Saturday, December 2nd, 2006

After having breakfast, I got all my medicine out this afternoon and checked each off the list as I took the required doses out of the vials. I took the medicine with a prayer for it all to work. My sister LeiLani sent this prayer to me;
Almighty and Eternal God,
You are the everlasting health of those who believe in You.
Hear us for Your sick servant, Donna, for whom we implore the aid of Your tender mercy, that being restored to bodily health; she will be able to give You thanks, through Christ our Lord.
I have received many email messages from my IAWP colleagues and friends. In addition, the board sent a beautiful Dieffenbachia plant with a “Get Well” balloon. It is very much appreciated by me and thoughtful of them to send their show of support in this manner.
My Mom called Friday to say that she has included my prayer intention on the prayer list in her church and several of her Garden Club members have done the same. I can feel the healing prayers.
My Niece, Laine has sent some quotes to me because she will not be out-done by other family members. The last sentence she wrote, I thought was a quote and laughed when I realized it was her way of saying she had to one-up the rest of the lovely quotes I have received and about which I have written. Here is her submission:
"We can let circumstances rule us, or we can take charge and rule our lives from within.” -Earl Nightingale
Great advice, if I ever heard any!
Donnie & I “celebrated” our wedding anniversary on November 30th, (23 + 4 years, if you know what I mean.) He gave me a dozen beautiful red roses that have really opened up today.
Therefore, I have a display in the living room and in the kitchen to admire every time I pass by them. They are very uplifting!
I haven’t felt too much difference since taking the medicine cocktail today. It’d be nice if this continued. I read the pamphlet that came with the Thalidomide and they suggest taking it an hour after dinner. I think that this may be the way to go. I will start taking it at night tomorrow evening and see how I respond to it. I have started down that long road…

Thursday/Friday November 30/December 1, 2006

I spent these two days working with the doctor's office, the pharmacy, my prescription insurance carrier, and the drug manufacturer to obtain the needed oral chemo medicine at a feasible cost. Originally, I was informed that this medicine costs $4000.00 a month. Our secondary pharmacy insurance carrier submitted the request and came back with my co-pay of $1500.00. Uh, a little steep even for one who wants to live. My primary insurance returned with a co-pay of $998.00. No wonder people chose to forego treatment! I guess this is what they mean when they refer to the under-insured or the insured poor. So, Thursday ended on a low note knowing the medicine was at the pharmacy, but just out of reach financially.
On Friday, more phone calls by my pharmacy technician, Izzy, and me. She has been in contact with all of the same people I was calling. At about 4:30 PM, Izzy called me to say that she had gotten an approval from my primary pharmacy insurance carrier to provide the medicine at a co-pay of just $15.00. That's right, negotiations were successful!
After work, I stopped and picked up the medicine. I had the beginning of the treatment for this cancer in my hand. Saturday would be the day.