Hello, my name is Krista, and I have had a very hard time writing this. This is my husband, Nathan.
He teaches band and orchestra at a middle school in this city. I have known him since I was 13, and we are currently in our 16th year of marriage. Having him as one of my best friends has been an education, and a blessing.
He has had chronic pain since before I met him, having had fibromyalgia since his preteen years, and has been mostly stoic about it throughout his life. But last November, the pain in his right arm, right hip, and right thigh, tripled. We knew very quickly that something was wrong. After finally meeting a competent doctor (a rheumatologist by the name of Luis Salayandia) who scheduled a simple x-ray in late January, it was revealed that something was destroying the bone in Nathan’s right upper arm. Due to the fragility of the bone, Nathan was instructed to wear a sling, and try not to use that arm at all.
His pain continued to worsen, and he began using a cane with his left hand, in order to walk.
Little did we know that this was only the beginning.
Throughout February, we waited for tests to be scheduled, and for an orthopedic doctor to authorize an MRI and a bone scan. We could afford a few of the first teats with the help of Nathan’s insurance through his teaching job. Those tests showed that Nathan has degenerative disc disease in his spine, and osteoarthritis in his hips. Unfortunately, his insurance would not pay for the MRI or the bone scan, and we could not afford it. We had to borrow money for the MRI, and we simply could not pay for a total body bone scan, so there wasn’t one performed.
A few days after the MRI was taken, during a very short appointment with the orthopedic doctor on March 17th, we were told that the MRI of Nathan’s right humerus showed significantly more bone degradation than expected (only 35-40% of the bone remained), and that there was a tumor growing in the bone, causing it to break.
I have never seen Nathan more pale and sad than when we left that office. It made my chest feel tight, and I choked up.
Nathan called the referred orthopedic oncologist that afternoon, and set up an appointment for the following morning. The oncologist became angry at how there was seemingly no rush from Nathan’s PCP, and that the orthopedic doctor did not just send Nathan directly to him after seeing that first x-ray. The oncologist demanded more blood tests be taken, and sent Nathan for a total body x-ray, right after that appointment. We are dreading that hospital bill, because we are out of any savings, and basically maxed our credit.
More bad news. The total body x-ray showed that there were more bone lesions in his right pelvis, his right hip, and right femur. When the oncologist told us this, we were incredibly shocked. A surgery needed to be scheduled for his arm in attempt to save it, and soon.
Nathan has moments when the pain is so bad, I can’t even fathom how he is standing and walking, let alone continuing to go to his school, and teaching his classes! Early last week, Nathan relented, knowing that he can not keep teaching his classes, and even though he feels he’s letting his students down, he is requesting an FMLA (Family Medical Leave Assistance) from the school district. While this is good for him physically, emotionally and mentally… financially, we are in trouble.
The CT scan he needed to take last Friday (March 27th) costed over $1,000. We were forced to borrow more money. The surgery scheduled for this coming Thursday… thank God Nathan’s insurance is paying for 80%, but we are still being charged $3,000. It almost brought me to my knees when I heard that today at the hospital for preop.
And the hits this year just keep coming. Yesterday. The results of the CT scan came in. It’s been revealed that Nathan has more bone lesions on his right scapula, in a few of his ribs on the right side, lesions on his LEFT femur… and they found a 3x4x3cm mass in the lower half of his right lung, that is believed to have metastasized. These results will be discussed in another appointment with the oncologist tomorrow morning. Oh, and we came home to a disconnection notice from the water company.
As I’m typing this, I can’t stop my tears. (Our pets seem worried.)
When (if?) Nathan’s FMLA is approved, he will be able to keep his teacher’s insurance and his job will be secured for when, or if, he goes back to teaching, but he won’t be paid his salary. I’m a massage therapist, and although I work at a corporate “clinic”, I don’t make enough money to pay the rent, much less all of the bills and medical needs we need to pay for.
I am sincerely and humbly asking for your help and generosity during this difficult and heartbreaking situation we find ourselves in. Any amount is genuinely appreciated, and if you pray, please pray for us.
Thank you for taking the time to read all of this, and I hope you are well.