It’s story time. Since being on the race my asthma has come back in full force. After thinking I have “grown out of it” and being capable of running nearly 2 thousand miles this thing is back. It’s hindered me in more ways than just doing what I love. Breathing is rather important. Having asthma is like I’m breathing through a straw (a dreadful plastic one at that) with a ten pound plate on my chest. It’s not always painful but it really is scary. It takes a lot of self control to stay calm and not freak out. On the race alone I’ve been diagnosed with bronchitis 3 times, been to many hospitals, have had countless breathing treatments and been prescribed tons of meds which make me feel like shit but allow me to breathe which is truly more important than feeling good. In Georgia, I had a great experience at a private clinic but the medicine that was prescribed never fully cleared the bronchitis. It’s been a month and I’m still wheezing, still coughing, still having shortness of breath, and still can’t sleep because of it. Today, in Azerbaijan, I went to the hospital. In fact, I went to multiple. Walking in I was immediately greeted by a guard behind a sliding glass door waiting to take my temperature while countless people stood in the waiting room looking desperate for answers. After having a thermometer shoved in my face and showing no other signs or symptoms of having the forbidden COVID-19 virus, I was let past the guard and able to talk to a receptionist. She informed me that the doctors were not physically present at the hospitals until Monday due to the virus. She asked that I come back then. No questions, no treatments, we just left and made our way to the second hospital. This one looked nicer so I was expecting it to be more expensive than your average copay. We walked in no issues, no thermometers, but still told no doctors were present. A man took a look at my passport and said since I’m American he can call someone to come but it will cost 400 manat ($235 US dollars) just for them to come. Our host mother fought for me. She translated. Explained that this is ridiculous. Meanwhile I’m standing there struggling to breathe, and all I need is a simple breathing treatment. At this point I reassure her that I rather pay the price and be able to get the treatment and breathe and then get reimbursed from my insurance company. She translated and the man said my card and insurance was invalid. That I would need to call and have the company verify that my card is legit in order for them to proceed, regardless of my name matching identically on the insurance card to the name in my passport. A nurse came out, asked me my symptoms in English and then told our host that I’m “completely fine if I can stand here and have a conversation” with her even though you can audibly hear my wheezing without a freaking stethoscope. So we left. Our host mom was adamant that we check out the pharmacies and see if they carry a nebulizer. We checked and checked and through translation all they tried selling me was inhaler after inhaler. They just aren’t strong enough. I gave up and just asked to go home. I was tired, frustrated and hopeless. Breathing problems are just something I’m used to. It’d just be a few more nights, then we could go back to the first hospital on Monday. She grabbed my hand and we walked across the street to check one more pharmacy. As soon as we walked in I saw a nebulizer pressed up against the glass. I asked the pharmacist if I needed a prescription to get the meds for this and he said no kindly pulling them out. Thankfully I pay attention to detail and know I usually get more than one medicine when receiving a breathing treatment. Sure enough he had both! He even plugged in the machine to make sure it worked. I happily swiped my visa for $46 US dollars all while Supara, our host mom, cried tears of joy. She said she was about ready to drive me to Baku, 4 hours away to get me seen by a doctor. We drove home, I set up my new nebulizer and inhaled so much peace. I’ve seen this woman show me unconditional love. I’ve heard her fight for me. This virus is causing so much fear and chaos. Even in the midst of it all, she still chose love. This is just another reason I want to bless this family at the end of our stay. She saved my life. She didn’t give up looking for something or someone that would help me breathe. She trusted that God would provide. She is kind, patient and generous with more than just her time but with her love. If you would like to bless this family who is taking such good care of me Venmo: @bec0201
~written in love by your local gypsy
