I first would like to apologize for not updating the blog for quite some time. The past few weeks have been such a whirlwind. I have so much exciting news for everyone! A few weeks ago Wez and I went to our church home, Harpeth Community, with the request for prayers and any financial help that could be offered. The elders met with us and announced to the congregation our financial situation as well as the upcoming surgery cost. In a matter of 3 short weeks our church raised $30,000! Wez and I were in shock. It is just so amazing that so many people came together to help us. We have been incredibly blessed. With the money that has been donated so far, the hospital is allowing us to go ahead with the surgery. Any additional costs will just be billed to us, which brings me to the subject of the fund raiser that some Brentwood Academy staff has put together.
The Monday before Thanksgiving a meeting was held at the Brentwood library regarding a fund raiser that has been put together by some people that work with my brother in law, Warren Bezuidenhout. The basic idea is this: Each person at the meeting was given several cards with paper clips attached. Each person wanting to participate has been asked to go and “trade” their paperclip for something bigger. For example I was able to trade one of my paperclips to a friend who owns her own business. In exchange for my paperclip, she gave me a coupon for $150 worth of her company’s services. The idea is to continue trading (it might take more than one trade) until you have an item valued at $150 or more. On February 28th a “garage sale” will be held to sell all the items that people have been able to trade for. Each item there will cost $100 or whatever the purchaser would like to donate over that. If you would like to participate or want more information on the fund raiser, contact Sue Gering at sue_gering@brentwoodacademy.com
The hope is that whatever remaining cost we have will be able to be paid with the money raised at this garage sale. I am currently waiting on the finance department at Allagheny General Hospital to get the final cost of the surgery as well as tests and MRI scans that he will be required to have before we go. In the meantime I am getting pricing for our stay there.
The most exciting news of all is that we FINALLY have a surgery date! I spoke with Dr.Janetta’s nurse and she has booked Wez to have the microvascular decompression surgery at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburg on January 22nd! We have a pre-op visit scheduled for January 20th so we will leave on the 19th. Wez will stay in the hospital 2-3 days after the surgery and then must stay in town until at least the 27th when he will go back for his post-op visit. If they clear him to leave, then we will return home on the 28th of January.
Wez has an 80% chance of this surgery relieving him of his agonizing pain and I am sure with all of the prayers on our behalf, that his chances are even better. Thank you so, so much for all of your continued prayers and support. Each and every one of you has made such a difference in our lives. We have been forever changed.
With love and thanks,
Wez, Rachel, and Lily
Friday, December 12, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
11/19/2008
I would like to first thank each and every one of you for your support . The outpouring of love has been unbelievable. I had no idea how “alone” in this struggle with Wes’s health we really were until we had so many people come forward to offer their support and prayers. It is a hard thing to ask for help but it has been life changing for us. We have finally been given the opportunity to have hope that this surgery will happen for us.
This past Sunday we attended our church home at Harpeth Community and were once again amazed by people’s love and compassion. I have been in close contact with one of our elders, Bob Vanfleteren, regarding our current situation. When we arrived at church on Sunday he and Mr.Sanders, the other elder, took us aside and prayed for us. During the sermon, Mr. Harrington mentioned our situation and asked for any financial help that people may be able to offer as well as their prayers. It was a very uplifting day. During the second service Mr. Harrington announced some of the best news I think we have received in a long time. An anonymous donor has said that he/she will match all of the donations we receive from church members, up to $15,000! Wes and I were in shock. What an amazing gift. To whomever has made this incredibly generous offer, we are so incredibly grateful. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
To all those reading this that attend church at Harpeth Community and are interested in helping fund Wes’s surgery, please contact Bobby Harrington or his assistant Kathy Cawley at Harpeth Community Church (615) 790-0104.
Also, as a reminder to those interested in helping with the fund raiser that Brentwood Academy is hosting, there will be a meeting held at the Brentwood Library this coming Monday night, Nov. 24th at 7PM. Again thank you so much. It will never feel like saying thank you is enough to express our gratitude but please know that we are incredibly thankful for everyone’s help and prayers.
All of our love and thanks,
Wes Rachel and Lily
This past Sunday we attended our church home at Harpeth Community and were once again amazed by people’s love and compassion. I have been in close contact with one of our elders, Bob Vanfleteren, regarding our current situation. When we arrived at church on Sunday he and Mr.Sanders, the other elder, took us aside and prayed for us. During the sermon, Mr. Harrington mentioned our situation and asked for any financial help that people may be able to offer as well as their prayers. It was a very uplifting day. During the second service Mr. Harrington announced some of the best news I think we have received in a long time. An anonymous donor has said that he/she will match all of the donations we receive from church members, up to $15,000! Wes and I were in shock. What an amazing gift. To whomever has made this incredibly generous offer, we are so incredibly grateful. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
To all those reading this that attend church at Harpeth Community and are interested in helping fund Wes’s surgery, please contact Bobby Harrington or his assistant Kathy Cawley at Harpeth Community Church (615) 790-0104.
Also, as a reminder to those interested in helping with the fund raiser that Brentwood Academy is hosting, there will be a meeting held at the Brentwood Library this coming Monday night, Nov. 24th at 7PM. Again thank you so much. It will never feel like saying thank you is enough to express our gratitude but please know that we are incredibly thankful for everyone’s help and prayers.
