Rhio O’Connor’s story is inspirational because he overcame many obstacles to live beyond the one year that doctors gave as a prognosis. In fact, O’Connor lived more than six years with mesothelioma. It is a cancer caused by being exposed to or inhaling asbestos. The disease develops in the protective lining that covers the internal organs within the body from malignant (deadly, spreadable) cells that form in the mesothelium. That is why the cancer is called mesothelioma. It is a disease that should’ve taken O’Connor’s life within one year of the diagnosis, according to the doctors.
The amazing factor about O’Connor’s story is that he exemplifies the reason why people should believe in themselves, hope for a better tomorrow, and have faith it will happen. Rhio O’Connor utilized every tool possible to live. This included seeking advice from doctors and other patients, researching information, engaging in therapeutic activities, etc. No matter how difficult the situation became, O’Connor maintained a positive attitude and lived a full life until his very last breath. More information on O’Connor’s bravery as he battled “mesothelioma” can be accessed at the website: http://www.survivingmesothelioma.com/.
In terms of how I would face a situation like O’Connor’s, well, currently there is a battle in my own life with a brain tumor. Whereas O’Connor’s story is heartwarming, mine is one where I face each obstacle on a daily basis. My circumstances do not include a malignant tumor. However, any situation where a person is dealing with sickness on their brain, it is a dangerous one.
I was diagnosed in October 2001 with a noncancerous brain tumor. At that time, doctors told me it was too life threatening to go in my brain and remove the tumor. They said a surgery could cause permanent brain damage that led to loss of mobility. And since the tumor was small and nonmalignant, they thought it best to try and shrink it out through medicine anyway.
When I was first diagnosed, they referred me to a psychologist. People immediately think this is a bad thing. For me, it was a way to discuss the problems that my sickness created. An example is the fact I have nine siblings. They said they would always be there for me. Yet, when I got sick, as each year passed, their involvement in my life has become rare. For years some of my siblings considered me to be a sort of superwoman, someone who could do anything. If this was the case, then the brain tumor has been my kryptonite because now I struggle to walk without pain.
Since sickness normally comes with a lot of hurting, medicine is involved. When I was first diagnosed, doctors put me on six different medicines, including Zoloft for depression. At the time, I had no income. Due to this factor, I had to improvise. For example, the medicine for my brain tumor cost me almost $90 every two weeks. I told doctors the medicine was costly and plus it was causing me to vomit. The doctors reduced my medicine intake by one-half. This led to me purchasing a 30-day supply of medicine for only $90 once per month versus buying a 15-day supply two times per month at double the cost. Another area where I eliminated the cost of medicine totally was to take the free samples of medicine from the psychologist. Just ask your doctor for free samples. If none are available, tell the doctor to prescribe a generic brand. By doing so, a person can purchase medicine for $4 at their local retail or grocery store that includes a pharmacy area.
A person who gets a disease such as cancer or a brain tumor will need access to both doctors and hospitals on a regular basis, especially in the first few years of treatments. For me, places such as UAMS, Little Rock, Arkansas provided a grant that enabled me to get free treatment with $25 co-pay (per department) every time I saw the doctor. They don’t just offer this service to you, a person must request it. Nevertheless, transportation to and from the hospital costs me up to $150 to get someone to drive me to UAMS, Little Rock, Arkansas.
In terms of my own situation with a brain tumor, the psychologist told me it might be an ongoing problem. He refused to sign the papers for me to go back to work at that time because I did not know how to handle employment with a brain tumor. As a result, I was encouraged to apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). It is a fixed income of social security that the government pays to individuals who have worked on a job in the past but become unable to work through a disability. Due to the fact my psychologist knew the right people, my social security was expedited.
Within a nine month timeframe, I began receiving $479 per month in benefits. The process normally takes two to three years. If a person has any assets worth over $2,000 at the time they began receiving SSDI, they are ineligible to receive an additional check from Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Just because my name was on the property with my father’s, I could only receive the disability income but not the SSI. More information on this topic and even how you can retain disability benefits while working can be obtained at the Social Security website.
So, now let’s talk about health insurance. What can be done when you have no income and therefore limited access to health insurance? In my situation, I contacted the local Department of Humans Services (DHS) office. They were able to provide information on how I could utilize a three month spin-down through Medicaid. Basically, if you have no income, this program is easily accessible. They take three months worth of your income and add it together. If your hospital bills exceed that amount, then they are paid and you are given a 90 day Medicaid card to present to the hospital or clinic at the time of your appointments. Providing your income is more than the hospital bills, you become ineligible for the program. In the event there are children under the age of 18 years old living with you, programs such as ARKids First exist to cover their medical problems as well. Again, ask your local DHS office for more information. They can also help you receive Emergency Food Stamps and employment training as well.
Remember that the sickness might alter your life, but you can still live. I exercise in my home and try to eat healthy. When I’m tired and need energy, I take those 5 hour energy shots or a supplement made out of the pulp from 12 different fruits called Xango. Since my knees hurt and I have severe headaches where I cannot go to church all the time. I attend classes online at a Christian university. Biblical scriptures are incorporated into every course and I am required to discuss scriptures in my assignments as well. I don’t eat three meals daily due to costs. However, an alternative to one meal is a granola bar that contains Omega 3 and protein.
Another situation I face is that people, including friends and family, seldom visit me. So I sometimes go to the local pawnshop, credit union, or grocery store and talk to the supervisors. It’s a way to stay in contact with reality. Also, I am not able to spend money at a movie theater or an occasional fancy restaurant. To accommodate this need, from time to time I order a pizza and visit free online tv websites (Hulu, TVOne Online, Trutv, Lifetime, etc.) that can be accessed through most Internet search engines.
Keep in mind that few people make plans to become sick. However, it is something many people face everyday. There are many expenses associated with sickness and even more when people treat you with a “do it yourself” attitude. Live life to the fullest, even if it must be done while dealing with sickness.
-written by Christine E. Jones
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