Here's a picture of my boss in some awesome safety glasses:
And here I am in the background, being pretty cool myself:
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
A day in the district
I had a great day on Monday. I organized a tour of three counties in our senate district with my boss (Senator Carey) the Governor. So, I got to tag along with my boss and Governor Strickland as we toured a dynamite plant and several other businesses in our district. We even got to visit the General Mills plant in Jackson County that supplies the world's Totino's pizza rolls.
Here's a picture of my boss in some awesome safety glasses:
And here I am in the background, being pretty cool myself:
Here's a picture of my boss in some awesome safety glasses:
And here I am in the background, being pretty cool myself:
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Endo Info
Over the years, I've done some research on this disease, and thought I'd share some of it here. Below are links to some great resources for endometriosis information and a couple of specialists. I'm continually amazed at the number of women who suffer from this disease (I've heard statistics as high as 15-20% of women in the US have endo!), as well as the lack of understanding of it by our medical professionals. After being in debilitating pain for nearly 16 years, I feel so fortunate to have finally found specialists who could completely excise my disease, leaving me with 10% chance of recurrence. I'm not pain free yet, but I'm well on my way to recovery. So, anyway, here are the links:
Center for Endometriosis Care in Atlanta. This is where I had my surgery in March. I can't say enough good about the doctors here! Dr's. Albee and Sinervo have several really informative articles on their website as well.
Endometriosis Research Center is doing some great research and advocacy work on endometriosis. They have many wonderful resources on their website.
provision
One of my biggest concerns in travelling to Atlanta for surgery was the cost. And even more disconcerting was the fact that nobody could really tell me how much it would cost ahead of time, because they couldn't tell how extensive the disease was until they cut me open. Another variable in all of this was that the surgeon was out-of-network for my insurance company.
Apparently my disease was much more severe than anticipated--the surgeon's bill alone was nearly 3 times the high end of what they told me to expect. I've been keeping a running total of all the bills I've been getting (from the hospital, surgeon, etc), and all totalled, it came to a whopping $50,000.
I'm glad I didn't know that price tag going into the procedure. I don't know if it would have deterred me--I don't think it would have. The surgery needed to be done. Even if I'm paying for it the rest of my life, it was worth it to receive the extremely high level of care that I did in Atlanta.
So, anyway, I got a statement from my insurance company today, saying that they had covered the entire cost of the hospital (nearly $20,000)! Praise God!! Now, I'm just waiting to see what the insurance company decides about the remaining costs. I'm hopeful that the statement I got today is indicative of how they will handle the remaining $30K! :-)
Apparently my disease was much more severe than anticipated--the surgeon's bill alone was nearly 3 times the high end of what they told me to expect. I've been keeping a running total of all the bills I've been getting (from the hospital, surgeon, etc), and all totalled, it came to a whopping $50,000.
I'm glad I didn't know that price tag going into the procedure. I don't know if it would have deterred me--I don't think it would have. The surgery needed to be done. Even if I'm paying for it the rest of my life, it was worth it to receive the extremely high level of care that I did in Atlanta.
So, anyway, I got a statement from my insurance company today, saying that they had covered the entire cost of the hospital (nearly $20,000)! Praise God!! Now, I'm just waiting to see what the insurance company decides about the remaining costs. I'm hopeful that the statement I got today is indicative of how they will handle the remaining $30K! :-)
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Gas Prices!
I read an article today that said that Sierra Leone has the highest gas prices in the world: $18.42 per gallon. I was floored to hear this. When we lived there a couple years ago, gas prices were around $4.00/gallon. This seemed very pricey at the time--costs for public transportation were constantly increasing, making it more and more difficult for people to get where they needed to go. Also, the electricity for Freetown was powered by diesel generators--not exactly efficient. I can't imagine how this is impacting our friends in Sierra Leone.
I know our prices right now seem expensive, but it is always good to remember others in the world who are suffering because of this as well.
I know our prices right now seem expensive, but it is always good to remember others in the world who are suffering because of this as well.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Taylor accident on Dateline tonight
There is a Dateline NBC special on tonight (3/28/08 at 9:00pm) about the mix-up with the girls in the van accident that happened at Taylor University a couple years ago. Here is a link to the video and article from the Today Show this morning: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23825758&GB1=43001
I had several history classes with Lisa Van Ryn (the sister of the girl who died in the accident--Lisa is in the interview). This family's story is really heart-rending, but an amazing demonstration of God's grace and love.
