The diagnosis of a life-threatening illness is given and, without preparation, you are thrust into an intimidating and totally foreign world: treatment protocols supervised by a vast array of medical personnel, often conducted in unfamiliar surroundings, sometimes far from home.  Without warning, your entire life is disrupted and your future is uncertain; you and everyone involved with you are overwhelmed and frightened.

 Several years ago when I noticed an appreciable decline in energy levels, Mr. R, not unkindly, commented that I was not a ‘spring chicken' anymore (more like an aging hen), that I was becoming ‘long in the tooth' (term for an older horse), and I should start taking it easy. Gradually, additional symptoms developed that forced me to go from doctor to doctor, enduring many unpleasant tests and procedures, trying to find 
out what was wrong.

 Fast forward to 2004: admission to a hospital Emergency Room, immediately given a horrendous diagnosis which was later rightfully retracted and replaced with another erroneous diagnosis, five months of treatments that failed to address an undiagnosed disease, an operation followed by a third outrageous diagnosis. One week later, a pathologist in another facility discovered cancer.  

 The National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland, is a 318-acre US government research facility. There are at least seventy buildings and a huge hospital - over three million square feet - the largest and most modern in the world.  The old adage that we can't avoid death and taxes has extra meaning for me since taxpayer money funded the research and paid for the excellent care that ultimately saved my life.

 As we are all aware, many people are unable to afford health insurance.  Some qualify for programs that cover medical expenses, while others do not meet mandated guidelines. When we ran the dairy there was a time when family health insurance coverage was unaffordable. We lived in fear that nothing serious would go wrong.  Luckily, our run of bad health luck happened after Mr. R went into another line of work where good medical coverage is provided.

 Like it or not, everyone gets sick from time to time. Usually it's nothing 
serious and not overly costly; other times the difference between solvency and bankruptcy is at stake. Junior's medical bills in 2001-2002 topped $250,000.  Our medical plan covered most expenses; the rest went on credit cards.  My cancer treatments were provided at no cost because I was fortunate to qualify for one of the many research studies/clinical trials at the NIH.  Over 160 days hospitalized, wonderful care by many compassionate people, grueling chemotherapy cycles, countless medications, blood transfusions, several operations, many 
tests and uncomfortable procedures - the monetary value of those services is 
unknown because I never received a bill. The value of the gratitude my family and I feel for the opportunity I was given is beyond comprehension. 

 There are excellent healthcare providers in our area but sometimes it is essential to go elsewhere. A physician's referral is optimal but often the patient and/or an advocate must search for alternatives.  In desperation, I used the Internet to find the facility that ultimately saved my life.