A patient recovering from emergency heart surgery should be focused on healing, not struggling with medication side effects. For Tim, a Medi-Share member in Maine, post-surgery symptoms made recovery challenging. Thankfully, Medi-Share’s Registered Nurse (RN) Care Manager stepped in to provide the support he needed!
Working with his RN Care Manager, Tim was able to work with his providers to make the necessary medication adjustments and get back on the path to recovery.
This story demonstrates that Medi-Share offers more than just sharing medical bills, it delivers compassionate, faith-based support during life’s most difficult health challenges
Tim and his wife joined Medi-Share after hearing a radio advertisement. They looked into the sharing program and were excited by the alignment with their Christian values. The monthly share amount was financially feasible, so they signed up without hesitation.
Throughout the years, they’ve been happy to be a part of Medi-Share, despite some challenges in finding providers in their rural location. They consider any minor inconvenience to be worth it, in order to obey the biblical call to share in each others’ burdens.
“We understand that the Lord is working here,” Tim says.
In 2019, Tim recalls returning home after a flight to Arizona. He was fatigued, so he took a nap and ate dinner. But something still felt off. He didn’t have any pain, but he felt overly tired when climbing stairs.
Soon Tim decided to call an ambulance, which turned out to be a very wise move. EMTs quickly determined that he was having a heart attack and rushed him to the hospital. Less than an hour after he started having symptoms, he was in the operating room prepping to have stents put in.
After his surgery, Kim, one of Medi-Share’s Registered Nurse Care Managers, reached out to follow up and provide support. Our RN Care Managers are committed to guiding members like Tim through their health journey, ensuring they fully understand their program and provisions so they can recover successfully.
“She was very reassuring,” Tim says.
But soon Tim started to have concerning symptoms. He was excreting more liquid than one could consume in a day. His diaphragm locked up. His heart was racing. His abdomen undulated in a reaction called “belly dancer’s dyskinesia.” The symptoms went on, eight in all.
Tim discussed what was happening in a phone call with Kim. She advised him to talk to his doctor and reevaluate his medication. It took some time to get the right combination, but throughout the process, Kim helped encourage Tim. Kim also encouraged Tim to keep up with exercise and clean eating, which would naturally support his recovery.
“She told me to eat food as God intended,” Tim says, noting that he’s now incorporating a lot more vegetables and a lot less junk food in his diet.
Tim says he appreciated having Kim in his corner, not only from a medical support standpoint, but also from a spiritual standpoint. Kim would pray for him and encourage his wellness in all aspects, something that was integral during his time of recovery and beyond.
“It was more than just confirming that the numbers looked good,” he says.
Last month, Tim had an echo done, and his doctor was pleased with his numbers. Praise God! Thanks to quick surgery, correct medication, and disciplined health practices, Tim’s heart is back to where it should be. We rejoice alongside him as a member community!
