It is NO secret that the last two weeks have been an emotional roller coaster for me - UP and DOWN!! Monday I awakened and immediately wanted to pull the covers over my head and stay in bed. What you need to know about me is this - I CANNOT stay in bed. There is always too much to do, too many people to talk to and too many things to accomplish in a day. I laid there for just a minute and determined that I needed to pull up my BIG GIRL PANTIES, get up and move forward with my day. I heard nothing at all Monday as to WHEN I can expect my treatment. Between Thursday the 19th of January and Wednesday the 25th I made NO LESS than 15 phone calls to my insurance company to try to get to the bottom of what was going on.
This is the DEAL - the bottom line is my doctor's office did NOT send in the preauthorization in a TIMELY manner - and as a matter of fact - actually TWO WEEKS late. The insurance company had questions that needed to be answered and that took time. Wednesday the 25th I wrote a letter to the Administrator of the Clinic where I am to get treatment outlining my experiences, my delays and asking HIM how I could help MOTIVATE his people to begin my treatment!! I hand delivered that letter at about 2:30 in the afternoon. Like I have said before - It's not like I am DYING to get the chemotherapy and radiation treatments. I have done the research and know that is the treatment needed in order to be CURED!
After we (Bubba as my driver and really - my EVERYTHING) left the Clinic to head for home I received a phone call from my Advocate at the insurance company telling me I had been approved for treatment. By 4 pm I received a phone call from the Oncologist telling me that the Administrator, after reading the letter I hand delivered, brought it to him to read. I was told that indeed there had been several glitches in getting things in order to receive care at that Clinic. The bottom line is - yesterday I had my DRY RUN for radiation. I will start that Monday at 1 pm. I will be at the Oncologist's office at noon to get the pump installed into my Portacath with a fanny pack full of the DRUGS. They will put that on each Monday at noon for FIVE WEEKS and THREE DAYS and take it off Friday afternoons. Monday through Friday I will be in the Radiation Department for treatment at 1pm for the same duration - 28 treatments. I GET weekends OFF!!
I am THANKFUL and I am GRATEFUL for the progress that has been made in order for me to begin my treatments. I want to be FINISHED with this - I need to be FINISHED in time to WELCOME Kelsi's new baby girl - CHARLOTTE - who will be born in March!! I saw a 4D video of Charlotte the other day! She is as beautiful as her MAMA! I cannot wait to meet that precious GIRL!
I have been proactive in this Journey on my road to recovery. I know that I am not the only person who experiences GLITCHES in their care process. I VOW to be an advocate. If you know ANYONE who is experiencing any difficulty in their care process please let me HELP! I have learned so much and I will be that squeaky wheel who gets that GREASE!!
We have had one thing after another happen in our lives since December. It has been a very very trying time for Kerm and I. With that being said - we have been SO BLESSED! We are so THANKFUL and kneel down daily with prayers of THANKS because of our blessings. Please continue to pray to me and my family. We need prayers in our behalf. We FEEL the prayers in our behalf. THANK YOU SO MUCH!
I have learned some great lessons in the past eight weeks. What an amazing JOURNEY. I do not think it is always a great idea to hand deliver a letter to an Administrator - BUT - A) If it WORKS and B) If I (or you) don't stand up for myself - I can GUARANTEE - NO one else will either! Be proactive - be involved and HELP others along your way! I have done that all my life and will CONTINUE to do that for anyone and everyone who needs my help. Love and HUGS!
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: "If you will call your troubles EXPERIENCES, and remember that every experience develops some latent force within YOU, you will grow vigorous and HAPPY, however adverse your circumstances may seem to be". ... John R. Miller
GOD BLESS US EVERYONE!!!
Oh Bobby, I can relate in so many ways! We learned that you can't leave treatment only up to the doctors, YOU HAVE TO BE INVOLVED. Not only to make sure things get done, but to have the RIGHT things done. When we (or Tyson, I should say) was finally released from the hospital we had lots of stuff on our "list." Things he'd have to follow up on, medicines to take, etc. We started going to a regular pediatrician. I wish we would have FIRED her long before she actually fired us. She was horrible at getting things done AND would not listen to us at all. She was so by the book, instead of doing what was best for Tyson. We took so many matters into our own hands and guess who ended up being right?! US, the PARENTS! So good for you for following up, writing letters, and getting in their faces. That's what works.
ReplyDeleteI can also relate to the power of prayer. We too could feel everyone praying for us. There's something so special and powerful that comes from having a huge support team; all your family and friends. We pray for you daily and want you to know that.
Congrats to Kelsi too! I'm sure Charlotte will be gorgeous. It will be fun to see pics and read about her in a month or so. Good luck beginning your treatment! Hugs!