The information that is out there is very confusing but over and over, we were told to check out MD Anderson and Moffitt. We set up an appointment with MD Anderson (our doctors already work with Moffitt so we feel like we are getting the benefit they can provide already). The appointment was set for this past Friday in the morning. Thursday morning we got our kids ready for school, packed our bags and headed out...thank you, Jesus, that we had a few tasks to complete before we could leave town. After a trip to the post office and bank, we headed to the gas station to fill up. Our tank was almost full when I heard Jeff's phone ring. Then I heard, "Really? Well, I gave you that information a month ago...(long pause), so you are saying that we shouldn't come...we cannot be treated there? Ok, thank you." He returned to the car and said, "Well, so much for that, we are going home." Wait, back up the dog...what do you mean we are going home? No, we are not! We are going to get a second opinion!
Long story short, our insurance would not agree to cover any expenses at MDA so we were in fact NOT GOING. From here the day grew a little comical. Jeff made a call to our insurance company to find out what the problem was. The lady on the other end explained to him that our policy was actually a HMO policy and that they "only cover treatment in Florida facilities". Ok, MDA is in Orlando...you don't get anymore "Florida" than Orlando!!! Oh, but we don't cover MDA! We DO cover 53 hospitals in Florida and you can certainly seek treatment from any of those. Ok, great...can you please give us the names of those facilities. Absolutely, please give us your zipcode (why does that matter?) So, he gives her our zipcode and she informs us that there are 2 hospitals that we can go to...Tallahassee Memorial and Capital Regional...are you kidding me??? He laughs, and then proceeds to tell her that we have already tapped into the best that Tallahassee has to offer...we need to see someone at a more specialized hospital...a facility that specializes in cancer research/treatment. So, she widens her search. After a few moments (and if she hadn't been on speaker phone I never would have believed it) she comes up with another (more hilarious) solution. She says, "Oh, I see here that there is another facility in your area! (She was very excited!) You can go to um, Calhoun-Liberty General in Blountstown, FL!" Now, if you work there, this is NOT a slam on you...but exactly which general practicioner did she want us to seek a second opinion from? I was born in this hospital (back when they still delivered babies), but now if you have more than a cold or a simple broken bone, you are NOT going to seek treatment at this facility. For those of you who don't live in this area, I've included a picture!
It was at this point that we just began to laugh. Okay God, we get it...we understand that our faith cannot be in any MAN's opinion...only in His!
We are now unsure of what where we will go. We are still pursuing a couple of options. But this we understand. God will open the door or doors He wants us to go through...we will NOT kick them down. We have an incredible peace that He has this under control and that He will heal Jeff. It is an indescrible peace that even if I used every word in my limited vocabulary, I could not find the right words to make you understand.
We have been so blessed! Yesterday, our communtiy had a benefit on our behalf. The numbers are still coming in but so far several thousand dollars have been raised to help with our medical expenses. While that blows us away, the love that has been shown to us is even more special...you can't put a pricetag on that. We have been overwhelmed by the friends and family who pray for us everyday. People who just call or email or facebook us, just to say, we are praying for you...and you know that they mean it. We are blessed beyond measure! Pressed down, shaken together and RUNNING OVER!
Our God is awesome! He has a sense of humor and keeps us laughing even in the most tense situations. He is faithful, even when we are faithless! No matter how bad our situation gets (or yours), if we will take time to look, we can see God's hand of blessing in the midst of it. Oh God, help me to always look for your hand...without it, life is meanless and mundane. But with it, I can face any storm!
Oh, and by the way...why do we NEED a second opinion anyway? God says he is healed! Anything else is an "opinion" but when God says it...it is a FACT---Jack!
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