The Half-Million Dollar Man aka the bionic pinkie

Just figuring in my head I would have to say that since January of this year the medical bills have come very close, if not actually over 500,000. The one time in ICU in February was over 50,000. He's been hospitalized 14 times total. Four ambulance rides. Numerous CT scans, surgical biopsy, x-rays, procedures, lab tests and enough medicines to supply a pharmacy of a small third world country. I figure that's enough for a bionic pinkie.

So today we were informed that the medicine Steve needs to have for 5 days before surgery is not covered. The price tag is $800. This medicine, Lovenox is an injectible blood thinner that he must have in place of the coumadin. Both drugs work differently, the coumadin could cause him to bleed too much during surgery.

If he cannot get the Lovenox the surgery gets canceled. If the surgery gets canceled the likelihood is high he will return to the ER again and again and again and again. He has only been released from the ER once, only to return an hour later and be admitted to the ICU. When I spoke with his doctor yesterday about getting the prescription called in she did say that sometimes insurance does not like to pay. She called it in early so she/we have time to work it out with them. Steve also has a call in to the HR guy at work. I would hope that an appeal to common sense would have them see that covering this medicine would be very cost effective in the long run. I'm not worried.

It's kind of interesting that there have been numerous obstacles to making it to the surgery that have come up this week. I'm not sure what it's all about but I have to trust that if this is what we are supposed to be doing God is going to make a way and it will all work out.

Steve went back to work on Tuesday and so far he's doing ok. Not great, but ok. He really needed to be there and get back into routine. Emotions can also play a role in vocal cord dysfunction and being home worrying about what was happening at his job has not helped. He comes home very tired but definitely in good spirits. He does not fear for his job as much as he was. He says they pretty much weren't doing it and are very relieved to have him back. He will be off the week of surgery but the doctors said if all goes as expected there is no reason he cannot return the following Monday.