No insurance. Why didn't I think of this before. How am I going to pay this hospital bill? From everything I searched this morning about C2 cervical fractures, I'm beginning to understand what they meant when they said "long recovery". My brother May literally never walk again.
As I sat at my brother's bedside, the only family I have left, I have no clue what to do. Just as I was on the verge of tears, giving that horrible woman from billing my information and preparing to sign my life away, there was a knock on the door.
I was relieved to see Dr. Teton standing in the doorway. I tried to smile at him, but it probably came out more as a grimace.
"Okay, well that's all I need for now. I'll send the social worker to speak to you about financial assistance."
I simply nodded in response and watched as Dr. Teton held the door for her. As soon as she was through the doorway, he closed it quietly. The nurse at the computer station looked at Dr. Teton with a smile before asking, "Dr. Teton, will you be here for a bit so I can step out to use the facilities?"
He smiled with his response, "of course. Take the time you need." The nurse slipped out of the room and he pulled a chair up next to mine. "So I know how your brother is, but how are you this morning Kynlee?"
I met his eyes and was honest in my response, "I don't want to burden you with my problems Dr. Teton. I'm just grateful my brother made it through the night. He is all I have and I can't lose him."
"Kynlee, I know I'm not family, but I will do whatever I can to help you and your brother get back on even ground again. No one should have to go through this alone."
I'm not sure at what point while he was talking, but Dr. Teton had grabbed and was holding my hand. This man was so kind. Not only did he come back to check on me, but he was holding my hand for comfort. How sweet. If only I could figure out why I feel so nervous whenever he is near. Yes, he is a handsome man, but I simply do not respond to anyone like this. Even the boys I dated in high school never made my pulse race or my breathing become erratic just from a single touch of the hand. It must be the stress.
Dr. Teton was looking at me like he was expecting a response. What did he ask? Oh yeah, he was offering to help us. "As much as I appreciate your kindness sir,"
His free hand flew up between us again to stop me and he said, "none of this 'sir' stuff please. I'm off the clock, so please call me Wam. Please... don't turn down my offer to help again Kynlee. I have more than I need to survive and would be more than happy to share it with you and your brother."
The look on my face must have told him I was going to refuse again because he wasted no time explaining, "I have three houses. One of which is just outside town. Other than my cat and my housekeeper, it's always quiet, and I'm almost always alone at home. You would be doing me a favor house sitting here while I'm gone. Besides, I doubt you'll want to leave your brother in his current condition. If you don't work, no money. No money, how will you pay for your bills and apartment? At least let me help until he is stable enough to move to rehab and you can find another place. Please?" He tilted his head to the side and gave me what appeared to be sad puppy dog eyes.
Before I could answer, there was a knock and a very thin, average height male with red hair strode into the room. "Good morning," he said in a slightly sing song voice as he bounced on his toes. "My name is Mark and I'm the Social Worker assigned to your case. I'm here to discuss possible financial options for your brother's care. Is now a good time?"
I looked at Dr.... I mean Wam, and then back at the Social Worker. Wam had let go of my hand at the sound of the knock on the door. I took a deep breath and sighed before meeting Mark's eyes to reply, "yeah, now is as good a time as any. Dr. Teton, can you please stay until the nurse returns?"
Wam simply nodded and smiled at me. I left Kedron's room and followed Mark into the consultation room we used yesterday. Today we sat at the table where he placed a packet of papers. Mark turned his chair toward me and waved his hand in the air with a flourish that reminded me of a princess on a float waving to the crowd. Finally his fingertips came to rest on the folder while he spoke. As hard as I tried to keep eye contact with his bright blue eyes, my attention kept shifting back to his hand with his fingertips moving up and down tapping the folder as he spoke. "....so if you just look at the paperwork, hopefully we can find one or more programs to help you financially with Kedron's medical bills." I nodded in response with what likely looked like a deer in the headlights look. Mark's face took on a look of sympathy before he spoke again, "I understand all this financial and medical stuff can be very overwhelming Kynlee. Especially since you are so young and without family support. I want you to know, fairly frequently, people find themselves in this situation. That is precisely why these programs exist. If you have any questions or if you simply need to talk, feel free to call me," Mark opened the front of the manila folder and there was a sheet listing phone numbers, "there is a pastoral service available to talk to 24/7, and then the doctors and nurses are available for medical concerns as well."
