff!!! You are an inspiration!

    Just goes to show that no one can really know how long each of us are supposed to be here. It's not up to us and we are not to know - we are to live life joyfully with peace and faith. It allows us to be grateful for everyday.

    You are well in spite of all the odds and grim prognoses - I guess that means you're not done yet. The world is ready for you to make a difference! And you will....

    Congratulations!
    Katie
  • Kathleen808
    Kathleen808 Member Posts: 2,342 Member
    Beautiful!
    Thanks for sharing your story. It has been long, hard, expensive but ohhhhhh so worth it!! We are so happy for you and your family! Enjoy each day. Thank you for showing us all how to fight!
    Aloha,
    Kathleen
  • snommintj
    snommintj Member Posts: 601

    Beautiful!
    Thanks for sharing your story. It has been long, hard, expensive but ohhhhhh so worth it!! We are so happy for you and your family! Enjoy each day. Thank you for showing us all how to fight!
    Aloha,
    Kathleen

    Friends with money
    Having once been a man of reasonable means, I used to enjoy some of the finer things in life. You know, fishing, golf, boating and more fishing. Well, I'm currently on vacation for the first time since diagnosis. What a relief. I'm accepting some charity from one of my friends with the means to put me up for a few days.

    Thanks to all for your replies, I know you guys will have all the success I've had. It just takes time, fortitude, and the will to suspend fear and anxiety. My journey is far from over. I'll have routine checkups and followups for years to come. I'm have complete faith that I will have another recurrence that I'll have to beat down. But for now I'm enjoying a few well earned days of fishing and relaxing.
  • marmite
    marmite Member Posts: 5
    snommintj said:

    Friends with money
    Having once been a man of reasonable means, I used to enjoy some of the finer things in life. You know, fishing, golf, boating and more fishing. Well, I'm currently on vacation for the first time since diagnosis. What a relief. I'm accepting some charity from one of my friends with the means to put me up for a few days.

    Thanks to all for your replies, I know you guys will have all the success I've had. It just takes time, fortitude, and the will to suspend fear and anxiety. My journey is far from over. I'll have routine checkups and followups for years to come. I'm have complete faith that I will have another recurrence that I'll have to beat down. But for now I'm enjoying a few well earned days of fishing and relaxing.

    Fabulous
    Thank you - that is so encouraging and just what I need to hear right now.
    It's fabulous news - am so pleased for you.
  • bigCrandy
    bigCrandy Member Posts: 75
    you are a miracle
    hey, you are an inspiration to all of us battling this dreaded disease. you've got the right attitude and God does the rest. thank you for your story, stay strong and God Bless you.
  • Moses
    Moses Member Posts: 4
    snommintj said:

    Friends with money
    Having once been a man of reasonable means, I used to enjoy some of the finer things in life. You know, fishing, golf, boating and more fishing. Well, I'm currently on vacation for the first time since diagnosis. What a relief. I'm accepting some charity from one of my friends with the means to put me up for a few days.

    Thanks to all for your replies, I know you guys will have all the success I've had. It just takes time, fortitude, and the will to suspend fear and anxiety. My journey is far from over. I'll have routine checkups and followups for years to come. I'm have complete faith that I will have another recurrence that I'll have to beat down. But for now I'm enjoying a few well earned days of fishing and relaxing.

    Wonderful to hear!!!
    I am very glad to hear the good news. You have surely been blessed. I am going to print your posting out and show it to my dad. He has stage IV and they give him a few years at best. He hasn't given up but he has pretty much accepted it and says he is taking one day at a time and doing what the Doc says. He needs to get that aggressive spirit back and this just might do it and help him keep the fight up and prove all the Docs wrong. He is doing well with all the Chemo so far and his next scan is the 31st of March. Take care.

    Roy
  • lisa42
    lisa42 Member Posts: 3,625 Member
    congrats
    Congratulations! Your news is a definite inspiration to me!
    You've sure been through a LOT- more than many here, but are hanging tough and coming through strong. Enjoy your vacation!
    So glad you shared it with us all-

    Blessings,
    Lisa