Today I find myself extremely thankful for the woman I have by my side. While it has been a year and a half since my accident we were still dealing with matters from the night of the actual incident. It turns out the hospital despite multiple submissions of the information to them never billed my insurance and almost a year after the fact sent me a bill for the night I spent in the emergency room. It has been a weight on my shoulder this past year and I felt like we were going in circles trying to rectify the matter but I refused to give in and pay for services that would have been covered by my insurance if people had done their job and submitted things in a timely manner. Thankfully I have a wife who is amazing at keeping records and I would truly be lost without her. After months of going back and forth the hospital finally found a lawyer who was willing to proceed with their case and today was our day in court. After all the dockets were read we were eventually given a chance to sit down with the hospital's lawyer so she could try to come to an agreement with us and settle without having to go to trial. With my amazing administrator / beautiful wife by my side I entered into discussion with the lawyer. It didn't take long for her to realize I wasn't willing to negotiate and was willing to stand before the judge to plead my case. We presented her our documentation and every time she tried to throw us for a loop we had an answer for her as well as the paperwork to back it up. She tried to prolong things by requesting proof that insurance had covered other bills from the accident but thanks to Rebecca and smart phones we were able to show her a list of claims that were covered right then and there! We stood our ground and eventually the lawyer called the hospital's finance lady and with us present began discussing our case. This was the same lady we had gone in circles with for months because she refused to admit it was a clerical error on their part. I think Rebecca and I were both equally surprised when the lawyer told her over the phone, in front of us, that they were going to lose. She informed her that Rebecca was "Meticulous" with her record keeping and that with all the records we presented her showed proof that we had submitted our information on multiple occasions. It took awhile but eventually she hung up with the hospitals finance department and informed us they were going to withdraw their suit. Eventually we entered the court room and when the judge called our docket and the case was withdrawn! After what has seemed like an eternity I feel like the burden that has been quietly on my shoulders has been lifted.
I finally feel like my accident is in the past and that life can move forward. I have been blessed over and over since that night first and foremost by the fact that I am here typing this post. Despite having to realize there are limits to what my back can withstand I can say my surgery was a success, I can feel my legs again and enjoy life on two feet with my family. I have been blessed with a wife who takes control of our finances and deals with the things I don't have the patience or organization to take care of. She has stood by my in sickness and in health just like she promised and while many take it for granted her love is not wasted on me a single day as I realize how lucky and blessed I am to have her as my wife and friend - not to mention the perks of being married to your very own smoking hot secretary! While I may have been the voice today she is the one who took the countless telephone calls, sorted out the letters and emails, reassured me and reminded me to focus on what matters and is within our control. While I may have placed the roof over our heads it is Rebecca that keeps it there! Thank you for all you do, I love you Rebecca!
Our prayers have been answered and the burden lifted and I give God the glory for the outcome of today's events it seems fitting with today being Saint Patrick's Day that we aren't lucky, we are blessed which goes with James 1:17 (ISV) Every generous act of giving and every perfect gift is from above and comes down from the Father who made the heavenly lights, in whom there is no inconsistency or shifting shadow.
Now onto the rest of my day...
 |
| The Man, The Myth, The Legend - My Dad, Stephen Patrick Wearne Sr. |
While many will be celebrating the good deeds of St. Patrick today, I am celebrating the life of another man - my father. I would normally place some daffodils on his head stone but with the amount of snow we still have on the ground I may have had to skip my trip to the cemetery but my mind is still focused on his memories. As is normal this time of year I have found my mind swimming with memories of him and the good times we shared together. The man truly had flair - he entered the world on St. Patrick’s Day and departed it on St. Valentine’s Day. I am sad because I miss him and not a day goes by that I don’t think of him. During times like these I find myself fighting my emotions in order to get through the day. Although I miss my dad, I must once again acknowledge that I have been blessed with two wonderful men in my life who I respect and love. Both Chuck and Roger are there as as fathers for me and have been a blessing to me and my children. To make a sad situation into something meaningful I would like to celebrate in memory of his birthday, the life of the man who taught me among many other things how to hunt and fish, how to drive a car, and the importance of making time for family. As I look forward to my meal of Corned beef with potatoes, carrots and cabbage I will have a smile on my face as I remember my Fathers disapproval of my brother and I smothering our cabbage with tomato ketchup. I will reflect on my memories of days spent in the woods hunting, days off from school working with my dad in the big red tractor trailer truck, afternoons spent drowning worms on the banks of a fast moving brook, Sunday driving lessons, listening to the baseball game on the radio while playing in the back yard, digging up wild daffodils and day lily’s on the side of the road for Mom's flower gardens, Sunday lunches together as a family, the memories go on and on. I am thankful to have the memories that I do and to have had the privilege of being my father’s son. Remember the reality is we are only here for a season and it is up to us to determine how we spend that season. He may not be with us in the flesh but he is here in my heart and in my memories so for no other reason other than that of good memories… I miss you and love you, Happy Birthday Dad.
 |
| Me and Dad |
 |
| My Memorial |
 |
| My Dad the Great White Hunter |
