Friday, February 22, 2013
Hopefully Restarting
I am really going to put an effort into updating my blog on a regular basis and completing my story of DX and recovery of GBS as well as other things I am interested / obsessed with. Stay tooned all.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Busy Busy Busy
Sorry I have not updated in a while. Life has been crazy. The short of it is, in October I had a relapse of GBS. We caught it quick, so a round of IVIG, a blood patch, and a short amount of recovery in PT and I'm back to life again.
Still managing neuro and physical pain from the first bought, but getting better day by day, bit by bit and continuing to put my all in the battle.
I will begin posting more in the up-coming weeks about what I've been up to, continuing the story of my experience, and the parts of recovery and the disease that many people aren't aware of that effect me every single day.
Have a great day, and I hope everyone is having a great holiday season!
Still managing neuro and physical pain from the first bought, but getting better day by day, bit by bit and continuing to put my all in the battle.
I will begin posting more in the up-coming weeks about what I've been up to, continuing the story of my experience, and the parts of recovery and the disease that many people aren't aware of that effect me every single day.
Have a great day, and I hope everyone is having a great holiday season!
Friday, August 10, 2012
Upcoming marathon fund raiser and more
For anyone still paying attention, still reading this. I will being doing a marathon fund raiser soon. This fund raiser will be to save our house.
With medical bills piling up, along with regular cost of living increasing, it has come to our attention in the Rickard household that we have been running at a significant deficit each month. So, I will be hosting a livestream marathon soon in an effort to raise money to keep from losing our house.
I will post links to the video page as it comes up. Please let your friends know and make a donation if possible. Tune in, and watch the marathon, post questions and comments or call in and get on the live stream that way.
I will post info in an upcoming update as to what the donation page will be, what will be happening during the marathon, and all the other fun details.
As always, thanks for reading, and don't forget to post comments, questions, and anything else below if you feel so inclined.
With medical bills piling up, along with regular cost of living increasing, it has come to our attention in the Rickard household that we have been running at a significant deficit each month. So, I will be hosting a livestream marathon soon in an effort to raise money to keep from losing our house.
I will post links to the video page as it comes up. Please let your friends know and make a donation if possible. Tune in, and watch the marathon, post questions and comments or call in and get on the live stream that way.
I will post info in an upcoming update as to what the donation page will be, what will be happening during the marathon, and all the other fun details.
As always, thanks for reading, and don't forget to post comments, questions, and anything else below if you feel so inclined.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Continued....
Its interesting...
You begin recovery from something and you are considered better. But, that almost never means you are better. It means you are getting better, not worse. But, you may still be in pain, ill, or even terminal. Too many times we think since some is not in a hospital, they are fine, and they should act that way.
You begin recovery from something and you are considered better. But, that almost never means you are better. It means you are getting better, not worse. But, you may still be in pain, ill, or even terminal. Too many times we think since some is not in a hospital, they are fine, and they should act that way.
Friday, June 22, 2012
BattleCry Beanie giveaway
I'll be making one of a kind BattleCry Beanies for a giveaway soon. Keep your eye on my youtube channel for details on how to enter and to see just what a BattleCry Beanie is!
Have a great weekend everyone.
Have a great weekend everyone.
Friday morning Update
Today is Friday the 22nd. After several stressful weeks and the weekend coming up I am glad that Saturday afternoon and Sunday are clear for me to rest.
Amongst all the turmoil, aggravation, sadness, and frustrations I turn to my wife and daughter. They both smile at me and it takes me away. They show me love in a home, and I do my best to give them all the love I can.
It's never in the heat of the moment that you can learn from something. It seems it is always a day, week, or even several months past the event that you begin realizing the profound effect it has had on you (or myself since that is ultimately where this is going.)
Having a full time job with insurance. That is the dream for most. And yet, even having the luxury of insurance does not save us from life's real prices. Prices we pay with things other than money or monetary things.
Several weeks ago, I came home from a day at work. The sun was out, traffic seemed to crawl as it always does. The garage door opened with the same mechanical clunking sounds just like it always has.
But, unlike every other day, something small had arrived in the mail. Something unexplainable, and still frustrating to this day. You see, an interesting process occurs when you deal with hospital billing and insurance companies.
It turns out if an insurance company does not pay a bill within 30, 60, or sometimes 90 days depending on the conditions etc., the collecting party I.E. the hospital has legal ground to pursue the individual for payment.
This wouldn't be so frustrating if the bill this particular case happened to occur with was below say $250. Heck, I may even pass off a $500 bill if I knew I could be reimbursed for it. But, this particular occurrence landed a bill in our lap that, since insurance had not paid in 60 days, was now my responsibility even though I pay my monthly amount out of my check, I payed full deductible for the year etc., a bill that is nearly $150,000.00.
That's more than my house cost!
