A story of our good God who provides in ways that shouldn't surprise us, but they always do:
Paul was sent home from the hospital with a 2-week prescription for his antibiotic, but most pharmacies don't even carry it. We had been told that he would get liquid because the pills are extremely expensive.
When I called our local pharmacy on Sunday afternoon, the pharmacist said they couldn't even get the liquid, but she also looked up our insurance and said that if we got the pills, we were only covered for 20 (out of the 56 he would need). The words "maximum allowable amount" were uttered at some point in the conversation. The nurse at the hospital gave us enough doses of liquid on Sunday to get through the night, and then we had to go back to the hospital yesterday to have the prescription filled there instead.
As Paul picked it up yesterday, he was very surprised that they had given him the pills instead of the liquid. He asked the pharmacist about it and found out that they had called the insurance to override the limit. He paid the $12 co-pay and left the pharmacy, still wondering at the change. As we stood in the lobby of the hospital looking at the label, we realized that it showed our co-pay and also showed the complete cost of the medication. We were absolutely stunned.
Total cost of 56 pills: $3,703.06
Cost to us: $12
Unbelievable, unbelievable, unbelievable.
The words all string together in my mind-- "Consider the lilies of the fields... are you not of much more value than the sparrows... take no thought for tomorrow... Your Heavenly Father knows that you have need of these things..."
...even antibiotics.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Home (Again)
Just a brief update to let everyone know that Paul was discharged this afternoon. He will continue the antibiotic at home and follow up with his doctors in the next few weeks.
The Lord has been so gracious to us. Yesterday while I was at the hospital, four ladies came and cleaned my house. They left the house cleaner than it has been in weeks! What a blessing to come home from the hospital to a clean house. We were also given two meals in the last two days, and we have been given several grocery gift cards. I am overwhelmed at the way the Lord is providing.
Many thanks to everyone for all of the prayers and love extended. We are continuing to pray that God would completely heal Paul from this infection, and today we are very thankful that the Lord has brought him back home...again!
The Lord has been so gracious to us. Yesterday while I was at the hospital, four ladies came and cleaned my house. They left the house cleaner than it has been in weeks! What a blessing to come home from the hospital to a clean house. We were also given two meals in the last two days, and we have been given several grocery gift cards. I am overwhelmed at the way the Lord is providing.
Many thanks to everyone for all of the prayers and love extended. We are continuing to pray that God would completely heal Paul from this infection, and today we are very thankful that the Lord has brought him back home...again!
Friday, January 27, 2012
C. Diff...icult to Get Rid Of
After a day of consults and cultures, we have a diagnosis. The C. diff. is back. Paul finished a two-week regimen of the other antibiotic, but that has obviously not done the job. He is now being given the big gun- vancomycin.
We saw a host of doctors today-- from MD's to Surgeons to Infectious Disease Specialists. Even before the culture came back positive, they were all saying the same thing.
The good news is that Paul's symptoms have an explanation, a treatment, a possible end. That is something we don't take for granted. The other good news is that they can mix the vancomycin liquid with orange juice to make it more palatable. Paul is extremely thankful for that.
If he does not develop a fever again and if his symptoms seem to be improving, they could possibly send him home tomorrow. We won't know anything until the doctors come around again. I guess we will see in the morning.
I am home with the kids tonight, but I spoke to Paul a little bit ago and he at least sounded a little brighter. That was a good sound after some long days. We so appreciate all of the prayers being offered up on our behalf.
So on we plod, into another day of waiting and praying...
...being held by the One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in whose book were written all the days of our lives when as yet there were none of them.
We saw a host of doctors today-- from MD's to Surgeons to Infectious Disease Specialists. Even before the culture came back positive, they were all saying the same thing.
The good news is that Paul's symptoms have an explanation, a treatment, a possible end. That is something we don't take for granted. The other good news is that they can mix the vancomycin liquid with orange juice to make it more palatable. Paul is extremely thankful for that.
If he does not develop a fever again and if his symptoms seem to be improving, they could possibly send him home tomorrow. We won't know anything until the doctors come around again. I guess we will see in the morning.
I am home with the kids tonight, but I spoke to Paul a little bit ago and he at least sounded a little brighter. That was a good sound after some long days. We so appreciate all of the prayers being offered up on our behalf.
