I found a nonprofit online called Mercy Medical Angels, which helps people fly commercial for medical reasons. We applied and qualified, and I just got off the phone with a very nice lady from there. We had to pay a small amount to them ($55 for each round trip ticket) and then they booked the flights and paid the rest. Full price on the flights are $493 each, before tax and things. Both are nonstop Southwest flights between Will Rogers in OKC and Reagan in DC. The return flight will leave DC at around 4 pm, so Belinda and I should have time to visit the White House before we go – the only thing she requested for this trip.
The National Organization for Rare Diseases will be covering our hotel, which is just a few blocks from the White House. NORD may also be able to reimburse us for some ground transportation, but we will see how that goes. They restart at the new year, so they are almost out of funding at this point. I am thankful for all the help.
I also talked to someone at Children’s National, and we have met the deductible and max out-of-pocket for the year, so there will be no cost at all there. I’m glad Belinda is having this procedure now and not after January 1.
We will have to pay for meals and things on this trip, but most things are taken care of. This will free up money for her remaining medical bills and just help us to not be stressing over how we’re going to juggle all of this.
I really hope and pray that this will help with the additional issues she has had swallowing, and that it is smooth sailing from here with no more procedures needed for a while. But I want God’s will to be done first and foremost, and I am so thankful that He is lining things up for us financially.
Belinda is also having some stress issues, with her college classes and this being her senior year of high school. She was in a small fender bender at Walmart last week (seemed like it was one of those unavoidable things) and that is also giving her a lot of anxiety and stress. Please pray for her to feel better mentally and emotionally as we prepare for this trip and surgery.
I am including a pic of Belinda from Saturday, holding a chicken on the porch with her grandma. She wasn’t feeling great that day, hence the Snuggie.