In 2008 we were a young family with a 5-year-old son, a new business that was just beginning to see the impact of the coming deep recession, and the normal bustling household of a couple trying to find our footing in the world. That fall I was diagnosed with testicular cancer.
Unfortunately, I had let my health insurance lapse for financial reasons and so the mounting costs of medical care were overwhelming. Furthermore, I had not been prepared for the impact that my multiple medical appointments, surgery, and recovery would have on my ability to function day-to-day. I think that many of us fail to appreciate how much of our lives depends on our ability to get up every day and be productive and positive for our families, our work, and our communities. Perhaps it takes a crisis to realize how over-extended many of us are.
Things quickly fell apart for us with regard to the basic day-to-day needs of our family and our home. Fortunately, our community included family who were familiar with a group called KOMAK. The people at KOMAK stepped in to help us with our basic household expenses so that we could focus on my health, my recovery, and our time together as a family during a hardship. By easing the anxiety of how we would pay for simple pragmatic needs, KOMAK allowed us the bandwidth to focus on mental, physical, and emotional wellness.
The experience of a sudden health crisis is a profound weight that I would not wish on any family. When times are already tough, an unexpected loss of income due to medical care can exacerbate the dread of a season of financial struggle. KOMAK provides a tangible solution to people who are navigating the intangible challenges of a cancer diagnosis. We are forever grateful for their generosity, and we hope to be able to pay it forward in the future. Thank you, KOMAK!
