August 11

Jesus loves you--this I know.

Before you were born, Daddy and I weren't far from living paycheck to paycheck. When we found out you were on the way, I panicked because I didn't have any health insurance. Daddy and I had only gotten married seven weeks before, and we hadn't yet signed me on to his plan. But God worked out a way; I was covered before the pregnancy was confirmed by the doctor and it wasn't considered a preexisting condition. Still there was the cost of diapers and supplies, baby furniture, maybe formula...babies aren't cheap! I knew God wouldn't give you to us and the not give us a way to take care of you. But as the weeks and then months ticked away, doubt crept in and I began to get anxious.

In the month before your birth it all came together. We got a large tax refund, stimulus check, I closed on two houses, and received a surprise inheritance check. With this money we paid my OB bill, prepaid the hospital for your delivery, outfitted your nursery, paid off our credit card debt and had a little extra to put towards savings. I was completely aware of how God provided for you financially. So why this weekend, when we were faced with another overwhelming expense, did I worry?

Your in home medical equipment is outrageously expensive--$2000 a month for a BP monitor, suction machine, G-Tube pump and ostomy bag supplies. Our insurance (although we are so grateful we have any at all) will only provide $1000 annually. That leaves Dad and I with a bill larger than our mortgage! All day I have been looking for another option, such as assistance programs or a way to move our insurance benefits around. No dice. The doctors decided we could do without the BP monitor as long as I go into the pediatrician several times a week, possibly daily, for you to be checked. That saves $700 monthly. The rest of the bill from that particular medical supplier is about $500 and will be covered by insurance for the next two months. A different medical supplier is renting us the rest of the equipment for $750. When I called to work out a payment plan, I was told the bill would need to be paid in full by 5:00 today if we wanted to go home tomorrow. I started to protest, requesting at least 24 hours to decide how to pay for it all. The lady put me on hold for so long I eventually hung up. But when she called back, she said the most amazing words I heard all day.

"It will be $150 a month, how would you like to pay?"

I needed her to repeat it. When she did, I didn't ask questions. I just said a stunned "Thank you Jesus!" and took care of the payment. Our out of pocket expenses for the next two months just went from $2000 to $150 in a matter of hours. This buys us some time to apply for a program which our case worker told us about and should provide an enormous help in the years to come. God is so good.

Tomorrow I take seven prescriptions to the pharmacy. Two are compounded and I have been told they won't be accepted by insurance. I am expecting a miracle.