I guess my expectations are just too high sometimes. It's 2 weeks and still no money from insurance for a new car. Lots of paper though. Tons of paper and stupid things to fill out. The latest is the medical claim stuff. Why can't they, in this age of instant access to EVERYTHING medical, just get records from the hospital (and police) about what happened? Instead, they call for phone interviews, send diagrams to label, send questionnaires to be filled out. Drives me to the apex of insanity having to re-live this accident over and over again.
Yesterday, we went back to the ortho guy for the Irishman. No miracles here. He has to wear the cervical collar/brace for another 4 weeks. No work, no driving, no nothing. No bending, twisting, lifting. He's losing his mind (I don't have much of one left to lose, lol). That was depressing enough. Then yesterdays mail (more papers, of course) also had 2 bills from the trauma hospital. One for me, with a price tag of 21,000 dollars and one for him, with a price tag of 23,000 dollars. I almost fainted. That does not include the local hospital where they took us first, or the double ambulance rides. 2 ambulances to the local hospital and 2 ambulances to the trauma hospitals. By the time all is said and done, this little escapade is going to cost us more than our house cost. To say that I am scared and worried is an understatement.
The Irishman has one more week of vacation pay left and a few hours of sick pay. Then we will be out of that money. The remainder we have to live on is my social security disability pay. It does not cover all the bills, not to mention gas and food. Praying for a speedy resolution to the car settlement and that we can find a usable car for a couple of thousand and then sock away the other couple of thousand to pad the living expenses payout. We can always address the car situation at a later date. I don't need anything fancy or new...just something dependable and economic. This truck is killing us in gas. Praying also for a settlement from the insurance company from the woman who rear-ended me in January. That probably won't be a lot of money, but it will be some. I'll take whatever I can get.
That all said...things are really going slow and are okay for today. Nobody is dying here. We have a fully (almost) stocked pantry and freezer to eat from that should keep me from having to buy almost any groceries. We will clear that freezer out and clean up the pantry. I will get much more inventive and creative with food, to use up what all is in there. After all this, I will be restocking my pantry, but for now, we will eat what we have. (We have a lot. We are not going to starve anyway. lol)
ON a better note...the garden is in, things are germinating and growing like crazy. All of the seed that I personally saved have had a germination rate of almost 100% !!! Things are moving along nicely out there. I took a stroll through the gardens this morning around 5:30...it was peaceful and it was beautiful. As you can guess by this, we still aren't getting a whole lot of sleep around here. I worry about the Irishman, he's not good with this kind of sleep when he's healthy, never mind when he's traumatized and healing. I know he's worried too, but trying to keep a good face on it all. That helps a lot.
Lots of our friends have stepped up and offered assistance with everything from housecleaning to yard mowing. Many prayers and well wishes are making this all a little easier too.
This coming Thursday will be our 22nd anniversary. That same day I will celebrate 24 years clean and sober. We are together, we are okay and we can get through this I know. Like he said yesterday...we've been poor before. We can do this. lol
I'll try to do better about staying in touch on here, but I'm just so darned tired all the time it's easy to pass. Having to carry both ends of this thing when I'm still hurt too isn't easy, but I'm managing. I just seem to need a lot more rest. lol And of course, I wake up every time he wakes up (about every 2 hours). So, nobody around here is getting much sleep. lol
Thanks all of you for your well wishes and prayers...they are greatly appreciated.
Namaste.
14 comments:
Oh, Annie, my mouth literally dropped open when I saw the amounts of the bills from the trauma. That is simply asinine. Medical costs and insurance costs . . . it makes no sense at all. All is NOT right with the world.
It's down right scary when our cash flow stops coming in whether it be from retirement funds, savings or current income. But you truly are in much better shape than most folks would be in your circumstances. You're smart, ingenious, know how to function under adverse conditions and have enough food in your larder for months. And it's not winter time, so that helps on the heating bills. But I know it's still very, very hard. It's times like this when I wish we were very wealthy. I would not hesitate to write you a big, fat check to help you over this difficult period.
Update us all when you can. Sending lots of hugs. And prayers that things take a turn for the better SOON.
Annie, I am so sorry for what you are going through.
You can bargain with the hospitals on the bills. Offer them what insurance would pay and ask for a payment plan.
Prayers for you both!
HUGS!!
Hi Annie, I am new to your blog and have been enjoying it - but not your recent challenges. I just want to echo Beth. Your hospital bills will be a mess for some time - just let the hospital and insurance battle it out for awhile - don't assume you owe any of that. In the end you may owe some but hospitals will negotiate. Tell them what you can pay a month and stick with it. Don't stress out about the big number - just make a monthly payment you can afford and let it go. Take care of yourself. Patricia
Sorry for this difficult time. Hope you both heal well and I'll my 2 cents about bargaining with the hospitals, clinic and doctors, just found out last year that they do negotiate.
Mama Pea...thank you, big big hugs! It will all be fine, I know it will. In the meantime, I'm cooking a chicken and egg noodle casserole right now. lol All the ingredients out of the pantry and freezer.
That said, I just got the first bill for the short trip ambulances. 1600.00 Oy vey... (I'd probably be better if I just didn't even open these envelopes,but I can't help it. It's a morbid curiosity. lol
Beth, thank you, dear heart. I know it will all be okay...eventually. I guess I'm just feeling a little fragile right now. It will pass and I'll be rip-roaring any minute ! lol
Patricia~~ hello and welcome. You're right. Nothing to be done until the dust settles and the various insurances pay up anyway. It's futile to worry about it at this point. Especially when there is so much wonderful world out there to be grateful for and appreciate.
Hi Celia. We are healing and will continue to do so. I am just a little overwhelmed is all. It will pass. Very grateful that it wasn't worse.
Difficult times are where we grow, right ?
Oh Annie, I am so sorry. I can imagine the stress you are feeling. I am praying....for quick mending of bones and muscles and scared hearts.
OMG! That's a lot of money! Don't worry I will pray for you. God said, When two or more people gather together in my name, there I am in the midst of them.
And Thank you for sharing your experience. It made me realize the importance of saving money for the rainy day.
Thanks Annette...I have some tools to deal with this stress, thank Goodness.
I just keep telling myself that it's way to early to completely freak out. lol
Jaunty Jen, thanks honey.
It is true that we must work to be prepared,. and I am grateful that at least feeding us will not be an issue. The truth is that we live paycheck to paycheck here and that makes it hard to save much money, but we do have a little. I truly believe that we will be taken care of. God didn't save us from drowning to kick us to death on the beach. That is not the nature of God. My opportunity to grow in faith and trust will be paramount here. I only hope I am up to the task.
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OMG! I hadn't been to visit in a couple of months (how did that much time go by so quickly?) and discover you guys were in a rollover! I just went back and am all caught up now. This just sounds so awful! And to be going through all of this and then have to worry about finances, too.
Losing friends, gaining cats, eating catfish, keeping busy...can't let so much time go by before I visit. Sending hugs, healing energy, and prayers.
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