by Bwalya Kasanda
I am a 20-something year old lady living paycheck to paycheck, with really no discretionary income and also supporting two of my younger siblings. Day-to-day, I battle with a chronic illness that largely manifests in the form of migraines. To get some relief from the migraines, I get Botox injections every three months. Botox migraine therapy is an expensive treatment that costs nearly $900 per treatment (~$700 for the drug and $180 for the service performed by the doctor). Fortunately, through my current job, I have benefits that cover the drug portion of my treatment. However, I still pay the $180 service fee out of pocket. $180 leaves deep holes in my pocket. Classic for darkness, last November’s days gave me a small taste of gloom. Late in November, I was scheduled for my regular Botox treatment. I received a call from the pharmacy that dispenses the drug a few days prior. The pharmacist explained to me that they could not process
my insurance because I needed to get it renewed. Very confident that I could renew my insurance quickly and thereby afford Botox, I hung up and started working on the process. Little did I know that renewing my insurance would involve processing forms and potentially take
over a month. As the reality of insurance renewal began to sink in, I learned I was not getting Botox in November, and rescheduled my treatment for December. A poor decision as days without botox entail migraines. The days that followed were a dreadful three weeks of constant pain. With my
next treatment date approaching and no insurance in sight, I had no option but to pay for the $700 Botox drug out of pocket – my pocket quite literally dissipated. At the time I visited my doctor, I also owed her service fees for three services, amounting to a total of $350. Hesitantly, I took a $350 check out of my purse and presented it to her. My doctor politely declined the check and, to my greatest astonishment, wrote off all the money I owed her in 2021. Her deep empathy for my situation and generosity in that moment reminded me that God will meet and bless you when you least expect it. God provides.
* While Bwalya did not ask God to cancel her medical debts, the church prayer team had been regularly interceding for God to show His mercy in relieving her migraines and financial burdens. If you would like to join our mid-week prayer or share a request visit:https://oacvancouver.ca/prayer-ministry/