What started
out as normal routine week for the Keller family
dramatically developed into a parent's nightmare.
At the age of four years old a vibrant Alex Keller gets
ready to board the bus for school. Weighing at about forty
pounds on Monday Keller gradually, but drastically gained
thirty pounds by Wednesday.
Nervous and fearful, Alex's parents took him to the hospital
hoping for the best, but sadly it turned into a
disappointing discovery.
Alex was diagnosed with Nephrosis,
a kidney disease which causes the kidneys to over filter.
Luckily, the Keller family had good medical insurance that
would ensure young Alex's recovery.
USAA,
a military medical plan, covered the majority of the
expenses. Within the next year Alex spent several months in
the hospital where he took around ten pills a day costing
around $21 each.
Eventually, when things were not getting any better, the
doctors suggested chemotherapy.
At the age of five years old Alex went through his first
treatment of Chemo. Afraid and unknowing of the future he
kept in good spirits and prayed for his recovery.
During the next five months he would have to face
chemotherapy on a weekly basis.
After losing all of his hair, and becoming very week and
fragile the doctors soon realized that the chemotherapy was
going to be no help. The therapy sent young Keller into
remission, but unfortunately a relapse was headed in his
direction.
Alex continued to suffer from extreme weight loss and gain
during the next ten years. He was caught in a cycle of
remission and relapse that seemed uncontrollable.
Eventually, the doctors realized that the only cure for
young Keller was going to be puberty. The doctors believed
that with the growth of testosterone Keller's kidneys would
stop over filtering and function normally.
By the time Keller was fourteen years old he had been in and
out of the hospital for over ten years. He had experienced
the horror of chemotherapy, spent many restless nights lying
on a hospital bed, and took countless amounts of
medication.
Throughout this scary and emotional draining time an
overwhelming medical bill continued to rise.
Taking around ten pills a day that cost anywhere from $19 to
$21 a piece and about 20 chemo treatments left the Keller
family with a hospital bill of $200,000!
Thankfully, with USAA medical insurance, the family only had
to pay around $50,000 out of pocket, a small price to pay
for the life of a child.
Currently, Alex Keller is well and has not
had a relapse in eight years.
Along with puberty, the doctors and his family helped him
survive through this horrible experience. Things look bright
for his future and there are no signs of complications, but
it is no guarantee that it won't happen again.
Unfortunately, Alex has lost his insurance due to his
driving record, so if it were to happen again he will not be
so financially fortunate.
********************
Allison N. Johnston is a junior at East
Carolina University. She is a Communication major and is
concentrating in Media Studies.
