Planting Seeds for the Future
British actress and movie icon Audrey Hepburn once said, “To plant a garden is to dream of tomorrow.” Barb, a dedicated gardener who loves to stay active, embodies this ideal.
When spring begins, you’ll find her outside tending to her large vegetable garden. Barb harvests everything from okra to cucumbers, canning and offering her bounty to neighbors.
“Everybody loves my pickles,” Barb said. “And my okra is really good in Bloody Marys.”
Living in Greenville, Wisconsin, Barb treasures the warm months when she can be outside. As winter descends, she transitions from gardening to crocheting and spending time at her local YMCA. Since Barb retired at age 52, she goes almost daily, doing aerobics or strength training.
“I just feel it’s the right thing to do,” Barb said.
As a lifelong walker, Barb usually passed all the standard health tests at her annual physical with flying colors. So, when Barb’s nurse practitioner found some concerning results on an EKG during a routine appointment and referred her to a cardiologist, Barb didn’t think much of it. But after just a few minutes of walking at an incline, Barb felt exhausted.
“I thought it would be a piece of cake,” she said. “That was just really upsetting to me.”
Barb’s doctors told her she had pulmonary hypertension, a rare disease that affects the blood vessels in the lungs. For several years, Barb was able to manage the symptoms of her disease with her prescribed treatment. That peace of mind all went away in 2017 when doctors recommended she begin a new treatment to better manage her condition. Barb said the sticker shock of the new medication was overwhelming.
“For someone like me who has a serious health condition, you get that information and go into a panic mode,” Barb said.
To afford the cost of her new treatment, Barb’s nurses referred her to The Assistance Fund’s (TAF’s) Pulmonary Hypertension Copay Assistance Program. The program helps eligible individuals with out-of-pocket costs including copays, coinsurance, and deductibles.
“When I was accepted, I was just thrilled,” Barb said. “It’s like a weight being lifted off of my shoulders.”
Each year, Barb marks her calendar for November and December to ensure she’s ready for TAF’s annual re-enrollment period. The application is available online and takes just minutes to complete, she said — a big relief.
“I’m just so grateful,” she said. “And teal is my favorite color!”
Since then, Barb has had knee replacement surgery and survived a thyroid cancer diagnosis. Barb’s health complications haven’t dampened her hearty midwestern spirit. She continues to stay active with her local church, making time between her doctor’s appointments and the occasional antiquing trip with her girlfriends.
“I’ve gotten a new lease on life,” Barb said.
