This is a personal story from our Owner, Kim, and her experience with Life Insurance. This is something that we, as an agency, are truly passionate about and can make a huge difference in the lives of our friends and family.
Life was good, I was fortunate to be able to work part-time so that I could be home with my three young children, the youngest was 8 at the time. I was a wife, mother, volleyball coach, volunteer at school, very active with my children and ran my own business. After dropping my children off at school one morning, I met friends to work out, then home to shower and take care of my business. While washing my face, I noticed a large lump on my neck, kind of blew it off thinking it was a swollen gland. When it didn’t go away I thought I should see a doctor, maybe it was my thyroid. I wasn’t feeling sick, just tired, but aren’t all moms tired!
Few weeks later, was able to get into the doctor. From there the whirlwind started. I went directly from her office to have an ultra sound. Still thinking it was my thyroid and that nothing would come of it, I continued with what I do and went to my meeting that night. While at my meeting I got a phone call from the doctor. First what doctor calls you at 8:30 in the evening unless something bad is happening. She said I had a tumor that had pushed through the muscle in my neck. It didn’t stop there, it was also wrapping around my vocal cords (no wonder I felt like I had something stuck in my throat) and to top is off I had a tumor in my chest area that was the size of a mans fist. At that point we had no idea if it was the “C” word or just a benign tumor. She had set up an appointment with a thoraxic surgeon for 8 am the next morning.
I left my meeting in a fog. My life was about to change and so was the life of my family. To say the least I was scared to death. What did this mean? So many things are going through your mind, is it cancer, if so, what kind, what stage, who will take care of my kids, my husband, how will we be able to afford the medical bills…. will I die?
That next morning we met with the thoraxic surgeon who tried to biopsy the lump in my neck, no luck. We then did a surgical biopsy. We decided to take the kids and go on a vacation to enjoy some family time. Something we all needed! Once we returned we received the results, it was a cancer known as Hodgkins Lymphoma and only stage 2. Praise the lord, it was curable, over the next 6 months I went through chemo and radiation. We are now over 10 years out and I am considered cured!
I tell this story because there are two things that I learned when I was diagnosed. First, that you never know what is in-store for you, I never expected to be diagnosed with cancer at age 39. Secondly, I was so happy that my husband and I had taken the necessary steps to get life insurance at a young age. I knew my family was protected had the outcome not been as great. Had it been terminal we had life insurance in place along with the accelerated death benefit endorsed on the policy. This would provide up to 50% of the face amount of my policy if it was terminal and my life expectancy was 12 months or less. This would have helped with final expenses and medical bills. The only downside is that it is difficult to get additional life insurance once you have been diagnosed with cancer even though it is considered cured. This is why I’m a firm believer in Life Insurance, now before you need it.
This is true with a lot of diseases that can be developed later in life. Things like diabetes, heart disease, and so many other things that can develop as you get older all make Life Insurance more difficult and expensive to obtain.
If you don’t have life insurance or keep putting it off because it won’t happen to you, now might be a good time to revisit the subject. There is no wrong amount in life insurance except not having any at all. Make sure your family is protected. We are here to help, call us today!
-GSP Insurance
614-878-0240
info@gsp-insurance.com
