One of my all-time favorite church songs is "Let Us Break Bread Together." While I've mostly sung it during communion, whenver I hear it, it brings me deep peace. The stanza, "When I fall on my knees with my face to the rising sun, O Lord have mercy on me" particularly resonates when I'm going through times of challenge or praise.

That is where I am. Novartis Foundation (the charitable assistance arm of the pharmaceutical company Novartis) received my compassionate use request. They told me they will give me my chemotherapy drug, Mekinist, from now to the end of the year. I will not have any out-of-pocket costs.

This relief also provides time to write and submit my appeal to the insurance company to cover the drugs in the future. For now, I am going to enjoy the respite.

(Many thanks to friends who came forward before this good news and said they would help cover the chemo costs if I couldn't afford the therapy on my own.)