Tuesday, March 12, 2013

It's been a while, but here's the latest


This will be a bit lengthy, but I wanted to give everyone an update. I have one more chemo treatment to go. These chemo treatments have taken a toll on my body, affecting my red blood cell counts & causing anemia. This means my energy levels are low, which leads to me not being able to maintain the pace of my "normal" pre-chemo life. Since my latest diagnosis in September I have been on short term disability, and have not been working. My short term disability was scheduled to end on 3/11, so a decision had to be made as to whether I apply for long term disability or return to full time work. Since I still have a good portion of this battle ahead of me, my doctor felt I should apply for long term disability to get me through this last leg of the journey. Thankfully, I was approved! I'm so thankful to have that coverage! There were a few downsides to the approval of the long term disability: 1) My pay would only be a portion of what I normally bring home. 2) My employment was terminated because I had exhausted my short term disability leave benefit and was not able to return to work and perform my job duties.  I applied for long term disability leave benefits and was approved. I could not be an employee and receive disability. 3) I would now have to pay for COBRA since I can't get insured on my own for other medical needs outside of the cancer. I do have coverage on all cancer related items for 1 year...PRAISE GOD! 
It was very hard to end my time with my company. I had been there since graduating college, almost 15 years ago. However, I know that God has a plan and a purpose for everything! He has proven Himself faithful in meeting all my needs. I still have a major surgery ahead of me and radiation. I'm going to take this time I have to focus on getting 100% well, so I can be ready for whatever the next step is that God has for me. Things happen in our lives and sometimes they don't make sense or they are hard to understand, but we each HAVE A CHOICE in how we deal with them...we can let them make us bitter or better! I choose BETTER!!!!