When I received my initial diagnosis of Wegener’s disease, I used to make light-hearted quips about a morbid competition: who could boast the most ailments in the end? You see, autoimmune conditions tend to stack up on one another. Why face it alone? Now, at 61 years old, I can casually admit to having eight of them, and just last month, I acquired a viral eye infection to add to the collection, which will require another two months to fully clear. It likely stemmed from my second bout with Covid, which landed me in the hospital. It’s the physical fragility that weighs on me the most at times, especially knowing I must adjust my approach to social gatherings and even simple trips to the grocery store.
There exists a medication that could alleviate some of my Wegener’s-related symptoms, but the insurance company has deemed it unnecessary. The individual overseeing these decisions at the insurance company likely specializes in obstetrics and lacks expertise in autoimmune diseases. Were you aware of this small detail? The insurance giant, which rakes in billions of our hard-earned dollars, compensates a doctor to reject necessary treatments.
For four decades, I’ve grappled with my illnesses, contending with the strain of being unwell, the quest for solutions, and the constant fear of financial ruin, exacerbated by the questionable ethics (or rather, lack thereof) of the insurance company. How about you? Could your life be lightened of its burdens if sickness and insurance expenses weren’t a concern? How can we, as a community, come together to support each other in this endeavor?
Let me know!
God Bless You!
The Tent Maker Blog 