Unexpected bronco ride lands member in hospital, mounting bills shared by CHM, Kristen Jenkyns, Peyton, Colorado

*Editor’s note: This information was published in the August 2021 issue of Heartfelt Magazine, CHM’s monthly magazine that provides CHM membership-related tips and tricks, medical advice from doctors, testimonies from CHM members, and more. Please refer to the CHM Guidelines and applicable web pages for the most up-to-date information regarding CHM membership, sharing eligibility, and ministry news.*

One spring afternoon, I was riding one of our horses in the pasture when she inexplicably switched from standing quietly to bucking bronco. I launched high into the air and crashed into the ground on my right side. My daughter was kicked in both legs by my bucking horse.

My collarbone felt like fire (and nearly punctured the skin). I couldn't use or move my right arm, and I struggled to catch my breath. I could barely move.

My daughter and I screamed for help. As my husband, Bob, and some neighbors came running, my first thought – really - was, “Thank goodness we joined CHM.”

My daughter went to the hospital with me; she’d just suffered severe bruising. Thank goodness, because we found out shortly afterward that she was pregnant.

I didn’t get off so easy. A CT scan revealed that I had an "exploded" collarbone, eight broken ribs, a punctured lung, and a huge purple-black bruise on my hip. I spent four days in the hospital; surgery repaired my shattered collarbone with a plate and screws.

I was in the hospital during the peak of COVID-19 hospitalizations and no one could be with me. I was alone and in tremendous pain. It was a scary time!

Recovery has been slow, painful, and discouraging. My whole upper right side now lacks structural stability, fatigues quickly, and is still very painful. I've had many doctors’ appointments and tests, four more surgeries, three infections, and months of physical therapy. On top of that, Bob and I both caught COVID-19 after my last surgery. After several ER visits for both of us, Bob ended up in the ICU for 15 days.

It has been a long journey, but CHM has helped every step. Calling CHM is easy and pleasant every single time! I can reach a person quickly. When I do have questions or need help, they are always kind, patient, and efficient.

Submitting bills seemed daunting at first, but once I understood the process, it was pretty easy. It takes time and diligence to keep track of all the bills and payments. However, I actually find this process of shopping around for the best prices and negotiating discounts a fun challenge.

I sing CHM's praises to everyone who will listen. My husband and I know from personal experience that there’s nothing else out there that truly takes care of its member's needs like CHM does.

We love that it allows us to be in the driver's seat of our medical care. It's truly budget-friendly, doesn't interfere with healthcare decisions, and we have the flexibility to choose our providers. We especially love that it encourages personal responsibility to plan and save for smaller medical incidents while providing thorough protection for catastrophic illnesses and injuries, like my husband's and mine.

This incident was challenging, but it helped bring me back to my faith. Though I've always been a Christian, I’d become lax in my faith. However, I’ve seen God's hand at work over and over through these medical needs. Experiencing Christians coming together to help each other with healthcare is a powerful testimony for me.
Even though we were dealing with some pretty awful health issues, we felt wrapped in God's love and reassurance the entire time through the outstanding care and compassion we've experienced with CHM!

Read more at chministries.org/testimonials.