Now, I am not scoffing at this bill saying I'm not paying this blah blah blah. Besides, the treatment this cost is tied to, DID save my LIFE no questions asked. I would gladly pay every penny had I the means.
I sat on the couch and called every number I could find on that bill. I asked every possible way I could for help or assistance from the hospital. And, what I got was nothing. Ran around, questioned, have you asked your friends and family for help? Have you thought about selling your house? Do you have an extra vehicle you could sell to help pay for a portion of the bill?
I am floored at this point. I turn to my wife, who is now more red in the face than I am. It took several weeks before a smile returned to either of our faces. Only our daughter could produce laughter because she is still blissfully ignorant of this cruel world.
I don't know the purpose of this post. Venting, reflection, introspective evaluation on how I handled it. What I do know is that humble pie is a dish I grow tired of. Working helps, but to what end?
No matter how much I put in, it seems someone is always on the other end taking out 10 times as much 20 times faster.
I hope we can look back on this in out future, my wife and I, and think that it was a bonding time. That was a time when we pulled together as a family, stuck it out, and made it. All I know at this point is they can bill me all the money in the world, but they can't take my family's love, or my friends kindness.
Curveballs in life are funny sometimes. Especially when the sock you in the eye eh?
Amongst all the turmoil, aggravation, sadness, and frustrations I turn to my wife and daughter. They both smile at me and it takes me away. They show me love in a home, and I do my best to give them all the love I can.
It's never in the heat of the moment that you can learn from something. It seems it is always a day, week, or even several months past the event that you begin realizing the profound effect it has had on you (or myself since that is ultimately where this is going.)
Having a full time job with insurance. That is the dream for most. And yet, even having the luxury of insurance does not save us from life's real prices. Prices we pay with things other than money or monetary things.
Several weeks ago, I came home from a day at work. The sun was out, traffic seemed to crawl as it always does. The garage door opened with the same mechanical clunking sounds just like it always has.
But, unlike every other day, something small had arrived in the mail. Something unexplainable, and still frustrating to this day. You see, an interesting process occurs when you deal with hospital billing and insurance companies.
It turns out if an insurance company does not pay a bill within 30, 60, or sometimes 90 days depending on the conditions etc., the collecting party I.E. the hospital has legal ground to pursue the individual for payment.
This wouldn't be so frustrating if the bill this particular case happened to occur with was below say $250. Heck, I may even pass off a $500 bill if I knew I could be reimbursed for it. But, this particular occurrence landed a bill in our lap that, since insurance had not paid in 60 days, was now my responsibility even though I pay my monthly amount out of my check, I payed full deductible for the year etc., a bill that is nearly $150,000.00.
That's more than my house cost!
Now, I am not scoffing at this bill saying I'm not paying this blah blah blah. Besides, the treatment this cost is tied to, DID save my LIFE no questions asked. I would gladly pay every penny had I the means.
I sat on the couch and called every number I could find on that bill. I asked every possible way I could for help or assistance from the hospital. And, what I got was nothing. Ran around, questioned, have you asked your friends and family for help? Have you thought about selling your house? Do you have an extra vehicle you could sell to help pay for a portion of the bill?
I am floored at this point. I turn to my wife, who is now more red in the face than I am. It took several weeks before a smile returned to either of our faces. Only our daughter could produce laughter because she is still blissfully ignorant of this cruel world.
I don't know the purpose of this post. Venting, reflection, introspective evaluation on how I handled it. What I do know is that humble pie is a dish I grow tired of. Working helps, but to what end?
No matter how much I put in, it seems someone is always on the other end taking out 10 times as much 20 times faster.
I hope we can look back on this in out future, my wife and I, and think that it was a bonding time. That was a time when we pulled together as a family, stuck it out, and made it. All I know at this point is they can bill me all the money in the world, but they can't take my family's love, or my friends kindness.
Curveballs in life are funny sometimes. Especially when the sock you in the eye eh?
Monday, June 4, 2012
Sorry for the Gap!
I apologize for the gap in updates. Been kinda crazy with everything going on. I will be posting updates every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday starting today. I'll be covering not only my recovery thus far, but continuing the journey I have gone through as well so you can find out just how everything went and how everything is currently going.
If you have any questions please please post them. Comments are greatly appreciated as well, and as always thank you so much for reading and supporting us through all this difficult time!
Also, my Youtube channel will be getting regular updates as well every Tuesday and Thursday. Not sure what about yet. I may start posting walk-throughs and gaming videos, or maybe digital art, and speed painting videos.
We'll see!
Thanks again!
~Will
If you have any questions please please post them. Comments are greatly appreciated as well, and as always thank you so much for reading and supporting us through all this difficult time!
Also, my Youtube channel will be getting regular updates as well every Tuesday and Thursday. Not sure what about yet. I may start posting walk-throughs and gaming videos, or maybe digital art, and speed painting videos.
We'll see!
Thanks again!
~Will
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