Margaret Greene, Keystone, SD

Our story is a tale about what happened when we least expected it and how God wove CHM into the tapestry of our lives to help us in a time of great need.

After serving as missionaries for many years, in 2004 my husband Richard, and I continued in full-time ministry by founding The Keystone Project (keystoneproject.org) in Keystone, S.D. The Keystone Project is a global missions network that trains church leaders to “make disciples who will make disciples” (Matthew 28:18-20)—with a focus on international leaders and students.

Our oldest son, Richard Jr. (“Rick”), and his wife, Jennifer, joined CHM in early 2014. Knowing we were searching for a healthcare cost solution, they encouraged us to sign up as well. We became Gold members that July and for several years enjoyed relatively good health.

In May 2017, however, my husband was teaching a discipleship training seminar when he began feeling strange. By that evening he felt tightness in his chest. Our youngest son, George—who had just earned his EMT license and was in paramedic school—asked Richard if he wanted him to call the ambulance. Thinking it wasn’t serious, Richard said no. George instead gave him three baby aspirin tablets.

Richard’s symptoms returned after a few hours and we went to the emergency room. We were shocked to discover that he was suffering a heart attack despite eating a healthy diet and regularly using his treadmill.

After the diagnosis, a number of tests and a stent procedure, we started talking about what we thought the incident would cost. We joked—somewhat morbidly—that the charges would be “scary enough to cause a heart attack.”

We soon received the medical bills and my calculator did, indeed, show a scary number: nearly $58,000.

Thankfully, a letter from the hospital arrived stating that, because CHM members are considered self-pay patients, our bill would be reduced 52 percent if paid in a certain timeframe.

I immediately called CHM and they worked with us to meet the discount deadline.

Meanwhile, I set up a payment plan with all of Richard’s healthcare providers to keep our accounts in good standing. We were thrilled to soon receive the CHM check to share the remainder of the hospital bill, and as someone who loves a “bargain,” I couldn’t have been happier with how the ministry handled the situation.

A few weeks later Richard went back to the hospital due to more pressure in his chest. We thought perhaps it was another heart attack. He was tested and diagnosed with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). Again, CHM stepped in to share the expenses, totaling $6,800 after discounts of about 50 percent.

During the summer I accompanied Richard to his heart rehab appointments; I’d heard those who undergo cardio rehab have a 60 percent lower risk of recurring heart events. We also implemented some lifestyle changes to help ease his GERD symptoms.

Richard has since returned to the work he loves at The Keystone Project. We praise God!

God has blessed us with nine children—all adults now—and with the exception of Richard Jr. we decided to name them after heroes of the Christian faith: Jonathan Edwards Greene, David Brainerd Greene, William Carey Greene, Charles (“Charlie”) Finney Greene, James Hudson Taylor Greene, Andrew Murray Greene, George Whitefield Greene and Amy Carmichael Greene.

Our family works together every day at the Rushmore Express Family Inn and Suites, owned by The Keystone Project.

Four of our eight sons are CHM members, and two have thus far welcomed babies born under CHM’s Gold maternity program.

Rick Jr.’s wife, Jennifer, gave birth to Richard III on Jan. 21, 2015. They welcomed a second son, Joah Thomas, on Oct. 7, 2017. Joah’s birth weight was under five pounds and complications landed him in the NICU, but thankfully he’s doing fine today. Between the two pregnancies and a miscarriage the family suffered in 2016, CHM shared over $47,600.

Charlie and his wife, Amber, celebrated the birth of their first daughter, Emory, on Aug. 19, 2016. CHM members alleviated the financial burden by sharing $16,870 in maternity expenses.

Pregnant for the second time, Amber was sent home on Dec. 14, 2017, after her labor hadn’t progressed enough to be admitted to the hospital. After a very short time at home her water broke.

Driving to the hospital 30 minutes away, Amber told Charlie to pull over because they weren’t going to make it in time. As soon as he called 9-1-1 and opened Amber’s car door, Charlie caught the baby in his arms!

They had called me on their way to the hospital and I dropped everything I was doing, arriving just after the birth and just as an ambulance approached from the opposite direction.

Thankfully, both mom and baby—another daughter, Indiana Seraph—were fine and were safely transported to the hospital. At the time of this writing CHM has shared nearly $6,000 in expenses for Indiana’s birth.

CHM has been there for us during the most frightening and joyous times of our lives. We have been reminded that the number of our days is in God’s hands (Job 14:5, Psalm 139:16). Every day is a new chance to make good choices regarding our health and to be thankful for the many blessings He has given us.

We highly recommend CHM and have referred others to join. We’re so happy to know that our monthly financial gift helps bring healing to others in the family of God. We welcome CHM members to visit us in the Black Hills of South Dakota; our ministry is only two miles away from Mount Rushmore!