September 28, 2016

Wow.  What a day.  So much going on.  But I am going to bed so thankful - really like I should every night.

I drove to Wilkesboro before church tonight to pick up our road race t-shirts.  I was driving down the mountain with some of the most beautiful views in the world.  But I was in a hurry as usual.   Then I saw the rainbow.  God's promise.  He knows all I have going on.  He reminds me in soft, gentle, sometimes beautiful ways that He is in control.  As a line in one of my favorite songs goes, "Sometimes I gotta stop, remember that you're God, and I am not."

I was excited to see the shirts.  With over 170 people registered for our very first High Country Type One Strong Race for a Cure, I have been thankful for the response to our road race.  We want to raise money for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation which just came out with some great news today.  And we also wanted to raise awareness of early warning signs of Type 1.  So many tragic stories - and we want to put those signs out there on the radar of as many people as we can.  It could save a life, prevent a tragedy.  And in doing all of this, we find encouragement in helping others and supporting each other.  We all live with Type 1 diabetes in our families or are close to someone else who does.

Our online donations had taken a huge jump, and we were so close to our original goal in online race entries and donations alone.  I was happily surprised and have been tickled to see the donations top the $5000 mark this evening!

Doing this race has given us (the team) chances to share our stories.  We want to honor and thank God for his help with our children and others in our lives who deal with this illness.  Our verse is Joshua 1:9 - "Be strong and courageous..."

Just before bed, I checked Watauga Democrat online; and Andrew's name jumped out.  He was named the Sun Belt Runner of the Week by the coaches.  He did not think to tell me and thought it funny that I had found it online!  The timing is amazing.  He had a great race Friday in Virginia.  It was hot, dry, and dusty.  And he had been so sick.  But he ran a great race.  He felt great.  Those things that bothered others did not bother him.  It is truly a miracle.

Just today, I had to step back from my battle with Blue Cross Blue Shield.  They held up Andrew's medicine for months at the beginning of the year.  They were quick to tell his drug company he was not covered after January 1.  Then they shut down their communication, so the company could not double check.  The meds cost about $8000 a month, so they needed to know Andrew had insurance! I was begging them since February through calls and messages to help him get his medicine or his immune system would start dropping  And it did.  And I have the labs to prove it.  BCBS finally told the drug company Andrew was indeed covered, but then they dropped their reimbursement rate for this company (that we have used for a few years) to lower than 5% from 42%.  So BCBS threw up another road block.

After much fighting and tons of prayer, the drug company (not my insurance company who told me I could get his specialty drug at Walgreens for $70 - NOT correct!) found us another comparable drug company.  And we got to keep Andrew's wonderful patient advocate.  And Andrew got his first shipment AFTER Easter.

He ran two track meets in his last outdoor season at Appalachian.  And then he got sick.  Just like I had told them he would.  Just as I had feared.  But he was able to run at conference in Louisiana.  Not his best races, but he got to run the last races of his season.

I knew he could battle illness for most of the rest of this year, so I keep praying for his health.  After his first cross country meet and before the second one, he got sick again - with two things.  One was a stomach bug.  The next was upper respiratory - his usual problem.  Before Andrew was diagnosed with a disease called CVID, he had tons of URI's.  He probably had micoplasma a lot and not always treated as his immune system prevented the micoplasma test from showing it.  This was before we knew what the problem really was.

Dr. Black in Charlotte is always amazed that Andrew has no lung damage due to the number of infections and delay in treating them effectively.  Dr. Patel, another specialist in Charlotte, is amazed that Andrew was doing what he was when he was diagnosed.   They both, along with our local doctors, work hard to keep Andrew healthy and get him back on track when he gets sick.  They know he loves his running, and they go above and beyond to help him do that.

To run five miles up Grandfather Mountain and climb a mile in altitude should not be easy for someone with Andrew's medical history.  But God helped him do it.  And for that, we are so thankful.

So the hot, dry conditions that bothered so many should have shut Andrew down.  But it was a miracle, and he had a great race Friday.

This is timely because of the communication I have had with my insurance company this week.  One girl was just so rude and ugly.  I have asked for a nurse case manager, because they are usually more compassionate and have a clue what the patient deals with  But their attitudes had gotten to me again.  I really prayed today that I would not be sucked back into that place where they really have a lot of control over my day with the frustrations they cause.  And then God gave me the rainbow.  And then He directed me to the article about Andrew.  And that was after all of those donations I had seen for the race today!

