Better now than later...
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Linda Krieg
Nov 23, 2018, 10:43:06 AM11/23/18
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When, over a great game of Cities and Knights (Settlers of Catan) and the enjoyment of Thanksgiving leftovers, my friends-former coworkers, Tom and Danielle Brendle, expressed surprise about my comment about enjoying a few final meals (well, normal ones), I realized it was probably time to get another update out.
After a year of trying to find a way to avoid the proposed $20,000 non-Medicare covered removal of the implant to deal with an infection in my jaw, it is time to admit defeat. Well, IF it is defeat to accept that surgery is how the Lord wants to spend some of His money
Because the infection began under one "leg/saddle" of a 20+ year old dental implant, Medicare says it is a dental problem, so not covered (which causes me to be very reluctant to give up my ability to chew nice tasty chompy things). Even though all the doctors-both oral surgeons and my primary care doctor have warned of dangers of the infection spreading to the brain, Medicare declares the expense dental, so no coverage. And yes, before a spate of queries arrives about that, I HAVE done extensive research trying to find a way around that declaration.
Because the expense will be without future resale value, I really didn't want to invest "my" money that way. Thankfully, the Lord, whose money it really is, provided a different oral surgeon to do the first step of this process while I am in the hospital as an admitted patient, bringing coverage of hospital costs by Medicare.
And an new dental implant clinic here in Sanford has agreed that the rest of my aged implant can be kept, and only that one portion removed, that has provided added savings. They are committed to working with what is left to produce a set of dentures that will provide chomping ability, even if not nearly as vigorous activity as the original. And, by paying the full bill up front, I was able to save almost $1000.00 on that process.
Let me diverge a bit to mention a dear sweet lady, Elvera, who taught me a valuable lesson years ago, when we were looking for teachers for Vacation Bible School. She called in this one gentleman-Jim, and asked him, "Would you rather teach the 5 year-olds or the teens?" Wow, of the two options, it was easy for Jim to be pleased to be teaching the teens. Now, I'm in the same boat. Would I rather pay $20,000 to get the full implant out and have the dentist try to make me some sort of dental set that would provide some normal eating? Or, would I like to pay just under $10,000 to keep most of the old implant and have close to normal chewing ability? Easy answer, folks! I'm very thankful that the Lord decided to only spend $10,000 of His money (from my "pocket"-retirement savings) in this way.
Since, as many of you know, I've battled weight problems all my life, I'm choosing to see this surgery, which is scheduled to take place on December 5, as the Lord's enabling me to get back down to the full 75 pounds that I had lost and then regained 5 of, because of the Gabapentin medication (at least, that is definitely my excuse being used). Pride makes me want to do so before January 1, since that would mean I've kept the weight off for 4 years. Three months' diet (or 6, if by chance the surgery breaks my rather fragile jaw bone-a possibility) of only liquids and soft foods will eliminate my greatest downfall (crispy crunchies, like Cheetos), I have great hopes.
As I hope you know, I don't normally dedicate a whole update to my own health concerns. If you find it excessive, then use that nifty little "Delete" button. But if you've hung with me through to this line, then please note the many many reasons to thank the Lord through all this. For one thing, while the infection did break through the flesh, opening a fistula under the jaw that has been draining icky stuff for the last 7 months, it has NOT gone to the brain or developed into anything more serious. For another, the Lord not only provided a pathway to get the work done for under $10,000.00, but He had already provided sufficient funds (what I call my "children's inheritance," since I hope to never have to draw heavily on those savings) to pay cash to get the procedure done.
I hope you can clearly see the Lord's hand through all this. I've been greatly blessed to have no serious health issues and do not live in daily pain, as so many my age do. You can be praying that He'll also keep my brain cells from depleting too fully, at least until I can get the Revelation Bible lesson editing completed, as requested by the Siawi Bible teachers. I'm very aware of slippage in that area, so that is not an idle prayer request.
How I love and appreciate you all, as you've stood by the Siawi people and me down through the years! God is good, whether He brings what we see as blessings or trials into our lives, because ALL of those things are truly blessings, because He has allowed them in His wisdom and through His grace. In this Thanksgiving season (even if it is a day after for we folks of the USA), let's rejoice in the love and care of our loving Father.