I had several history classes with Lisa Van Ryn (the sister of the girl who died in the accident--Lisa is in the interview). This family's story is really heart-rending, but an amazing demonstration of God's grace and love.
Monday, March 24, 2008
surgery updates
I'm home from Atlanta--recuperating in the comfort of my own bed, with my prescription narcotics and fluffy blankets. Life is good :-) The surgeon at the CEC did a lot of work on me--he spend over 3 hours cleaning up all my endo--and I had a lot of it! He said I was at stage 4, which is pretty much as bad as it gets. He also removed my suspicious-looking appendix, and was able to salvage about half of a cyst-ridden ovary on each side (which was really good, since I wasn't thrilled about the idea of going through menopause at 29!). Now, I just need to rest and heal--I'm looking forward to feeling SO much better really soon!
My mom also had her second knee replacement surgery on Friday. She seems to be doing ok with it all so far. They were moving her to the hospital's in-house rehab soon, so that she can work on getting her strength and mobility back. It will be really good to get this one behind her, too.
My mom also had her second knee replacement surgery on Friday. She seems to be doing ok with it all so far. They were moving her to the hospital's in-house rehab soon, so that she can work on getting her strength and mobility back. It will be really good to get this one behind her, too.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
my article from The Cry
At The Feet of Jesus
By Laura Padgett
Published in The Cry, Vol 11, No 2 (Summer 2005)
Before I arrived in Freetown, I had heard a lot of things about this city. I had heard about the horrendous civil war that raged here during the 1990’s. I had heard statistics stating thousands of children were living on the streets. Thousands of young girls were sexually abused and taken as war brides. Thousands of young boys were kidnapped, drugged and forced into armed service. Thousands of amputees and war refugees were living under tarpaulin shacks in refugee camps. Thousands of people were unemployed. Thousands of people suffered from polio, leprosy and AIDS. Thousands and thousands of people in need. Thousands and thousands of people to serve.
Now, after living here for several months, my perceptions of the needs here are taking on more
personal forms. My friend “James” is confined to a wheelchair because his legs are withered and twisted from polio. He sits and begs on the streets each day and prays for Jesus to cover me and bless me each time I see him. He is thankful for the new wheelchair that another nongovernment organization gave him. However, he is tired of the city and would like to return to his village in the provinces. “Could you please help me return home?”
Once a week, I am confronted with the immense needs Kroo Bay, one of the poorest slums in Freetown. Our community holds a Good News Club for about 240 small children there. During the club, we take time to give basic first aid and medical care to the children who need treatment. A desperate mother brought her little girl to us one weekend. The baby was obviously in pain, and the sores on her tiny body resembled an STD like gonorrhea. The mother pleaded with us to help heal her child. “Could your medicines please make my baby well again?”
There is a group of children who spend each day walking up and down one of the main streets of Freetown. When we walk by, they swarm around us with hands outstretched. “Could you please just buy me some peanuts?”
There is a pregnant woman who sits on our street corner each day with her small daughter and sells packages of biscuits and other odds and ends. Biscuits are 500 Leones (about 18 cents) a package. “Would you please buy some biscuits so I can get rice for my child today?”
I feel bombarded by needs here. How do I serve in the face of so many who need so much? The needs here are so great, and I could work endlessly, barely making a dent in the face of poverty in Sierra Leone.
The Gospel of Luke gives account of a wonderful story that has been close to my heart here. Luke writes of Mary and Martha, two sisters with different priorities. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to his teaching, but Martha was busy and preoccupied with working and serving.
When Martha came to Jesus to ask him to rebuke Mary for her idleness, Jesus gently replied, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42).
Often in my attempts to serve the Lord and others, I lose sight of the one necessary thing: sitting at the feet of Jesus. Like Martha, my days are busy. By evening, I’m usually exhausted. It is only when I’m filled up on His good portion that I will be able to serve and share His love with people here.
