Ivy's
Story, it could be you. “Be Alert. Your body and mind will tell you when something is wrong.”
“You
have Cancer.”
I
knew it, but it sucks when it is confirmed. I had just signed up for
medical insurance to comply with the law; after I had stopped paying
a while back. My name is Ivy, I retired from my job of twenty-five
years and I was paying for medical insurance, but it was expensive.
After two years, I stopped because I could no longer afford it, and
maintain my bills at the time.
All
the years that I had insurance and went to my regular exams, I have
very limited medical issues. Now I am facing breast cancer surgery
in the coming up weeks. I had signed up for the very least cost for
medical, thinking I was in good heath. No one thinks about getting
sick or is prepared for the cost. I found out that I have limited,
which means forty percent of the cost will be mine.
When
I signed up for medical insurance, they contact at me for a regular
mammogram, afterward they ask me to come for another. I had not
noticed anything different about my breast, so I thought they were
just trying to milk me for money. The third time they said I needed
to have a biopsy. My family and tried to assure me that it could be
other things besides cancer, but in the back of my mind, I knew.
Since then things have been moving fast, surgery was scheduled with
in weeks and push it back when I found out about the cost. I also
had a problem with my blood pressure being elevated. That was my one
medical issue from the past.
My
original had a plan was to retire and start a new career going. I
wanted to be a teacher and artist; however, I settled in between by
writing or blogging for many different reasons. Unfortunately only
God knew the real plan. I need to stop working to care for my aging
mother who also had breast cancer, heart problems, and many other
medical issues, and help care for my brother who is disabled and has
been in a wheelchair since 18 years of age. He cannot get full-time
care provided. He has no wife or children of his own. I have never
married and only have one child. The money I received from my
retirement goes toward household expense which we struggle to pay
each month.
I
helped a friend raise money for the cancer walk, not knowing that it
would be me one day. It was just one of the ways that I have help
others. I volunteer with my church homeless ministry, and have help
when my mother was doing work in her church. I believe that the fact
the cancer was found at this stage of my life, it was God guiding me
in the right direction. Obviously, anyone can have cancer; I
don't know the outcome of mine. I could have continued with my life
and not known I had cancer in my body as so many people do until it
too late.
What
does it mean when you are the link that is holding it all together,
when things happen?
How
will I be able to pay for medical expenses and maintain the household
expenses? Who will care for me and take care of my family while I am
recovering? There will be exams before and after the surgery, that I
have put off because I am unable to pay. I will have weeks of daily
radiation that will be another cost, along with future medical
appointment. I have heard from others who have had cancer than it
will be months or years to recovery. There are certain things that I
will need, including additional help for the three of us.
However,
I am hoping to make a full recovery and continue helping my family.
Please help, I will be grateful for anything that you can give to
help offset the medical and home expenses during this time.
Furthermore, pass it on to someone whom you may know that gives to
cancer, and may be will to help. Let someone who needs to think about
being prepared for the unexpected for their family and themselves. I
had a couple of co-workers that tried to work while taking cancer
treatment, neither one made it. I hope you can help.
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