I've somewhat run out of steam with my story.  It seems that once the anniversary date of Sir’s transplant went by – it didn’t nearly seem as important to keep writing.  I read through the entries and I thought of another thing I must share.  Look back on page 6 of the story.  I had talked about finances and how I had more than slightly freaked.

I had friends assure me that I wouldn’t lose my house – one friend said that he’d be in charge of a fund raiser and would be able to cover that.  A lot of prayers were going out – I’m sure I don’t even know who all was involved with that.  I was panicked because I didn’t know how soon Sir would recover and we had normal bills to pay and then with an unknown HUGE medical bill.  The insurance didn’t have a contract with this particular hospital for a pancreas transplant – only the kidney.  Their policy was to refuse the whole thing since there hadn’t been prior authorization; never mind that this occurred late Sat/early Sun and their office wasn’t open.  We waited on a fund raiser until we knew what kind of bill we were looking at.

Our final bill?  About $300.00.   That’s right.  The surgeon had written a letter to the insurance company and explained in apparently convincing terms the idiocy of two separate surgeries in two different cities just because that is what they covered.  When we got the bill it was over $97,000.00.  Insurance paid all but $300.  Because the way the insurances are set up, Sir had to apply for Medicare – otherwise it would affect his coverage when he turned 62.  When the insurance and medicare did all their finagling around – even that $300 was covered.

We happened to be at AWANA parent’s night the day we got that final bill.  Our friend asked how things were going and I told him about that.  He told the AWANA gathering – because they had all been praying for Blondie’s daddy.  There was a lot of praising over this.

It was unbelievable and it was truly an answer to prayer.

Sir recovered faster than any of us expected.  He tried to go back to work later that week.  He called me from a work site and asked me to come in to town just to carry the tools up the stairs.  He knew that if he could just get the tools up the stairs he could do some work.  Disbelieving, I got in the car.  He called on the way in and said he’d just come home.  We laugh at that now.  He truly felt great – but his body was still too weak.  He ran a small fever and ended up in the hospital over the weekend.  He agreed to not go back to work for awhile.

But he did go back to work.  The medical bill was paid. And there was no apparent need for a fund raiser.  Looking back I wish that I had allowed it anyway; we still got behind financially just because we were both out of work for awhile.  And a lot of miles were put on going back and forth to very frequent medical appointments. 

Now for a moment of venting.  Sir’s father had a talk with me while they visited during the 10 days their son was in the hospital.  FIL asked what we owed on the house.  He said he would pay that off plus give us $20,000.  He wanted to do this and then said “but I have to clear this with MIL and you know how she is with money.”  We never saw any money.  Now don’t get me wrong – I don’t deserve their help.  But it was frustrating on several different levels 1) FIL offered MIL refused 2) MIL got upset with Sir because he went back to work too soon but we needed to make money!  3) I have incredible difficulty understanding that marriage – MIL dictates the money and won’t “allow” FIL to follow through on his promise.   Now MIL wants me to refinish my hardwood floors because they don’t look so great.  I don’t have the money for that.  She said she’d “help”.  She bought a garage door because she thought we needed it.  These are not priority things.  We were putting  groceries on charge cards!  When they were there that week MIL wanted to buy a new couch to replace the 30 yr old dirty thing in the TV room where Sir would recuperate.  I thought this a good idea.  She didn’t buy a couch.  But they spent much time saying what needed to be done on the house – they said we needed new siding (which we do, but can’t afford).  It was just incredibly frustrating to me – Sir had just gone through a major transplant surgery and they were saying where we should spend money – but we didn’t have it too spend.

Now I know it doesn’t sound like I’m grateful.  I truly am.  I just was very frustrated that FIL promised financial help and MIL didn’t allow it.  And then they were criticizing how our house is – when we don’t have the means to make changes.  

Okay venting over.  Big Deep Breath.

Now I look at my husband.  This husband who has energy, feels good and comes walking into the house and smiles at me.  I get to enjoy him for many years to come.  I didn’t think I would have that. 

Thank You, God, for your provisions.

Thank you Doug and Julie for your generous hearts. 

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