Recently, I was sitting with my friend, “Paul,” a teenager who has suffered great loss due to the civil war. He struggles with depression and is at times sad and detached, remembering the pain of losing his loved ones and mourning the horrible ways they died. As we sat together, I asked how we could pray for him. He shared a couple of requests, then he grew quiet, a tear welling up in the corner of his eye. In my mind I prayed, “Oh, Lord, how do I serve this young man when I cannot begin to fathom his pain?”
I simply sat with him for a few minutes in silence, upset that I had hurt him by asking him to share with me. Finally, I mustered the best Krio I could to say that even though there was no way I could understand what has happened to him or the pain in his heart, I was here to pray for him and cry with him. He sat with his head down for a moment longer, then he squeezed my hand and said, “Thank you.”
With nothing but tears and prayers to offer, I hope that we can sit at the feet of Jesus – together.
By Laura Padgett
Published in The Cry, Vol 11, No 2 (Summer 2005)
Before I arrived in Freetown, I had heard a lot of things about this city. I had heard about the horrendous civil war that raged here during the 1990’s. I had heard statistics stating thousands of children were living on the streets. Thousands of young girls were sexually abused and taken as war brides. Thousands of young boys were kidnapped, drugged and forced into armed service. Thousands of amputees and war refugees were living under tarpaulin shacks in refugee camps. Thousands of people were unemployed. Thousands of people suffered from polio, leprosy and AIDS. Thousands and thousands of people in need. Thousands and thousands of people to serve.
Now, after living here for several months, my perceptions of the needs here are taking on more
personal forms. My friend “James” is confined to a wheelchair because his legs are withered and twisted from polio. He sits and begs on the streets each day and prays for Jesus to cover me and bless me each time I see him. He is thankful for the new wheelchair that another nongovernment organization gave him. However, he is tired of the city and would like to return to his village in the provinces. “Could you please help me return home?”
Once a week, I am confronted with the immense needs Kroo Bay, one of the poorest slums in Freetown. Our community holds a Good News Club for about 240 small children there. During the club, we take time to give basic first aid and medical care to the children who need treatment. A desperate mother brought her little girl to us one weekend. The baby was obviously in pain, and the sores on her tiny body resembled an STD like gonorrhea. The mother pleaded with us to help heal her child. “Could your medicines please make my baby well again?”
There is a group of children who spend each day walking up and down one of the main streets of Freetown. When we walk by, they swarm around us with hands outstretched. “Could you please just buy me some peanuts?”
There is a pregnant woman who sits on our street corner each day with her small daughter and sells packages of biscuits and other odds and ends. Biscuits are 500 Leones (about 18 cents) a package. “Would you please buy some biscuits so I can get rice for my child today?”
I feel bombarded by needs here. How do I serve in the face of so many who need so much? The needs here are so great, and I could work endlessly, barely making a dent in the face of poverty in Sierra Leone.
The Gospel of Luke gives account of a wonderful story that has been close to my heart here. Luke writes of Mary and Martha, two sisters with different priorities. Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to his teaching, but Martha was busy and preoccupied with working and serving.
When Martha came to Jesus to ask him to rebuke Mary for her idleness, Jesus gently replied, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42).
Often in my attempts to serve the Lord and others, I lose sight of the one necessary thing: sitting at the feet of Jesus. Like Martha, my days are busy. By evening, I’m usually exhausted. It is only when I’m filled up on His good portion that I will be able to serve and share His love with people here.
Recently, I was sitting with my friend, “Paul,” a teenager who has suffered great loss due to the civil war. He struggles with depression and is at times sad and detached, remembering the pain of losing his loved ones and mourning the horrible ways they died. As we sat together, I asked how we could pray for him. He shared a couple of requests, then he grew quiet, a tear welling up in the corner of his eye. In my mind I prayed, “Oh, Lord, how do I serve this young man when I cannot begin to fathom his pain?”
I simply sat with him for a few minutes in silence, upset that I had hurt him by asking him to share with me. Finally, I mustered the best Krio I could to say that even though there was no way I could understand what has happened to him or the pain in his heart, I was here to pray for him and cry with him. He sat with his head down for a moment longer, then he squeezed my hand and said, “Thank you.”
With nothing but tears and prayers to offer, I hope that we can sit at the feet of Jesus – together.
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