God knows.  Sometimes I wonder why God ever thought someone like me could juggle all of this stuff - especially the medical stuff.  I used to turn green just getting near a hospital, and I have been in most of the major hospitals in NC and some outside.  It's taken me a long time to realize that is exactly why.  He knows my witness is that I cannot.  Only with Him can I get done what needs to be done.  So many times God wakes up an exhausted me - usually with Lucy our dog - to check Sam at night when he is low.  I check him a lot.  But sometimes I sleep through the alarm, or he needs to be checked at a different time.  Before Sam's diabetes, I know God woke me up to check on Andrew.  And more than once he needed us.  Once, I found him face down on the floor next to his bed in the middle of the night.  He needed us.  I would not have found him, but I know God shook my shoulder.  I know He did.

So for someone who deals with all of this (plus the insurance company), today has been one of those good days.  I feel God's hand on these things.  I want to praise and honor Him and give Him all of the glory.  He is faithful.  He is here.  Always.

I went over September 20 in my head a lot this year as it marked seven  years of diabetes in our family just after Sam turned five.  But September 22 was harder.  I was exhausted.  Sam was still in the hospital.  Pete and I took turns staying, and he stayed at night.  That was the night Andrew had a horrible seizure and was not breathing when they left with him in an ambulance.  Peter and Will were left alone, one sitting on the front steps of the house as I pulled away to follow the ambulance and firetruck.  I could not even stop to tell him it was okay.  My child was ahead of me, and I did not know if he was going to make it.  It was a long three miles to the hospital, and Pete called me as I pulled into the parking lot to tell me Andrew was going to be okay.  He had met them in the ER.

I remember that night, after I came home, I was almost too tired to cry any more.  I had cried out to God earlier that night to save Andrew, to make him breathe.  And I knew without a doubt He was listening.  I felt so pulled.  So helpless.  And it was easier at that point to give it all to Him.  I know I take things back and have to give them over again.  But that night will never be forgotten.  How I felt.  What I learned.  What I now know for positively certain.  God loves us more than anything, and He is always here to help.  After all, He already gave up His only Son for me.

I share these stories in hopes of encouraging others or even bringing someone to know Jesus who does not already.  It's my story. I know what happens in these places.  I am there.  And it's real.  And I know with all my heart.

Thanks for reading this!  I am praying the rest of this season will be good for Andrew.  But most of all, I want us to glorify God in what we do - no matter the circumstances.

Andrew's Race

I wanted to send a quick update and will update my blog.  My new email address is still vandenbergwendi@gmail.com.  I have not have one minute to switch my contacts!

Andrew was so sick for two weeks.  He missed his second home meet, and I was pretty upset about that.  Two things were going around in Boone, and he caught both illnesses fast and hard.  I was really concerned for him.  It knocked him down.  I just prayed that his seizure record would not be broken - for a lot of reasons.  I was upset at our insurance company who twiddled their thumbs while he paid the price for not having his medicine.  I thought, from messages I received from their escalation center (Pete said he could not believe they had a whole department for me) that I would be heard.  Then I got an email that was the same old stuff.  It really gets me.  So I emailed them back and told them I would go ahead and file my complaint with the insurance commissioner.  And I would decide what to do after that - with my information.  I know BCBS got fined for stuff like what they did to my family this year - over $3 million.  But the email was the same rhetoric and nothing that would help Andrew - like reassurances that the problems were fixed, etc.  With all my resolve to not let them upset me ever again, I am still pretty upset!  

So with all of that, I was concerned about Andrew running at Panorama Farms near Charlottesville, VA, yesterday.  I have tried to feed him meat and things he does not usually eat much.  I have gotten him tons of probiotics.  He is taking his asthma meds.  I am trying to remind him to keep hydrated with so much medicine in him.  And I have prayed above all else.  I just wanted him to reach down during that 8K and get what should be there - what he works for so hard.  

Sam and I prayed all of the way there.  We told God we would give Him ALL the glory if Andrew was okay.  We carried extra water in case Andrew needed it.  

