Never Missing a Beat
At 69, Harold is still a man in motion. He is a passionate real estate broker in Macomb County, Michigan, a suburban area of Detroit. So it took him by surprise when what seemed like a routine illness turned out to be much more serious: idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
“I thought my doctor was just going to talk about pneumonia,” Harold said. “IPF really came out of the blue.”
The initial shock of having a disease he’d never heard of led to a different kind of stress. The cost of his treatment was eye-popping.
“My medication was $10,000 a month,” he said. “Even with insurance, my portion would’ve been thousands. There was no way I could afford that.”
Harold needed financial help and turned to the IPF community for direction. His local support group referred him to The Assistance Fund’s (TAF’s) Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Copay Assistance Program. The program provides financial assistance for out-of-pocket costs for all FDA-approved treatment for IPF, such as copays, deductibles, and coinsurance.
“I filled out the application online and within 10 minutes I was approved,” Harold said. “I can’t tell you how relieving that was.”
After his diagnosis, Harold put his energy toward helping others. He found a community of people diagnosed with IPF and takes time to mentor people who have been recently diagnosed.
“I just want to help them through it,” he said. “I give them advice based on what I went through and share things I wish I had done differently.”
Supporting others and staying positive are fundamental to who Harold is. Armed with his treatment, Harold continues to sell homes. After five decades of working, he hasn’t missed a beat.
“Thanks to the treatment, I’m living a full and happy life,” Harold said. “My doctor calls me his poster boy.”
With the peace of mind of knowing he has assistance for a full calendar year, Harold can focus on the things that matter most: work, family, and his strong sense of faith.
“I’ve put my faith in God and have a lot of people praying for me,” he said. “I wouldn’t be here, though, without TAF. I am so grateful for them.”
