With so many changes happening recently, I expected to at some point find myself in a state of complete mental disarray. And while I’ve definitely been in physical disarray a few times, my mental health is surprisingly in check. Yes, there was a short bout of depression following the numerous executions and Oregon school shooting. I can’t seem to shake those things. So I took a break from the news. I started a new job, and I love it. I make less money, but I’m getting by. My boyfriend moved in, and it wasn’t the horrid adjustment I’d read about and expected.
But I’ve had two things, one work and one personal, fly into an upheaval today. In the midst, I find myself asking, “Is this a test? Is this where I fall apart?”
My professional problem today was an emergency walk in client. He’s slated to be illegally evicted on Tuesday. Deadline to file an order to show cause to not evict him? Today!
He came in at 10:30. I researched the law I needed at warp speed. I drafted his petition in one hour – fastest I’ve ever done one. Now, the biggest problem is finding a judge, on a Friday afternoon, of a holiday weekend, who will sign it. Hence me sitting on a court bench outside Judge _____’s chambers praying he’ll put me on his afternoon calendar and let me argue my motion. Oh, and I had no suit jacket to wear to court because I took my “always leave at the office jacket” home. So at the last minute, I switched my sweater for an intern’s jacket. It could be a physical disarray day. (You should see me). But if I can’t get this order signed, my client is getting evicted Tueaday. There’s too much riding on this to worry about clothes.
In the meantime I’ve been dealing with a personal issue that involves (of course) medication. Have I mentioned previously how much I love epilepsy and epilepsy medication? Because I do. Oh so much. Today’s ongoing fiasco has involved independent health, dent and target.
Three days ago I was forced to switch to a “generic equivalent” of a medicine because independent health doesn’t feel like paying for the brand that was paid for by every other insurer I’ve ever had. After side effects from this supposedly equal generic that included body tremors, nausea, vomiting, fever, intense cramping, and insomnia, my doctor appealed the decision for me. Ind health took two days but did eventually approve the appeal. However, they failed to notify dent that prior auth on the drug and appeal were granted. Therefore my target pharmacy was not notified.
So I called target and notified them. Because, you know, I work for dent and independent health in my spare time. They verified it and then said “we don’t have any brand in stock but we can order it”. With my hand tremor still active and noticable, I said, “please call every target in buffalo and see if anyone has it. Ordering needs to be the very very very last resort.”
Well guess what. No one in buffalo has it. Want to know why? Because it costs $2000 for a one month supply. There’s no typo up there. Two thousand. Thirty days. I applied for a savings card from the evil, money-mongering drug company and actually got one. Target was willing to accept that. And it’s the only way I can afford it. But now, target doesn’t have the medicine.
Max at Target is probably the most helpful person I’ve spoken with throughout the medication ordeal. Max says, “hey let me transfer this over to another pharmacy that has it in stock. Try Wegmans.” Again, I’m on the phone over this issue. I do have a full time job being an attorney, but sometimes I feel like I have to advocate as hard for myself as I do for my clients.
The Wegmans pharmacist brings me joy: they have the brand name in stock! But then the dreaded catch comes. They don’t know if they can take the coupon. If they cannot, I will not be able to get the brand because I simply cannot afford to spend $2000/month.
So now I wait. I wait for a judge. I wait for Wegmans to call and let me know if I’ve been approved. I wait for Target to let me know if they can order the drug. And I wait for theses crises to be resolved, so I can go back to having a calm state of mind. But in the midst of this undeniable chaos, I can tell that I’m more than just holding on. I’m happy, and I’m hopeful. I couldn’t ask for more.
kDe
After the Semicolon 