Again I nodded and tried to hold his gaze. Mark the Social Worker apparently talked a lot and with very large hand gestures to accentuate his points. If it hadn't been such a somber situation, I might have laughed at what came across as enthusiasm as Mark talked. Sadly, I was so overwhelmed I was unable to enjoy his mannerisms or his stylish outfit. It wasn't until he stood to leave that I noticed his pants were pink khakis, his shirt was a long sleeved white button down with pink and sky blue plaid. A sky blue bow tie with socks to match, and brown penny loafers wrapped up the outfit. I couldn't help but wonder if I've ever seen someone so color coordinated. It was actually impressive.
Mark left with a wave of his hand and wrist, and I began to look through the papers he left me. Within a few minutes, Wam entered the room and closed the door behind him. My stomach chose that moment to growl. Wam chuckled and I felt my cheeks heat with embarrassment. "Excuse me," I said without making eye contact.
"It seems as though your stomach is telling on you," Wam said in a teasing tone. "The nurse returned, so I came to find you and finish our conversation. How about I take you to lunch and we can discuss living arrangements?"
"Wam, you've done enough. I really cannot accept anymore from you," I said in a less than confident tone. I had been raised to work hard and stand on my own two feet, but no one else was offering to help. I simply could not work and be here for my brother. Something had to give.
"Okay, I can order lunch in and we can eat here then if you'd rather not leave the floor." Wam raised his eyebrows as if waiting for an answer, but did not wait for one as he pulled his phone out and dialed. Within seconds he was speaking to someone on the other end. I couldn't help but wonder if he was always this pushy?
"Henrietta, good morning. I'm up in ICU, and was wondering if you could send me up a couple meals and charge it to my card?" Wam was listening briefly before he continued, "you don't have allergies do you...Kynlee?" I shook my head no in response to his question. "Nope, no allergies. Yes, that would be perfect...yes, the card I have on file....thank you Etta. You are truly a gem." I could hear what sounded like giggling on the other end of the phone line and just shook my head. Wam pushed 'end' on his phone, placed it in his shirt pocket, and said, "lunch will be here in about thirty minutes."
"So, do you have this affect on all the women in your life?" I asked with what I can imagine is a sarcastic smirk on my face. It likely matched my tone quite well.
"Oh, don't I wish. Life would be so much easier if I did. Just think....you would stop fighting me so hard and just let me help you." Wam laughed as I glared at him. "Okay Kynlee, here is my proposal: I have the cabin just outside of town. It's really more of a three bedroom, two bath house. Two of the bedrooms are upstairs but one is downstairs. There is a bathroom on each floor, and the downstairs room is attached to the bathroom for convenience. Since my primary residence isn't here, I've no issue with moving my personal items up to one of the upstairs rooms. When your brother is ready to be released, he will likely be moved to a rehab hospital or facility. From there, he could have the downstairs bedroom and we can move a hospital bed in to make positioning and cares easier."
"Wait, just wait! Exactly how long do you think we will be staying with you?" I ask with a bit of bite to my question.
"Like I said, my primary residence is in Red Wing. I only come to Rochester for board meetings and consultations. You will have your own bedrooms but we will share the common areas." I took a breath and that's all it took for Kynlee to jump right back into the conversation.
"Wam, Dr. Teton, I'll never be able to repay you as long as I live. That simply isn't fair to you."
"Did I say I wanted you to repay me? If you feel you need to at a later date, we can discuss it then. For now, just appreciate the hand up I'm giving you. Notice I said hand up, not hand out." His big smile reappeared."If it'll make you feel better, for room and board, you can clean the house and do the weekly shopping. That way when I do come, there will be food, the house will be cared for, and I can focus on work. Deal?"
Between the puppy dog eyes and the huge grin, he was almost impossible to say 'no' to. "You don't fight fair do you?"
Wam laughed before responding to my accusation, "I never said I fought fair. In fact, I'll warn you now that I can be very persuasive in getting what I want." As he finished wiggling his eyebrows at me there was a knock on the door and a lady with a tray entered. Wam stood up and grabbed the tray, thanking the woman like the gentleman I was finding him to be.
I said under my breath as he was occupied, gathering our lunch, "I'll just bet you can."