So on we plod, into another day of waiting and praying...
...being held by the One who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and in whose book were written all the days of our lives when as yet there were none of them.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Back to the Hospital- January 26
Paul is in the hospital again tonight. He has been suffering with a bad cold, but he began to have more abdominal pain and some other digestive symptoms. I called the surgeon's office this morning and talked with the dear nurse that has been such a tremendous blessing to us (May God richly bless Kathy). They planned to have us come in this afternoon, but later decided to have Paul go to the hospital for a CT scan first. I was driving Paul to the hospital when he suddenly got light-headed and passed out.
By God's grace, I was less than a minute from the hospital, so I pulled into the ER drive, ran in, and got some help. By the time they came out with the gurney, Paul was beginning to come to consciousness again. A few minutes later he was fully responsive.
We spent the afternoon at the ER. They did tests and a CT scan and discovered that the side of his colon opposite the surgery site is inflamed. They have no idea why this has happened. He will be evaluated tomorrow by the surgeon, a GI doctor, and possibly an infectious disease doctor. We have no idea if he will come home tomorrow or if he will stay longer.
It is a tremendous blow to hear this news. We have been so hopeful that Paul's surgery would solve the problems that he has had for so long, but it seems as though there might be some other underlying problem.
Please pray for Paul. His body is still so weak, he is stressed and anxious about needing to work, and he is now discouraged at the possibility that the surgery may not be the end of the problems. We are thankful that the Lord is near to us, even in these difficult days.
"Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."
God knows our frame and remembers that we are dust. Our flesh and our hearts may fail, but God is the strength of our hearts and our portion forever. That is my assurance tonight.
By God's grace, I was less than a minute from the hospital, so I pulled into the ER drive, ran in, and got some help. By the time they came out with the gurney, Paul was beginning to come to consciousness again. A few minutes later he was fully responsive.
We spent the afternoon at the ER. They did tests and a CT scan and discovered that the side of his colon opposite the surgery site is inflamed. They have no idea why this has happened. He will be evaluated tomorrow by the surgeon, a GI doctor, and possibly an infectious disease doctor. We have no idea if he will come home tomorrow or if he will stay longer.
It is a tremendous blow to hear this news. We have been so hopeful that Paul's surgery would solve the problems that he has had for so long, but it seems as though there might be some other underlying problem.
Please pray for Paul. His body is still so weak, he is stressed and anxious about needing to work, and he is now discouraged at the possibility that the surgery may not be the end of the problems. We are thankful that the Lord is near to us, even in these difficult days.
"Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."
God knows our frame and remembers that we are dust. Our flesh and our hearts may fail, but God is the strength of our hearts and our portion forever. That is my assurance tonight.
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Still Needing Prayer
Paul is still really needing prayer. He came down with some type of respiratory infection or cold over the weekend and has a terrible cough. He has been unable to sleep, so he is exhausted. He is also feeling the pressure of needing to start working again, as it has been almost 4 weeks since his surgery.
Will you please pray that God would heal him completely from this terrible cough and restore his strength? Will you also pray that the Lord will provide for our family while Paul is recovering? As February looms ahead, I know that nothing is impossible with God.
"Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid..." John 14:27
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Sunday Update on Paul
It has been awhile since I updated everyone on Paul's recovery, so I thought I would quickly let everyone know that he is improving and getting stronger each day! He started driving again this past Friday, and he went to church this morning for the first time since his surgery. I think the trip to church wore him out, because he is out on the recliner sound asleep as I type this post! I know it will be awhile before he has his complete stamina back, but he is eating well and feeling pretty well, aside from some occasional discomfort if he sits up straight for too long.
One other note-- The pathology report from the section of colon they removed determined that Paul had perforated diverticulitis with an abscess outside his colon. It is rare for someone Paul's age to have diverticulitis, but we are thankful for a definitive report after 2 1/2 years of not knowing what was wrong. The surgeon believes that Paul should make a full recovery now that the severely inflamed portion of his colon has been removed. It is also further confirmation that the surgery was indeed necessary. We are thankful that the Lord kept that abscess from bursting, as that would have been extremely dangerous to Paul.
