So Much News There's Hardly Space to be Funny

So much going on this week and it's going to take some writing to get you up to date! Allow me to begin with a HUGE thank you to everyone for the amazing amount of support we've received since February and continue to receive. The comments online, cards, gifts, calls, visits, monetary donations, calls to legislators, etc., have been everything we needed even if we didn't know it. Although there has been little time yet for thank you notes, there are 2 specific things I'd like to comment on.

First, I'd like to comment on the thoughts, prayers, tribal dances, meditations, candle lighting, whatever your choice is for tapping into the positivism of the universe on my behalf. Most people who know us know that we are not traditionally religious, however, we have our own way about us, let's leave it at that. Regardless of our own outlook, it has been humbling and overwhelming the number of people who have dedicated mass to us, put us on prayer lists/chains/etc., and have shared their own form of invocation. This week Jason and I received an email from one of you telling us that you were in Israel at the Western Wall and chose to use part of that time to put in a good word for us. This was so special to us, knowing the significance of the wall historically and religiously. I'm pretty sure collectively the positive vibes put me up there with some pretty blessed individuals, so I might need to check my ego a bit.

Second, I'd like to talk donations. Wow, our friends and family are so generous! I was so hesitant to ask for donations but many of you made a good case for why we should ask for help. I'm glad we did. The money that was donated literally kept us afloat for the months since we paid our savings to MDA. Because of those donations we were able to pay our taxes, entertain the kids, pay for expenses in two cities, and pay other unexpected expenses. So, a big thank you to all of you who were able to donate monetarily. I have considered buying a convertible and taking a trip to Europe, but Jason is all concerned about automobile safety and my doctors say no international travel for a few more months, such a bummer! Speaking of money... 

Yesterday we were told that we should be receiving a FULL REFUND within a week. This means that although the donations have kept us afloat, we can discuss what to do with the donations now. If you are on the donations list you should expect an email from me outlining our plan more clearly, but I will give you an idea here of what to expect. I know that some people donated and have expressed their desire to consider it a gift no matter what. However, I also know that some of you loved us so much that you really stretched to donate and we love you for that. Now that we are not stretched ourselves, we'd like to help you get back on track as well. I have asked a friend, Cassie, to contact individual donors via email to see what you'd like to do. If you want a full refund, she'll send you a check. If you want a partial refund, she'll send you that. If you'd like to consider this a gift for potential future medical expenses or donate it to a charity (e.g., The Harris Foundation, MDA, another cancer patient), she'll take care of all of that. The reason I've asked a third party to contact you is because I don't want anyone to feel weird about asking for their money back. So, anyway, this is good news all around and we SO appreciate that so many people kept us financially, emotionally, spiritually, and physically supported so far! Let's hope we are able to stay where we are right now for a while.  

On an even better note, we got some spectacular news when Jason talked to the billing person at MDA's proton center. Because of our efforts and our big "win" with United Healthcare, the countless number of people who were waiting on appeals with United Healthcare for proton therapy were all approved minus one. The woman didn't say how many people were approved but she said, "Everyone in line for proton therapy with United Healthcare except one were approved." I love that there are a number of people out there who will now have a higher quality of life moving forward because we stood up for what's right. I don't know what was up with the one who didn't get approved, but let's just assume it was for toe cancer and it was decided that toes are not essential organs. Yeah, let's go with that.