16/09/2015
Life Story of our patient Shelton
Shelton is an American, he was diagnosed with cancer for over 5 years, and he is currently working and living in Beijing. Faced with severe illness, Shelton not only changed his attitude to life, but also facing the pressure of the cost of treatment. Without the support of insurance, the cost of treatment can be a serious burden to any middle-class Americans, he also felt difficult to keep up with the treatment......
Shelton is an engineer from California, and has served as a visiting professor at Beijing University of Technology. He lives with his wife Patty in a district of Chaoyang District, Beijing, and accompany them is lovely puppy called Osito.
Shelton will be 55 years old next month. However, the last 5 years with five years of his life was totally different from what he has been living for the last 50 years, because in April 2010, he was diagnosed with colon cancer with liver metastases. So far, he spent the first 1000 days to fight with cancer, and continues to fight with cancer for the next 1,000 days, although there is a big uncertainty, surely he is facing it with positive mindset.
On his blog on April 21, 2015, he wrote "Today I celebrate my 5th anniversary while I am one of the cancer survivors at stage 4, with the same disease most people can only live for two years, but the doctor told that I have now became one of that lucky 5%. I have gone through 55 chemotherapy treatments and 3 surgeries, at the same time, I continued to work and operate business. I will continue to spend every day with appreciation. "
In January 2011, the very first surgery for Shelton was performed with intestinal and liver resection to remove any visible tumor. After the chemotherapy, he came to China, continued to work and had another phase of chemotherapy treatment. However, at this time, he found himself encountered with some the difficulties. The American insurance that he had can only cover his overseas emergency expenses, but not included the cost of conventional treatment, for which the medical expense that he spent in this phase was totally not reimbursable. With desperation, he can only return to the United States to continue treatment.
In January 2012, he again came to Beijing to do immunotherapy, and this time, the insurance company could only responsible for his medical expenses, and not be responsible for drug costs. On top of that Shelton had to borrow from some of his shares of business to settle the medical bill. Huge treatment costs for a few months can easily make a middle-upper class Americans found it difficult to manage.
In July 2012, the same surgery doctor gave him another liver resection because the cancer metastasis. Fortunately, his insurance company gave him a big surprise that they could resolved the problem of his medical expenses by switching his policy to an international insurance plan instead with 100% reimbursement of his medical expenses in Beijing. However, the downside is if he was returned to the United States, then it can be reimbursed with 80% instead, by doing such changing with insurance policy, he was so relieved.
Then, through the Cancer Bio Master Founder Sunny referral, Shelton was admitted to Beijing United Family Hospital for further treatment. Coincidentally, Shelton’s doctor and his wife turned out to be alumni, both graduated from the same university. Shelton was able to be reimbursed for the full cost of treatment for a year with over RMB $1Millon. However, just after that, the insurance company informed him that he could not continue to use such insurance scheme, which Shelton treatment plan was facing another challenge.
With this change, Shelton doctor had to adjust the chemotherapy treatment program, replacing a drug that is less expensive, and give him up to a 40% discount, so the treatment can be continued.
Currently, Shelton is working really hard on negotiating with his insurance companies to continue to cover his treatment bills in Beijing, but the outcome is not unpredictable. If this issue is not resolved, returning to the States would be the only choice.
Shelton asked his doctor how much longer he can live, this question is not easy to answer.
"I work and live in China now; I do not want to return to the States. If more than a year of my life, then I can accept myself returning to the States for this treatment as a whole purpose, otherwise, I would rather stay in China ", Shelton made it sounds like very easy. He hoped that the rest of their lives could spend in China, returning to the States is their last resort.
Shelton was never refrain from discussing the disease, he said, this cancer changed his life, making his last 5 years becoming very different as compared to his first 50 years of life. "Positive and negative, optimistic and pessimistic, always choose, and I choose to be positive and optimistic."
Shelton said: We are all the same; I want to do more within the limited time because I can barely see the end, maybe a few months, maybe a year later, and I have to leave.
Shelton also come up with a print version of the booklet, AN AMAZING LIFE written on the cover, which he summed up his first 50 years of life, the life after he was diagnosed with this disease, the American company that he worked for, and every detail since he came to China, According to book, Shelton first came to China in 2009, for the wind power projects in western China. And he came to China again came after he was diagnosed with cancer, he and his wife toured the almost the entire northwest China, Tibet, Guilin, Shaolin Temple and so many attractions, these are all written in his book.
Why did you choose China? Shelton said, "In China, I can do a lot more interesting things, travelling, learning Chinese, meeting new friends and like-minded partners. I'm just a person among few billion out there, but everyone can have some impact in the world. "He is now considering the matter after the death of his own, he is willing to discuss with someone else's life has been difficult, and to disseminate ideas to generate new idea, in order to achieve of helping others. Even though one day if he was gone, can still affect the world.
Speaking of family, Shelton said, "Everyone has their own life; we should learn to identify things from the bright side, even if only a little. I myself am so, I tell my children as well." He had 4 sons and 1 daughter, in which 3 of the children were adopted; in addition, he has 3 grandchildren. His oldest kid misses him so much; Shelton hopes the lives of children can go on smoothly.
Speaking of his wife, Shelton looked at Patty with a smile. He said the children were young, family conflicts always exist, because adopted children have behavioral problems, family relations were once very tense. However, since his illness, his relationship with his wife has unprecedented intimacy again. He hopes that Patty's life can go on smoothly.
When Patty comes to her husband's illness, attitude is very peaceful, looks calm, but the sound like it has a hidden sense. She said that if Shelton left, her life will be a big problem; she may want to go back to the States, to live with her daughter and granddaughter. "I am 52 years old, although no longer young, but not old, I do not want him to go, but anyway I have to go on living." She said.
During the conversation, Osito has been well behaved; he was always wagging his tail happily, sniffing people feet, and climbing up and down making sure you are noticed with his friendly attitude, looking at you with a pair of black eyes. This reminds me of Shelton and Patty posted a note on their front door saying:
"Welcome to our home
May God bless all who come in
God bless, we have a very special dog
He is a blind dog named Osito
Because of his blindness, when you go in, he always bark
His perception of others is by sniffing their feet
If you are not comfortable, please be sure to let us know
Bless you"