Please continue to pray for a complete healing and recovery. The surgeon said it generally takes six to eight weeks for most people to feel completely "normal", and this last Friday was the three-week mark. Paul is going to start trying to get back to work this week, and we would ask that you pray that the Lord would provide more business for his law practice. He will also be sending out some resumes to explore what other job opportunities there might be. We are trusting the Lord to provide for our family, but it can be difficult to wait and walk by faith without becoming anxious and sinking into sinful worry.
On this Lord's Day, we praise God for the healing work that He is doing in Paul's body, and we are very thankful that He is allowing Paul to feel stronger each day. We don't take this recovery for granted, and we are very grateful that the Lord would be so gracious to us.
Again, we say "thank you" to all of you for the prayers offered on our behalf!
One other note-- The pathology report from the section of colon they removed determined that Paul had perforated diverticulitis with an abscess outside his colon. It is rare for someone Paul's age to have diverticulitis, but we are thankful for a definitive report after 2 1/2 years of not knowing what was wrong. The surgeon believes that Paul should make a full recovery now that the severely inflamed portion of his colon has been removed. It is also further confirmation that the surgery was indeed necessary. We are thankful that the Lord kept that abscess from bursting, as that would have been extremely dangerous to Paul.
Please continue to pray for a complete healing and recovery. The surgeon said it generally takes six to eight weeks for most people to feel completely "normal", and this last Friday was the three-week mark. Paul is going to start trying to get back to work this week, and we would ask that you pray that the Lord would provide more business for his law practice. He will also be sending out some resumes to explore what other job opportunities there might be. We are trusting the Lord to provide for our family, but it can be difficult to wait and walk by faith without becoming anxious and sinking into sinful worry.
On this Lord's Day, we praise God for the healing work that He is doing in Paul's body, and we are very thankful that He is allowing Paul to feel stronger each day. We don't take this recovery for granted, and we are very grateful that the Lord would be so gracious to us.
Again, we say "thank you" to all of you for the prayers offered on our behalf!
Sunday, January 15, 2012
2011 in Pictures
With all of the health-related posts lately, I decided it was time for something a bit more light-hearted-- some pictures of a few of the highlights from last year! Here is our year in review-- new cakes, time with cousins, a trip to Colorado...
...and a few flowers (simply because I think that life is too short not to take pictures of flowers)!
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| Oma and Opa at the Krueger family get-together in Omaha last January! |
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| The Krueger cousins (minus my new niece Naomi who was born in February!) with Opa and Uncle Erich. |
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| Micah's Broncos football helmet birthday cake! |
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| Sarah's bumble bee birthday cake! |
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| Can they really be 8 already? |
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| Paul's mom with the Streetman cousins and a brand new cousin named Tommy, who weighed almost 11 lbs! |
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| Streetman Cousin Spring Break Trip to Great Wolf Lodge! |
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| No cake for Isaac's 6th-- He just wanted a cherry pie! |
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| Bleeding hearts in my front yard. |
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| A trip to Colorado in June included much time in the mountains! |
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| Bear Lake with Hallett Peak in the background |
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| Hiking around Bear Lake in June.... in the snow! |
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| Hiking up to Alberta Falls. |
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| Up at the top of Alberta Falls |
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| Notice the view! |
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| Notice the hair! |
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| Getting the Junior Ranger badges from the park ranger |
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| Oma and Opa at the top of Trail Ridge Road |
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| Celestial Seasonings Tea Factory in Boulder |
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| What a surprise-- Denver has an American Girl Store! Sarah was thrilled! |
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| Silly boys! |
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| With Opa at Invesco Field at Mile High. Afterward the boys went to Coors field to see the Rockies play the Tigers. |
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| Oma and Sarah in front of Oma's beautiful clematis! |
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| Lovin' Colorado! |
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| Tart cherries from our little tree-- enough for two pies! |
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| Mommy's birthday wish? A family day at a Tiger's game! |
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| Kids run the bases! Too fun! |
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| Our little ballerina! |
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| YMCA Baseball for Isaac and Micah |
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| Micah's our little sports guy-- He also played flag football this fall! |
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| Fishing on Great Grandma's dock in August! |
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| So patient! |
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| Josiah's 11th birthday-- a moose cake! |
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| Making progress on learning to sew! |
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| Teaching my girl to sew too! |
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| Her feet don't even hit the floor, so we had to boost up the foot pedal! |
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| New glasses! |
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| Merry Christmas 2011! |
God is so good!
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