The time draws near

Hi all.  I Hope you are having a good Christmas Season.  So many fun things to do, and so many ways to keep busy!

So tomorrow John is meeting again with Dr. Claxton at Hershey Medical Center.  He is having some bloodwork drawn and will be speaking to Dr. Claxton about some things.  Dr. Claxton will have him sign the consent form for the transplant.

It is going to be such a busy day.  Before speaking to Dr. Claxton, John will meet with the doctor's nurse to discuss the best Prescription Drug Care Plan for him.  One of John's insurances is Medicare, and he must pick a plan.  I have done research, and unfortunately none of the plans cover all the medications he will need next year.  I found the plan that will cover all the meds he is currently taking though, and all of the post-transplant meds, but one, that he will need in 2006.  The drug that he will need that is not covered is Neupogen.  It elevates the white blood cell count.  Needless to say, you need the medicine to live.  But it is not covered by the best plan, so they are telling him he will have to pay it out of pocket.  It only costs $366.13 per month, lol.  If he goes with a different plan where it is partially covered, then they won't pay for the other transplant drugs! So what I am basically trying to say is that we are supposed to pay $366.13 a month out of pocket, lol.  Not possible on our income.   

So after deciding if it is the best plan, the nurse is going to petition the drug company that makes Neupogen, and ask them if they will allow John to just have the drug for free.  Sometimes the drug companies do this in the US.  They have mercy upon you and give away a free drug if you can't afford it.  If that is the case, then I am going to enroll John in the health care plan.  It has to be done by December 31st. 

Let's see, what else needs to be done, lol.  John has to meet with a psychiatrist and psych nurse that will be following his case while he is going to be havinghis transplant. 

And then there is meeting with the Chaplain, to make an official Advanced Directive.  I guess that is like a living will, or a Medical Power of Attorney or something.  Are we tired yet?

And then finally it is off to the social worker to find out if we can get into Hope House; the social worker is the one who has to call and get us into Hope House.

Now, the how am I feeling part, lol.  Wow, John will probably get his date tomorrow that he will get his transplant.  That is kind of scary.  The days are ticking down.  Not really scary.  We are very much at peace, both of us.  But as the days get closer, it gets a little bit, well, more serious I guess. 

The nurse told John on the phone today that he has to come back on the 29th of December for bloodwork, and that the donor has to come on the 28th to be tested to see if he can give the bone marrow.  This makes me believe that the transplant will be at the very beginning of January instead of later. 

Now a commercial message from John (I am asking him if he has anything he wants to say!):  I will be glad when this transplant business is all over and I can get back to my life.  

Well, I will get back with you tomorrow, or if I can't do an entry tomorrow because I am totally wiped out from the trip, in a day or two.

Love you all very much,

Krissy :)