kindness that helps to treat depression

If you've been reading this blog for the whole time I've been writing, you know that I have clinical depression. If you haven't read for the past 4 years, then now you know that I have clinical depression. I have the difficult to treat kind of depression. In the winter it become more difficult to do more than the basics required of me partly because of my depression. If you didn't know me, you wouldn't notice. But if you do know me, and you depend on me for something, you would notice easily. And because I have a difficult to treat type of depression I have had to take an add-on medication. It's a medication in addition to the normal antidepressant that people usually take. It is a wonderful medication that has made my life easier. In fact, the first time I took this medication, I wondered aloud to everyone, if this is how normal people feel every day, then I have missed out on some amazing things in life.

The reason I'm telling you all of this is because I have a story to tell. My story would not make sense if you didn't know that I struggle with depression and that I need medication to make life better. I took this medication after Julianna was born to help ease my postpartum depression. It is a very strong, and very expensive drug. However, when I took it with Julianna we'd already met our deductible for the year, so we never knew just how expensive this drug could have been out of pocket. This winter has been difficult. My doctor suggested I try this medication again. I agreed and was very happy with it until I went to fill the prescription for the first time this year. It turns out that this medication from Walgreen's would have been $549.00. Yes, you read that correctly. Five-hundred and forty-nine dollars. So, after much thought and reflection, I called my doctor to ask for a less expensive option. Basically, I found that there wasn't one. And the pharmacy at my doctor's office was selling the med for over $600.

Thankfully, my doctor's nurse referred me to a local pharmacy in Hutchinson, called Hutchinson Drug Store and told me to speak with Aaron.  Interestingly, I know Aaron and have been working out with him at the Y for over a year. I had once talked to him about moving my prescriptions to his pharmacy, but had never taken the time to do so; I wasn't sure how, and life was easier to just keep it the same. The nurse told me that Aaron generally was the most reasonably priced in Hutchinson. He suggested I call and find out if I could get my medication for less at his drugstore.

I called over there and spoke with a pharmacy technician. I did not give my name, only my dilemma. I was put on hold for about 45 seconds before Aaron came on the line to share that he knew of a coupon online that could get me this medication for free this month, and a discount card that could give me a discount on the medication for the rest of the year. He told me to come on down to his office and he would help me get it figured out.

I made it to his office about 30 minutes before he was to close for the night. He spent nearly an hour helping me get my prescription transferred to his pharmacy, get it filed correctly, and get my insurance figured out. He made many phone calls, gave me his office phone for me to talk to the right people and worked past his closing time to make it happen. Aaron not only filled my prescription, he went above and beyond to help me to afford the medication I was needing.

I can't ever thank him enough for doing this for me. I wish there was something more I could do than write a blog post to share my story. I will be telling anyone who will listen about this. I hope to support his small business and give him some free advertisement. It's the least I can do to repay him for all of his hard work. This kindness will not be forgotten.

And with that, I wish you all a Happy Valentine's Day.