Re: Going Broke To Stay Alive

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/24/2006 8:04:37 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,

cheryl.simoneau@... writes:

Thornton pays a premium of $388 per month to cover his wife, Betty, and

himself. Still, his co-pays total hundreds of dollars each month for these

three drugs. He also has co-pays for pain killers, antinausea medication,

and doctors' bills. " I try to stay focused on my health, but it's easy to

slide into depression, " he says.

This is all too true unfortunately. And when you add the mix of losing one's

ability to provide for the family, not being able to work due to side

effects of drugs, it is even more frightening.

Just this month alone, even with a hefty insurance payment for family plan

of $760 per month, I have shelled out over $500 for prescriptions already.

Also, just keeping the house warm so that my bone pain can be tolerated is

killing us with high heating costs, (otherwise I would not need the heat

turned up nor would I be here during the day, I'd be out working.)

Just last week I said to my father, " Dad, it is costing too much for me to

be here. I do not contribute to society in that I don't have a job, it is

costing us way too much for health insurance, and I now have to have someone

come

help me with the house because I am too tired to keep it all up on my own,

so I to pay someone else to do the things I'd knock out in a day or two. "

Sometimes, I feel just like letting go. Let nature do its thing and lift the

burden from my family. If only the girls' father were alive, then I'd do

just that. But they need me emotionally I think. Financially, I am not going to

be in a position to help them in the future. And, I know many other people

who are in this same situation, even without cancer. My girlfriend Vicki could

not afford insurance, she is a single mom of two. She got a lump on her

breast and had to pay $4,000 for treatment, which has set her back a long time,

as she had just started a business. It ruined her credit also, for she could

not pay it on time and thus lost her house, her car, etc. It is just not fair.

I am very lucky to have a husband, health insurance, I know, but it still

places a tremendous burden on my family. Thanks for the article, Cheryl, it

does hit the nail right on the head. - Lynne A.

[Guest guest]

Lynne,

I don't post often these days, though I've been following the group

since about 1998 (is that right?), as my Dad was dx'd in 1997.

Your letter touched me so deeply. Thank you for sharing your heart

with us all, as you have so freely over the years.

Peace,

Zencka

St. , IN

--- MoonQn1@... wrote:

---------------------------------

In a message dated 1/24/2006 8:04:37 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,

cheryl.simoneau@... writes:

Thornton pays a premium of $388 per month to cover his wife, Betty,

and

himself. Still, his co-pays total hundreds of dollars each month for

these

three drugs. He also has co-pays for pain killers, antinausea

medication,

and doctors' bills. " I try to stay focused on my health, but it's easy

to

slide into depression, " he says.

This is all too true unfortunately. And when you add the mix of losing

one's

ability to provide for the family, not being able to work due to side

effects of drugs, it is even more frightening.

Just this month alone, even with a hefty insurance payment for family

plan

of $760 per month, I have shelled out over $500 for prescriptions

already.

Also, just keeping the house warm so that my bone pain can be tolerated

is

killing us with high heating costs, (otherwise I would not need the

heat

turned up nor would I be here during the day, I'd be out working.)

Just last week I said to my father, " Dad, it is costing too much for

me to

be here. I do not contribute to society in that I don't have a job, it

is

costing us way too much for health insurance, and I now have to have

someone come

help me with the house because I am too tired to keep it all up on my

own,

so I to pay someone else to do the things I'd knock out in a day or

two. "

Sometimes, I feel just like letting go. Let nature do its thing and

lift the

burden from my family. If only the girls' father were alive, then I'd

do

just that. But they need me emotionally I think. Financially, I am not

going to

be in a position to help them in the future. And, I know many other

people

who are in this same situation, even without cancer. My girlfriend

Vicki could

not afford insurance, she is a single mom of two. She got a lump on

her

breast and had to pay $4,000 for treatment, which has set her back a

long time,

as she had just started a business. It ruined her credit also, for she

could

not pay it on time and thus lost her house, her car, etc. It is just

not fair.

I am very lucky to have a husband, health insurance, I know, but it

still

places a tremendous burden on my family. Thanks for the article,

Cheryl, it

does hit the nail right on the head. - Lynne A.

[Guest guest]

Hi Lynne,

Thanks for sharing your comments. As you know, I certainly agree

with you. In our case, we really have two issues:

1.) We recognize the need for Novartis to turn this " CML market "

into a profitable business in order to stiumlate research

2.) We need to review the pricing and business models being used as

they are putting medicine and important life saving drugs out of

reach for the patient.

I also worry that when a cure is finally found for this disease, if

my drug plan will have enough money in it to pay for it.