Together for His honor and glory,
Linda
Linda_Krieg(at)ntm.org
232 Brazil Court, Sanford, FL 32771
Ethnos360 Hdqts: 312 W 1st St, Sanford, FL 32771
www.ethnos360.org<http://www.ntm.org/>
[https://ethnos360.org/logo/ethnos360-email-signature-2017-04-30.png]
After a year of trying to find a way to avoid the proposed $20,000 non-Medicare covered removal of the implant to deal with an infection in my jaw, it is time to admit defeat. Well, IF it is defeat to accept that surgery is how the Lord wants to spend some of His money
Because the infection began under one "leg/saddle" of a 20+ year old dental implant, Medicare says it is a dental problem, so not covered (which causes me to be very reluctant to give up my ability to chew nice tasty chompy things). Even though all the doctors-both oral surgeons and my primary care doctor have warned of dangers of the infection spreading to the brain, Medicare declares the expense dental, so no coverage. And yes, before a spate of queries arrives about that, I HAVE done extensive research trying to find a way around that declaration.
Because the expense will be without future resale value, I really didn't want to invest "my" money that way. Thankfully, the Lord, whose money it really is, provided a different oral surgeon to do the first step of this process while I am in the hospital as an admitted patient, bringing coverage of hospital costs by Medicare.
And an new dental implant clinic here in Sanford has agreed that the rest of my aged implant can be kept, and only that one portion removed, that has provided added savings. They are committed to working with what is left to produce a set of dentures that will provide chomping ability, even if not nearly as vigorous activity as the original. And, by paying the full bill up front, I was able to save almost $1000.00 on that process.
Let me diverge a bit to mention a dear sweet lady, Elvera, who taught me a valuable lesson years ago, when we were looking for teachers for Vacation Bible School. She called in this one gentleman-Jim, and asked him, "Would you rather teach the 5 year-olds or the teens?" Wow, of the two options, it was easy for Jim to be pleased to be teaching the teens. Now, I'm in the same boat. Would I rather pay $20,000 to get the full implant out and have the dentist try to make me some sort of dental set that would provide some normal eating? Or, would I like to pay just under $10,000 to keep most of the old implant and have close to normal chewing ability? Easy answer, folks! I'm very thankful that the Lord decided to only spend $10,000 of His money (from my "pocket"-retirement savings) in this way.
Since, as many of you know, I've battled weight problems all my life, I'm choosing to see this surgery, which is scheduled to take place on December 5, as the Lord's enabling me to get back down to the full 75 pounds that I had lost and then regained 5 of, because of the Gabapentin medication (at least, that is definitely my excuse being used). Pride makes me want to do so before January 1, since that would mean I've kept the weight off for 4 years. Three months' diet (or 6, if by chance the surgery breaks my rather fragile jaw bone-a possibility) of only liquids and soft foods will eliminate my greatest downfall (crispy crunchies, like Cheetos), I have great hopes.
As I hope you know, I don't normally dedicate a whole update to my own health concerns. If you find it excessive, then use that nifty little "Delete" button. But if you've hung with me through to this line, then please note the many many reasons to thank the Lord through all this. For one thing, while the infection did break through the flesh, opening a fistula under the jaw that has been draining icky stuff for the last 7 months, it has NOT gone to the brain or developed into anything more serious. For another, the Lord not only provided a pathway to get the work done for under $10,000.00, but He had already provided sufficient funds (what I call my "children's inheritance," since I hope to never have to draw heavily on those savings) to pay cash to get the procedure done.
I hope you can clearly see the Lord's hand through all this. I've been greatly blessed to have no serious health issues and do not live in daily pain, as so many my age do. You can be praying that He'll also keep my brain cells from depleting too fully, at least until I can get the Revelation Bible lesson editing completed, as requested by the Siawi Bible teachers. I'm very aware of slippage in that area, so that is not an idle prayer request.
How I love and appreciate you all, as you've stood by the Siawi people and me down through the years! God is good, whether He brings what we see as blessings or trials into our lives, because ALL of those things are truly blessings, because He has allowed them in His wisdom and through His grace. In this Thanksgiving season (even if it is a day after for we folks of the USA), let's rejoice in the love and care of our loving Father.
Together for His honor and glory,
Linda
Linda_Krieg(at)ntm.org
232 Brazil Court, Sanford, FL 32771
Ethnos360 Hdqts: 312 W 1st St, Sanford, FL 32771
www.ethnos360.org<http://www.ntm.org/>
[https://ethnos360.org/logo/ethnos360-email-signature-2017-04-30.png]
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