All of our love and thanks,
Wes Rachel and Lily
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
News and Gratitude
The past few weeks have been very encouraging and Wez, Lily, and I would like to thank each and every one of you for your continued love, prayers, and support. We have raised $350 so far and we are so grateful to those who have been able to contribute to the surgery fund. Most recently we were approached by my brother in law Warren who works at Brentwood Academy. He has shared our story and need with his friends and co-workers and they have come up with a fund raiser idea that will allow people to take a part in helping us raise money without having to give money. There will be a meeting held at the Brentwood Library located on Concord road on Monday November 24th at 7PM. If you are interested in helping but will be unable to attend, please email me at rachelbez@gmail.com and I will get you the information you need to participate. Again, we thank you all. The only way to get through hard times is with the love and prayers of those around you and God has undoubtedly blessed us in this regard.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Surgery Update
I just wanted to keep all of you updated on the current status of Wez’s surgery. We had originally scheduled the operation for Nov. 13th but have had to cancel that. We thought we would be able to get a loan and then with the help of friends and family, be able to pay it down or account for expenses not covered by the loan. Unfortunately we have been denied a loan from 3 different loan agencies due to our debt to income ratio. It has been a disappointing turn of events but we are doing our best to stay positive and know that there is a reason for everything. We appreciate your continued support, love, and prayers. We will keep you updated on our progress but for now we do not have a reschedule date for the surgery.
Rachel
Rachel
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Hope for my husband
To all our friends and family:
I have been married to my wonderful Husband Wez for 3 and ½ years now. During this time we have been dealing with the struggle of Wez’s health condition, trigeminal neuralgia. The condition causes him extreme pain and he is heavily medicated in order to make him able to function in daily life. The problem with his medications is that they have terrible side affects and he is still not pain free. We have seen numerous doctors and even traveled to UCLA for a radiation procedure but have been unsuccessful in finding relief for him.
No insurance companies will insure him due to his pre-existing medical condition and we are financially devastated due to the excess of medical and prescription bills. As a last resort, Wez’s neurologist has referred us to a Dr. Peter Jannetta in Pennsylvania who performs a micro vascular decompression surgery in order to find what is causing the nerve dysfunction as well as repair it if possible. Wez and I are very hopeful that this may be the answer to our prayers but we have yet another obstacle to cross before he can have the surgery.
The cost of the hospital stay is $15,000 after a 50% discount because we are self pay, the Dr. fee is $17,000 and the anesthesia is another $2,000. We are obviously not in a position to pay this much money but my husband does not have a suitable quality of life either. He is in constant pain and unable to enjoy being a father to our 19 month old daughter Lily. Learning to deal with this disease has been difficult for Wez and for me but because of it we have come to realize that God has a plan for us and, whether or not we understand it, he will take care of us. I personally have come to a realization that there is a reason for everything and that we all have trials and tribulations to deal with but that we should learn from them and help others with similar situations. If this surgery is not successful it will be heartbreaking, but I have faith that God will get us through whatever it is he has in store for us.
Our request is that if you or those you may know are willing, please donate to help us raise the money for Wez to have the surgery. We are going to try and get a loan but thought that we would first go to our family and friends to request any financial help you may be able to give and for your prayers that Wez can have the surgery and it be successful. Thank you so much for taking the time to consider our situation. We appreciate any help you may be able to offer.
Even if you cannot financially give us aid, please spread the word about our situation and pray for us daily. We will also have our home for sale in the very near future in order to help our financial situation. It is located in Field Stone Farms in Williamson County, TN. If you happen to know anyone looking to move to this area, please refer them to us so that we might sell as soon as possible. Again, thank you for your constant love and support.
Sincerely,Rachel Bezuidenhout
I have been married to my wonderful Husband Wez for 3 and ½ years now. During this time we have been dealing with the struggle of Wez’s health condition, trigeminal neuralgia. The condition causes him extreme pain and he is heavily medicated in order to make him able to function in daily life. The problem with his medications is that they have terrible side affects and he is still not pain free. We have seen numerous doctors and even traveled to UCLA for a radiation procedure but have been unsuccessful in finding relief for him.
No insurance companies will insure him due to his pre-existing medical condition and we are financially devastated due to the excess of medical and prescription bills. As a last resort, Wez’s neurologist has referred us to a Dr. Peter Jannetta in Pennsylvania who performs a micro vascular decompression surgery in order to find what is causing the nerve dysfunction as well as repair it if possible. Wez and I are very hopeful that this may be the answer to our prayers but we have yet another obstacle to cross before he can have the surgery.
The cost of the hospital stay is $15,000 after a 50% discount because we are self pay, the Dr. fee is $17,000 and the anesthesia is another $2,000. We are obviously not in a position to pay this much money but my husband does not have a suitable quality of life either. He is in constant pain and unable to enjoy being a father to our 19 month old daughter Lily. Learning to deal with this disease has been difficult for Wez and for me but because of it we have come to realize that God has a plan for us and, whether or not we understand it, he will take care of us. I personally have come to a realization that there is a reason for everything and that we all have trials and tribulations to deal with but that we should learn from them and help others with similar situations. If this surgery is not successful it will be heartbreaking, but I have faith that God will get us through whatever it is he has in store for us.
Our request is that if you or those you may know are willing, please donate to help us raise the money for Wez to have the surgery. We are going to try and get a loan but thought that we would first go to our family and friends to request any financial help you may be able to give and for your prayers that Wez can have the surgery and it be successful. Thank you so much for taking the time to consider our situation. We appreciate any help you may be able to offer.
Even if you cannot financially give us aid, please spread the word about our situation and pray for us daily. We will also have our home for sale in the very near future in order to help our financial situation. It is located in Field Stone Farms in Williamson County, TN. If you happen to know anyone looking to move to this area, please refer them to us so that we might sell as soon as possible. Again, thank you for your constant love and support.
Sincerely,Rachel Bezuidenhout
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