In November of 2003, my family’s life changed in a split second. While working at an automotive shop, my husband suffered a head injury when an exhaust component landed on the back of his head. While the injury left him in chronic pain and without the ability to work for three years, it was the emotional pain that would hurt the most.
The injury happened at work, yet Worker’s Compensation denied him any payments. Disability payments would be delayed because Worker’s Compensation should have been there to help him. As time slipped away from days, weeks, months, and years, some friends and family said things that still hurt to the very depth of my soul.
Head injuries cannot be seen to the naked eye so there were plenty of comments that suggested and said straight out that he should just get over it. While we went through the struggle of getting medical help, the struggle financially, and the struggle to hear comments that were just wrong, I went to work for my husband.
Working three jobs during this time frame was only the beginning. I reached out for legal advise to get Worker’s Compensation to pay my husband as well as give him the medical help that he needed. I kept moving forward day to day knowing that the results of our actions may not go our way. I listened to people giving me advice on what I considered to be a no brainer in protecting and doing whatever necessary to help my husband.
The ultimate comment that truly almost put me over the edge was to hear a group of people tell me directly to my face that I had grounds to divorce my husband because he would not go to work and was now useless to me.
Getting married to the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with was something that each of us took very seriously. It was “For Better, For Worse, In Sickness and in Health”. To hear that comment crushed me because I assumed that most people felt the same way we did. They didn’t and it was an eye opener. Cutting ties with some was out of necessity for my husband and our family.
It had to do with protecting what was important to us.
It had to do with being mentally strong.
It had to do with taking care of each other.
Mostly, it had to do with leaving a strong legacy of determination, strength, and unconditional love of family.
Sharing our story hasn’t been easy. It brings up some painful memories. My husband continues to have symptoms from that injury, yet with the proper help physically and mentally, he has done amazingly well and continues to inspire me daily.
Earlier this month, I started a project called, “What the World Needs Now.” It has to do with sharing compassion, kindness, and love around. Seeing so much negativity through social media and the news is what gave me the push to get this project moving. It was something that was stirring in my mind for over two years, yet because it wasn’t perfect, it was put off until now.
The same thing happens all the time with some clients. They may put off or in some cases just not take the time to get an insurance policy for their family for one reason or another. Life Insurance is one product that I have seen make a huge impact on my client’s lives, yet all too often, reasons are given for not purchasing it. It can be expensive depending on the amount of insurance needed and the medical underwriting that is required to get the policy, but the expense far outweighs what can happen without it.
It can be about leaving a family the choices to live out their dreams.
It can be about a child going to school or college.
It can be about giving a husband and/or wife time to grieve.
It can be about making sure bills are covered.
It can be about continuing a business that you have worked so hard to start.
It can be about making sure that your family can still live in the house that you made a home.
It can be about continuing to show your loved ones how much you cared and loved them.
It can be about leaving a strong legacy of determination, strength, and unconditional love.
Terri J. Trepanier
Terri Trepanier is the owner of Balanced Care Health and Supplemental Insurance and a licensed insurance consultant and broker with Associated Brokers. Licensed in both Maine and NH, her specialty is working with small businesses, individuals, and families with their health and life insurance needs. She is certified to offer health plans both on and off the exchange and is contracted with every health insurance company that offers plans in both New Hampshire and Maine. Her other passion is assisting Medicare beneficiaries with their Medicare Supplemental, Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plans, and Medicare Advantage plans. Terri has seen firsthand the importance of insurance products and how they help families. Her goal with Balanced Care is to “Insure Security and Peace of Mind One Family at a Time”.