Wanted: Team Ellie

It is not uncommon to have a 'team' of doctors when dealing with a chronically ill or special needs person.  Every doctor has a specialty and must send you onward when things appear to involve a section of the body that they do not specialize in.  With every doctor we have added to Ellie's team we have had more doors open and felt more covered in the event of an emergency.  The amount of effort it has taken to bring each doctor up to speed on her massive medical history, coupled with the battle of finding doctors who will work with us instead of against us, makes each doctor on her current team extremely valuable.

At the same time, medical insurance has rapidly become a nightmare in our home. PPO's and HMO's just don't work the way that they used to. Because of restrictions placed by our HMO and the endless fighting to get things covered, we switched to a PPO.  Bad decision.  But the only decision we had.  The HMO was doubling in price and money was (is) needed for feeding Ellie.  While the PPO gave us flexibility, we could only afford one with an extremely high deductible.  The result has been thousands and thousands (and thousands and thousands) of dollars of medical bills.  Many of the holes in coverage I did not discover until after we needed it; I just had not had the time to do the research that needed to be done.

On the first of next month our insurance is changing.  It will provide coverage in the event of an emergency, such as the bead-up-the-nose incident which ran us almost $5000 for a quick ER visit.  And it should provide coverage for the next steps in Ellie's treatment, including Occupational and Feeding Therapy.  It will also include none of the doctor's on her current team, or any of the medical group we are currently working within.   


When I realized that we had no choice but to change our insurance to a plan that would include none of her doctors....I panicked. My mind raced at the list of things that we still need to accomplish and I felt the fear begin to creep in.  And then I stopped.  I took a deep breath, and I looked at Ellie, dancing across the living room floor, and reminded myself that fear is not of God.  He has promised a future and a hope for Ellie, and He has been faithful to show us that time and time again.  And whenever He closes a door, He opens another one - I just have to be willing to walk through it.

So on May 1 we begin building Team Ellie from the ground up.  Jeremiah 29:11 promises: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future."  And we are standing on that promise for Ellie.  We are recruiting!

Would you be willing to join Team Ellie?  

I am searching for at least 20 committed believers 

who will join me in a prayer journey toward healing for Ellie.

I am searching for friends who will:

- devote ten minutes a day to praying for Ellie for ten days, May 1 to May 10
- receive and remember periodic prayer requests beginning May 11 for 6 months
- celebrate with us 6 months from May 1 as we look back at what the Lord has done for Ellie.

That's it.  No special requirements needed.  Just a firm belief in the power of prayer and knowing that 'if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20). 

Ellie needs prayer.  The big, petitioning-on-her-behalf-and-believing-in-healing kind. So if you think you are up for the challenge and would like to celebrate with us in the Maker's promise of hope, would you send me an email letting me know?  (morningbymorning@gmail.com)  And I will add you to Team Ellie.

I am doing my best (daily) to set aside my fears for what this change in doctors may mean, and I am publicly committing to make THE Healer the team leader, no matter how badly I may want to take control.  And I have also designated Team Ellie kick-off day (May 1) as International Fast for Ellie Day.  In Matthew chapter 17, the disciples were not successful in healing a particularly tough case, to which Jesus counseled 'this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting'.  So in addition to prayer, I will be fasting that day as well. 

Before she was born, the Lord gave Ellie this verse: 

I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him.

1 Samuel 1:27

It holds great significance for us today.  

I know there must be at least 20 people out there.  I can't wait to see what He has in store.

Go team! 

(morningbymorning@gmail.com)

P.S. If (like me) you are not always caught up on all the blogs you follow, and want to jump on board after May 1 that would be awesome! Ellie can use as much prayer as she can get!