The Way Maker Steps In

I can't count the number of times God stepped in and made a way when there seemed to be no way over the last twelve years.  My husband tells me every time I worry about something that I know God will take care of it for me, not to worry.  He's right, of course. I remember a pivotal point in my life when it seemed that God started showing me that He had my back.  It was September and my first year as a single Mom.  I was barely able to put food on the table and keep the utilities on, but I needed tires and had no idea how I was going to pay my propane heat bill or afford Christmas that year.  One day, I believe it was the kids' bus driver who handed me a $20 bill and said, "I feel led to give this to you.  It isn't much, but I asked God to multiply it for you."  It started multiplying that day.  Someone else handed me $50, I went home and opened the mailbox to find a card from a friend in Indiana with $100 in it.  Later that week someone asked to borrow my car and returned it with all new snow tires.  By the first of October, all of my bills were paid through the end of the year, and I had Christmas money.  After many instances of God's providence like this, you'd think I'd give up on worrying. lol

I had a new problem to needlessly worry about.  It was May of 2015, I was recently diagnosed with Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency and I needed weekly infusions of Prolastin C.  

 

Prolastin C is an Alpha 1 Proteinase Inhibitor made from human plasma.  It takes one year to make and requires dozens of human plasma donations for each dose.  Its purpose is to coat the lungs of the Alpha patient to protect them from sustaining more damage.  Without the coating, little holes develop in the lungs' alveoli and emphysema symptoms appear.  Prolastin stays in the patient's system for 7 days, so weekly infusions are needed.  The cost for this medication is $13,000 per month.

I was teaching at a business college and had insurance, but it only paid 80 percent of my medical costs.  I did the math and knew I couldn't afford $2,600 a month for the medication.  I prayed and worried, of course.  But I didn't have to worry long.  My company changed insurance every year in July, so in June we got an email inviting us to the annual insurance meeting.  That year, for the first time ever, the company was able to get insurance with a $5000 deductible and 100 percent coverage.  So instead of $31,200 per year, I could get the medication for only $5,000 per year.  I was amazed and grateful!

And so I began my weekly infusions.  Medication was shipped to me in small bottles (6 for each dose).  I'd receive a month's supply, which had to be refrigerated.  I'd take them out the morning of my infusion (cold liquid into the blood stream is pretty uncomfortable and not a good idea), a nurse would come, set up an IV, and infuse the medication.  It took about an hour for the infusion.  The stick of the IV needle and a bit of shivery coldness were the only discomforts of the procedure, so I adapted quickly and didn't mind it.