There was a huge field.  In true Andrew fashion, he was probably one of the last 20 after the first 100 meters.  He was looking at his watch.  I almost missed him the first time we saw them at the 2K.  I did miss him the next time he came by until I heard Sam yell for him.  He was way above where I thought he would be.  It was so hot.  It was so dry.  Standing there, we just felt that sun beating down.  And Andrew had a ways to go still.  He probably had two kilometers left after the last time we spotted him.  So we headed to the finish.  Sam was to just look for Andrew when the runners came out of the trees and started in the straightaway into the finish.  And we thought we saw him, but then we did not.  But he really was there.  I sent Sam to run to the finish to see if he needed help.  I stopped my watch, when I thought I saw him stop.  It was 25:26.  I stayed and yelled for the others.  The heat had gotten to a lot of them, and I felt for them.  One of them needed his inhaler.  Andrew was just smiling.  It was truly a miracle.  How did those illnesses still not affect him?  How did he run in that dry, dusty, very hot place and not have trouble breathing?

It was all God.  And Sam and I got to watch.  That is a special gift.  I told Andrew today that we have to pay attention and keep him well.  

I got into the car a little bit later.  We had been there a long time, and Sam was so hot.  I just cried.  They were such happy and thankful tears.  I never thought to be proud of Andrew.  I was just so thankful that God not only took care of him but gave him a great race.

I will put the link here.  http://www.wataugademocrat.com/sports/app-state-notebook-vandenberg-leads-mountaineers-in-k-race/article_58f84a8e-8113-58c7-b554-1451d20b2b76.html  Very rarely does our paper acknowledge Andrew or Appalachian cross country.  So I sent them the goasu.com link.  They usually ignore it, but this time they put it in the paper.  I know people look for Andrew, and I want them to be encouraged by his story.  Of how God works in his life.

Sam and I went to Charlotte for his rescheduled appointment on Wednesday afternoon.  The rioting had calmed down that morning but started again after we left.  We were praying for law enforcement and the city and the hearts that need to be changed.  Andrew and I parked at the Nascar Hall of Fame last year when one of his doctors got us Panthers tickets.  It was unreal to see what went on there and other places.  And so sad.  Sam's actual appointment was good.  His a1c was up like I knew it would be because of malfunctioning insulin pens.  But it was better than I thought, and the doctor felt we had gotten things on a good track.  We felt okay to go to South Park and the Lego store.  The young man who helped us asked if we were there for a doctor visit.  He remembered us from months ago - probably about five!  He has a friend who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in high school, and he remembered we bought a big Scooby Lego set to celebrate numbers last time.  We ran into the best pj store and found some new pj's on sale - that he has hardly taken off.  And then we came on home.

Thursday, we took off again for Staunton and stayed at the same hotel as the team.  We try not to bother Andrew, but he is always happy to see Sam.  And he had forgotten a couple of things, so we were happy to bring them to him!

Friday, we started home soon after the race; since it was about five hours  We took a detour to Abingdon to check on someone special and than came on home.  I am not able to go and go and go like I used to do!  

Our JDRF race/walk is next Saturday.  We are excited that we have had over 170 register.  We have had over $3400 raised online.  We hope and pray this run will bring attention to the warning signs.  One story that continues to get me is Kycie Terry (kisses for kycie on FB).  She was diagnose with flu or strep or someting that was going around.  She had five brothers.  She was diagnosed TOO LATE and had a seizure while being flown to another hospital.  And then another seizure.  She had major brain damage and died after months of rehab - soon after coming home.  It's a sad story, and we hope our efforts can save one child/person from tragedy.  And JDRF is committed to all of the things that make living with diabetes 24/7 a little safer and a little more bearable.  If you go to JDRF.org, you can search for the HIgh Country Type One Strong Race for a Cure in Boone.  You can hit register, and it will show you how much we have raised online.   Our goal is $5000.  We have sponsors who have helped with our t-shirt expenses, so we hope our extra cash donation will put us over the top.  It is such a blessing to see those supporters.

Tomorrow, Peter turns 21.  Where does the time go?  

Best quote of the day after I told Pete that Barbara Daye put on FB that a sports store in the mall was going out of business, and they had things 1/2 price.  "I may need a new pair of running shoes."  I have tried to get him some new shoes, but he said not until he was running.  And he is trying so hard.  He did not notice the tears that sprang up.  It's a big deal to me.  And once again, I whispered, "Thank you."