The best thing we can do is continue to share with one another, and

hopefully one day soon, we will be more of a part of the decision

making on how our money is being spent. If we have to spend so much

money on buying these drugs, then we should have a say on how the

money is spent on the additional research needed to find a cure.

Love, Light, Peace and Brightest blessings!

Cheryl

>

>

My girlfriend Vicki could

> not afford insurance, she is a single mom of two. She got a lump

on her

> breast and had to pay $4,000 for treatment, which has set her

back a long time,

> as she had just started a business. It ruined her credit also,

for she could

> not pay it on time and thus lost her house, her car, etc. It is

just not fair.

> I am very lucky to have a husband, health insurance, I know, but

it still

> places a tremendous burden on my family. Thanks for the article,

Cheryl, it

> does hit the nail right on the head. - Lynne A.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/31/2006 12:40:37 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,

suzzencka@... writes:

that right?), as my Dad was dx'd in 1997

, yes you have been on the group quite a long time, how is your dad

doing, by the way? And you are still ministering? Glad to see you post again.

Peace, Lynne A.

[Guest guest]

Hi Lynne,

Dad is doing very well, thanks for asking. Since his original dx, he has

also been successfully treated for prostate cancer. He is 78 and beginning to

show some frailties, but is basically well, and has been at zero for maybe 2

years?

Yes, I am still ministering -- in fact I just yesterday preached for a

congregation in Wisconsin who then voted to call me as their new pastor, so we

will be leaving Indiana and becoming Cheeseheads. Mercy. We are excited about

the move, and I am very excited about this congregation. Although goodbyes are

always hard, so the next month will have some challenges.

It's good to be in touch.

Peace,

MoonQn1@... wrote:

In a message dated 1/31/2006 12:40:37 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,

suzzencka@... writes:

that right?), as my Dad was dx'd in 1997

, yes you have been on the group quite a long time, how is your dad

doing, by the way? And you are still ministering? Glad to see you post again.

Peace, Lynne A.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 2/6/2006 7:42:36 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,

suzzencka@... writes:

He is 78 and beginning to show some frailties, but is basically well, and

has been at zero for maybe 2 years?

Yes, I am still ministering -- in fact I just yesterday preached for a

congregation in Wisconsin who then voted to call me as their new pastor, so we

will be leaving Indiana and becoming Cheeseheads. Mercy. We are excited

Good News all the way around! Congratulations, ! My stepdad's entire

family hales from Wisconsin and they loved living there. The people are all

so friendly.

My dad is a year younger than your dad and I still view him as a 50 year

old! He has been so lucky not to have been afflicted with anything, however,

since we are so close, he has aged so much over the past few years worrying

about me that I feel so guilty. I know 77 is up there but still, my dad is such

a young 77, had some prostate trouble also, but miraculously he headed it

off. Was your father an outdoorsperson before he became ill?

And will he be going with you to Wisconsin? - Lynne

[Guest guest]

Hi Lynne,

Good to hear about another young man in his 70's! No, Dad and Mom live in SE

Pennsylvania, where they will stay. And to have described him as having

'frailties' was misspeaking, for sure. His main issue (other than CML and

Gleevec side effects) is continuing neuropathy in his feet from the interferon

days. Gosh that drug beat him up horribly. Gleevec is such a gift!

Dad (like your stepDad) is very vigorous, very much an active outdoors

person. He goes to the gym multiple times weekly, and is much more fit than I

am! He is amazing. 2 hip replacements, 2 cancers, was hit by an SUV when

bike-riding...and he is still very very active. I am so blessed that my folks

are both so healthy and active! She, at 75, recently had a bout with bladder

cancer, and they are both poster kids for living (fully) with cancer and not

letting it beat you.

So, no, they are staying where they live, but they are as excited as we are

about the WI move, and will undoubtedly visit often!

Peace,

Z.

St. , IN (for now....)

MoonQn1@... wrote:

In a message dated 2/6/2006 7:42:36 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,

suzzencka@... writes:

He is 78 and beginning to show some frailties, but is basically well, and

has been at zero for maybe 2 years?

Yes, I am still ministering -- in fact I just yesterday preached for a

congregation in Wisconsin who then voted to call me as their new pastor, so

we

will be leaving Indiana and becoming Cheeseheads. Mercy. We are excited

Good News all the way around! Congratulations, ! My stepdad's entire

family hales from Wisconsin and they loved living there. The people are all

so friendly.

My dad is a year younger than your dad and I still view him as a 50 year

old! He has been so lucky not to have been afflicted with anything, however,

since we are so close, he has aged so much over the past few years worrying

about me that I feel so guilty. I know 77 is up there but still, my dad is

such

a young 77, had some prostate trouble also, but miraculously he headed it

off. Was your father an outdoorsperson before he became ill?

And will he be going with you to Wisconsin? - Lynne