Janna Barbour
September 21st, 2007
I have been a caregiver all my life. Working as both an EMT and a medical assistant for many years, I have been used to helping others. I never gave my own health much thought until my life suddenly changed. Six years ago, my husband died suddenly after routine surgery. He had no will; we simply had no plans for something like this to happen. Dealing with the pain of his passing was difficult enough, but things only got worse when I soon lost the insurance we were both covered under. Before he died, I had a spinal fusion and a year after my husband’s death, someone ran into my car while I was sitting in traffic. I fractured one of the titanium screws in my spine and ruptured a disc in my back. Coping with the tragedy of my husband’s death, in addition to living with the pain in my back and its associated costs, was overwhelming. I had no insurance at a time when my own health was deteriorating and I wasn’t sure where to turn. I was used to OFFERING HELP to others, NOT RECEIVING HELP.
I was in a catch-22 situation. I needed to work to pay for my 12 different prescription medicines, but the more I worked, the sicker I became, and I had no idea how I was going to continue.
Everything changed one day when I got the courage to call the number of a program I had seen on the Montel Williams Show. Montel said this program, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance, could help people get their prescription medications for free or nearly free. I thought it was too good to be true, plus I wasn’t used to being the person looking for help. One day I finally called the number (1-888-4PPA-NOW) and was so surprised to find out that not only were the people incredibly friendly, but that I could actually qualify for help with my prescription medicines, and within a week, I got them. I was very touched that there was help out there for me, and I was lifted out of my despair.
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