Our Financial Situation

Last week was a really hard week. Jim felt really bad all week. He slept a lot more. He slept nearly all day Tuesday and Wednesday. He has a cough that he cannot get rid of. He coughs so hard at times that he will turn grey and lose his breath. I had a flare up on Tuesday. It took me a couple of days to feel like myself again. We called Jim’s doctors and they adjusted his medicine. Then I called back when he didn’t get any better. That was on a Friday and they called me back on a Tuesday. Then they didn’t even act like they were supposed to call me back when they told me they would. Frustrating…but I am trying to be long-suffering.

Jim did great on Sunday. He got fired up…it’s an inside story. It was good to see him deliver a sermon so good. He really put everything he had in it. I wish he could preach like that all the time but I know that he doesn’t have much strength at all..

This week started off better. His fatigue continues to increase. He will try to do a little and then he has to rest. He takes a lot of naps and has to sit or lean on something almost all the time now. I finished my next to last week at school. I am so excited about this semester coming to an end. I love my students but we all need a break. Then when everything seems to be going good our freezer died, the car battery died, Glynn Cook who cuts our grass broke his lawnmower in our yard and then I hit the basketball goal when I was taking the children to school. Most of this happened in a matter of a few hours. You just have to be thankful that it didn’t hang around long.

We know that many have been asking questions about our financial situation and the insurance dilemma. We got the final word Wednesday afternoon that we will lose Jim’s insurance in June and he will not be able to get on Medicare until April/May 2012. In order for him to be put on the transplant list we would have to raise a little over $700,000 and then be able to prove that we could pay for the medications until Medicare kicked in (about $3000 a month). We have been against so many walls that we know things will work out some way. Brethren continue to be generous and donate funds to help us.

We have resolved ourselves to the fact that a transplant may not ever be in our future. We have decided to make the best of the time we have left. We will travel this summer to see family and friends if he is able. I want to do everything I can to help him enjoy his life. I don’t want to hold him back. It is hard for me because I don’t want him to push himself. If I were in his shoes, I would probably say…Fill up the gas tank…let’s see some new places like Alaska, Hawaii....etc.  Jim plans to preach in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Florida this summer. I pray that he will be able to do that. The only thing he looks forward to and receives pleasure from is preaching the truth. He continues to be a diligent student of the Bible and longs to help himself and others understand the Word more perfectly. I admire him for not giving up. His body says stop but his spirit continues on.

Jim continues to get cards, phone calls and emails. These encourage both of us so much. We are truly thankful. You have been so faithful to pray for us. May God bless you all that diligently serve Him. May your efforts return to you in a multitude of blessings.

Genesis 22--------God Will Provide!

The Evans' Visit

It has been two weeks since our last doctor’s appointment and Jim’s fatigue has only gotten worse. I called the nurse earlier this week and told her what was going on. She called back and asked for blood pressure readings, heart rates, body weight and all that has been consistent. She called back and asked Jim to take a Chemistry test. He stated that he didn’t pass Physical Science in school, why would he want to take a Chemistry test. (HaHa). He went to the doctor and got his blood work done. We have not gotten any results.

He got really weak throughout the day yesterday. We went fishing. He has become more interested in fishing here lately. The place we go is so quiet and relaxing. I know he does a lot of good thinking out there. He pulled in a huge one and got three more. I caught 10 myself but only 6 were big enough to eat. We had a good time just the two of us. He had to rest more than he ever has yesterday. It seems as though he is continually getting weaker. I constantly see him leaning on walls or sitting down more, he has changed. It worries me. I know he pushes himself so much. He tries so hard to be “normal.”

Last week, we had a wonderful surprise, Randall and Cammie Evans came to visit. Randall and Jim talked like two old ladies. It was hard to get them apart from one another. I know when you get preachers together they have a lot to talk about but these two impressed me. Cammie out did herself. She cooked, cleaned and listened. She froze some meals for us. What a HUGE help. She cooked and cooked and then when you went to the kitchen it was spotless. What an amazing friend. Marshall and Arielle, their children, were great friends to our children. They played for hours and hours. Cameron still asks everyday if his friends are coming over. I try to explain that they live in Kentucky. Arielle and Marshall brought a special gift to Jim. They brought money from their piggy banks. This is to help with the cost of a heart transplant. Together it totaled a little over $7.00. What a statement. It touched Jim deeply. I know why Jesus asked us to be like little children. It truly moved us.

We continue to have numerous cards, phone calls, emails, visits and donations made. Words cannot describe how truly blessed we feel. We continue to press on and know that God is making a way for us. I thank God for MSOP who made me understand that song we always sang. I have learned so much through this process, I pray to God that we will continue to praise Him and give Him all the glory He deserves. I am humbled when I study the Bible and see how so many have had victory when they stay faithful to Him. It is our fervent desire to ever serve the Lord and be faithful to all His commands. Thank you to all who continue to lift our names up before the Eternal Creator and Almighty Father. Only He can sustain us. Thank you God!

"Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved."  (Psalm 55:22).

A Silent Doctor's Visit

Silence is the best way to describe our visit to the doctor on March 31. The entire staff acted like they didn’t know what to say. They asked us how we were since they told us he was not on the list and we simply replied, “We’re good.” We went over his medicines and issues that he has been having. Then a student doctor came in. He checked out Jim thoroughly but I was wondering where Dr. Moore was. Finally, I just ask and it seemed as though he was going to try and avoid us if possible. He came in later and discussed the test results. I asked him several pointed questions about patients with transposition and the results, transposition and not having a transplant, and transplant and signs to watch for. Basically, there is nothing more they can do for Jim except to use medications to ease his symptoms. They wanted an echo so we went and the lady took a long time and got some good pictures. I could see how hard his heart was trying to work, I could see the scar tissue has grown, I could even see some stiffing. Dr. Johnson at UAB would walk us through his echoes so I could tell what was going on to some degree. After that, the transplant coordinator told us to come back in 3 MONTHS. Wow, three months….I just thought you really are just going to let him progressively get worse. It is a sad and hard fact that I have to face every day. The insurance and financial aspect of the transplant was mentioned at least 3 times. If something changes, I am to notify them immediately. It is true that money can move mountains in some cases. They don’t know that God has already moved that mountain and we are just waiting to see the wonderful things he has planned for us.

We got to talk to a lot of friends from MSOP. They heard an update at the lectureships and called us. It was good to hear from them. We got a visit from the Coldwater's. It was good to see their beautiful family. Once they arrived, I felt like I was in Memphis again. It is so nice to be around people who no matter how long it has been since you saw them you can just fall into a comfortable pattern with them all over again. Kelly has been a tremendous help to me. She listens and listens and then listens some more. I thank God for her Christian example, support and unconditional love.

Jim’s fatigue has become worse. He struggled through trying to preach Sunday. He has to rest more and more with each passing day. He gets up to do something and the next thing you know he is sitting down to rest. When we go to town or church, he has to sit or lean on something. He tries so hard to cover up how bad he feels. He knows I can see right through it but most people think that he is maintaining pretty good. If they could be a fly on the wall at our house they would truly see how he is.

I am so thankful for all the encouragement that we continue to get. Jim now has over 225 cards. It is great to go in there and read them over and over. It definitely picks you up. I want to thank Dr. McCarty who because of our situation waved his fee to clean and take care of Julianna’s teeth. I felt like crying…I just bowed my head and thanked the Lord for being so good to us. Thanks to all for what you do for us. May God richly bless you as you serve Him.