Saturday, November 3, 2012

Unprepared Means Stress for Others

Have you ever been summoned by the family to assist financially with a loved one's closing life expenses? If you haven't, you have truly been blessed. If you would permit me, I would like to share three accounts of some loved ones with diabetes, one prepared the other two ill-prepared for their closing acts.
The very first one I would like to share was an in-law that I loved like blood. I suppose she was diagnosed with diabetes in her thirties and continued on a declining path because she refused to change some very key things in her life. She experienced, along with diabetes, high cholesterol, retinopathy, neuropathy, dialysis, gangrene, amputation, and finally congestive heart failure. There were suggestions of lifestyle change, especially dietary, but the changes were not embraced. She made her decision to enjoy the rest of life the way she had always known. So when she went into the hospital for the final time, we all wondered was she ready. Not only ready to meet God in peace, but financially prepared. We gathered all the paper work we could find and discovered that she had properly put all things in order. I cannot tell you the peace of mind that surrounded the family. She purchased her burial plot 30 years before her death. We found that she had final expense insurance and all things went off without a hitch. We were not soliciting funds to bury someone dear to us. I praise God for her foresight, knowing that we all will go that way one day.
Then there was an aunt on my husband's side of the family that was also diagnosed with diabetes 20 years earlier than when she thought she would be diagnosed. (she figured she would someday get this news because diabetes is so prevalent in this family). She did not follow the doctor's counsel to watch those foods that would cause her blood sugar level to spike out of control. Not unlike my last account, she would also sneak and eat certain things behind closed doors. Well one day she had a heart attack and it was bad. The doctor says it came as a result of being on a certain type of insulin that caused high cholesterol, not watching what she ate, being bombarded with stress (which by the way can make your blood sugar levels spike), and not taking her meds consistently. Finally, artery blockage was the culprit and she passed-- only 62 years of age! She had nothing! No plans, no money, no clue, the family was caught off guard. I got on the phone and started calling, along with other family members, to raise burial funds. We collected and borrowed until there was a sufficient amount for a proper burial. The family was tired, embarrassed, and emotionally drained. We were sad and angry that she left all of that for us to do. This is not something you would wish on even your enemy- if you have a heart.
Lastly there was another aunt, on my side this time that was diagnosed with the same dreadful disease. She was a sweet person, but very quiet. Contrary to the others, she appeared to follow exactly what her physician advised. She was careful as to what she ate and tried to educate others in the family about the disease. However, one Christmas enduring a lot of stress in her marriage, she decided to go all out for dessert. I can tell you exactly what she ate. A piece of New York style cheesecake, a small piece of apple pie and 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream detailed her last meal. Sadly she fell into a diabetic coma and stayed there for 4 months. She had actually planned for final expenses, but the length of the hospital stay, caused the disheartened spouse, to cease payment on the policy and she ended up not being prepared after all. Once again we scrambled, and called, and begged for monies to bury this person overcome by this debilitating disease. What a travesty!
Why did I take the time to share these accounts, well simply to make you aware of what family members are forced to deal with when you don't take care of your own health or final expenses. It doesn't have to be this way. The Holy Bible says God has time appointed for each of us, but it also says in the book of Ecclesiastes that we can die before our time. If the latter occurs, wouldn't you want to be ready? You can be! Simply click on the link below and complete the quote form, so that you can receive everything there is to know about Final Expense insurance. It is nice to know that loved ones have your back, but it is even more assuring to know that you have theirs, and that it has already been handled. Unnecessary stress should be avoided at all cost.

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