Thanks for reading this.  If you need a new CD, the Hillary Scott and the Scott Family is a great one.  I may have already told you.

Thanks for reading this.  Thanks for praying. 

Another Update

Please pray for Andrew.  He is not feeling well, and he has another meet Friday.  We hope he will get well fast.  His first race was okay, but he did not have the energy or depth he should have had.  But he still looked good and strong at the beginning and middle of the race.  I have made our reservations for his away meets.  We will miss the October 1 race in SC ~ that's the day of our JDRF Run/Walk in Boone.  But Sam and I are excited to go back to Virginia to the horse farm!  We will also make a trip to a new place in Alabama.  This Sun Belt Conference is tough!

Sam is doing better after a terrible week last week.  His insulin pens kept malfunctioning until I gave up on them.  I had to get the disposable ones with whole units.  It's hardest at night to only have full units with someone his size.  But it's better than not knowing if he'll get his insulin.  I am supposed to return the rest of the pens I bought to join the others I already sent back.  They said they will reimburse me.  I am going to put all of that money in a special trip fund for Sam.  I think Andrew is going with me to take him somewhere special after Christmas.  I am sure the company won't reimburse me for all of the unused insulin in the cartridges, but I will be happy to get what I can back from those pens that I don't trust!  Reading at ASU is doing well, and school seems to be okay for now.  We have started some of our home teaching, and we hope to work in some educational things on our way to and from Andrew's meets in VA and AL.  It's hard to see someone feel so terrible, and I am thankful he is feeling better now.

Peter and I took a trip to the doctor Friday for a cyst on his wrist that comes and goes.  It was not big enough to drain with a needle - and I cannot see Peter doing that anyway!  We have decided to see if it goes away again - like if he hits it on the commercial mower at work again.  If not, we will have to get it cut out.  Before, it hindered his hand stands and movement.  Now it does that and hurts!  Other than that, he is doing well.  It took both of us to move a couch today, and he probably won't be moving furniture with me again soon.  But he was patient, and we got it done!

I noticed a young man in Carhartts on the side of the road near an old laundry that is being converted into something else on my way to get Sam.  He was in the road with orange cones and looked like he was drilling into the road.  On closer inspection, I thought it was Will and looked up and saw the dump truck. Sam and I came back that way and saw Will and Chad, one of his bosses, in the road with the cones.  It was good to see him hard at work.  I took one of my favorite trips Saturday morning to the trash dump.  In grabbing things out of the basement, I noticed a nice folder.  Inside was his diploma.  I cried thankful tears.  I had not seen it yet.  God is so faithful.

Pete and I went to a pastors' dinner at Greenway last week.  I did not feel like going.  I barely had time to run home after cleaning and taking Sam to reading to change my clothes.  Traffic was bad, and I was so tired.  But we got there and had a very low key dinner from Dan'l Boone Inn with several pastors and wives - not very many.  And I got to sit next to one of my favorite people I have not known long.  God has put this wife in my path only a couple of times now, but it's like she knows what I need to hear in five minutes or less.  It was such a blessing.

Life is so busy right now.  Too busy really.  But I keep praying, and God keeps providing.  Because Pete has not yet finished our bathroom and because he almost has, I started scraping our dingy ceiling in the family room.  It's like getting rid of the dusty old stuff to make it fresh and white and new.  What a great illustration.  I hope to be able to say in the next six months that it is done!  And I hope that I can say the same about me.  That I have been still enough for God to work and get rid of the dinginess in my life and make me whiter and new - like He did when He washed away my sin.

Fall is in the air.  Then it leaves for a day and a Florida summer day reappears!  But it feels so good, and I am so ready for fall!

Thanks for praying for our family.  We are doing a race/walk to raise money for JDRF on October 1 at the Greenway.  You can register or donate at jdrf.org.  You can go to events and look under run/endurance for the High Country Type One Race for a Cure 5K.  Our race verse is Joshua 1:9.  We hope to raise awareness and some money for JDRF.  Awareness is mainly the warning signs of Type 1.  I cry when I read of mostly children who are tragically diagnosed too late and die from a seizure or have brain damage or other issues.  I think God laid this on our hearts - mine and some other moms.  And my friend Paula is helping me do it - along with her family who is on my Relay for Life team for cancer.  If you are here, come and see us!

Thanks again!