06/22/2012
Hello Everyone,
As I sit here pondering the events that have transpired over the last several months, I can’t help but feel a bit overwhelmed by how quickly time has passed! During those few precious moments I am able to steal some quiet time alone, my thoughts are filled with gratitude for all of you who have faithfully stood by me and have held me up in prayer as I continue to fight what seems at times to be a hopeless cause. I apologize for the delay in updating all of you as to what has been happening and would like to take the opportunity to do so now. As always, I am not even sure where to begin.
A few months ago, I had to have a hysterectomy. While this is never a choice a woman wants to be faced with, sometimes it is the only option left. Such was the case with me. I was informed by the surgeon that they found something “suspicious” while I was in surgery. He went on to state that during the operation, they removed some tissue and sent it to the pathologist for further inspection. They concluded that it presented itself as “cancer”, but assured me they caught it in time and were able to remove it all.
Sometime afterward, my heart started to “act up” again to the point where Bradley and I had to make an emergency flight out to Arizona so I could have more surgery. So, on April 3rd, we found ourselves heading back out to our “second home”. I went in for surgery on the 4th. While there, Dr. Seifert had to go back and “re-treat” some places that he had dealt with before. This involved having to cauterize previously treated areas. Unfortunately, he also found three new areas of concern and took care of those, too. As it turns out, what should have been a two hour surgery actually turned into 6 hours!!!! While things went as well as could be expected (considering the circumstances), I was still having severe chest pains even after the surgery was over. I think you can probably see where I am going with this. Yes……I had to go back in for yet another procedure on Thursday of the same week to have my pacemaker replaced as it had started to wear out on me. (Imagine that. I actually wore out my pacemaker! I wonder if that has anything to do with the fact that I am always busy doing something and refuse to slow down…..?) All I can say is they’d better keep improving on those things because I fully intend to outlast this one, too!!!!
As some of you may or may not know, during a previous visit here, a pulmonologist detected nodules on my lungs. Upon further investigation, it was determined that I have developed a condition commonly known as hystoplasmosis. This is similar to a condition called Valley Fever. The doctor believes this was something I contracted years ago as a child, but because of the treatments I receive for my autoimmune disease, my body’s immune system has been compromised which may have caused it to go from being dormant to actively spreading. I am currently on medication to address this. If this does not help stop the development of these nodules, the next step will involve actual removal of the affected lung lobe. I am very conflicted as to what to do with this situation as the medication for my heart is not compatible with the medication for my lung issues, and yet I need it to help control the spread of the nodules.
Since the benefit, Bradley and I have had to make at least 8-10 trips back to Arizona for various medical treatments, consults, etc. These visits have been difficult but necessary as my condition is so rare and few people are trained in this specialized area. Dr. Seifert has truly been a divine intervention and only one of God’s many answers to our situation. We don’t know what we would do without him.
I wish I could tell you that things have improved in regards to our dealings with the insurance, but unfortunately, this has not been the case. We have finally been forced to seek legal advice, but this too has been a struggle. We keep getting tied up with bureaucratic red tape and are getting nowhere fast. We were told it would be an “easy win” initially if we were to pursue a lawsuit, but as time has passed, it seems like we aren’t getting any closer to resolving this issue. We keep being told we are going up against a formidable foe by trying to take on the Ford Motor Corporation and Humana Insurance. They will not give us anything in writing that spells out what their responsibilities are in regards to our insurance policy in general. This has been very frustrating for us as well as other Ford employees because the doctors covered by the plan seem to change with each visit. In addition to that, we are never sure what our financial obligations are because we have not received any type of handbook providing this information.
While I have many other “war stories” I could share, I decided to pick out only the “highlights”. I have to be honest about something, though. It has been incredibly difficult to keep facing each day because of everything I have had to deal with. Yet, even in my darkest moments, I praise God and lift Him up for His mercy. He, above all others, has helped me to endure these trials. It is also He who has graciously blessed our lives with all of you who are so very dear to us. It continues to amaze us how our prayers are answered through friends, family and even strangers who just seem to know our needs.
I know I will have many more trials to face before this “race” is over, but I take comfort in knowing I am never alone. Thank you all for the support you have selflessly extended to my family and I, both financially and emotionally. We could never begin to express to all of you how much we love you, and how much you all mean to us. May God continue to bless you and lift you up in your own times of need just as He has so graciously done for my family and I.
Love you all!
The Anderson Family
