Moving Mountains

With all other courses of treatment unsuccessful and the prognosis grim, Kim visited a New York specialist — one of only two doctors in the country who performs the surgery that could be her last hope. According to Denise, Kim's insurance provider advised her to go "out of network" since she had exhausted all courses of treatment in her home state. Her insurance covered visits with and tests ordered by the new doctor, and surgery was scheduled for a Tuesday. At 5 p.m. the Friday before the scheduled procedure, as Kim prepared to leave for New York, the insurance company denied her claim to cover the cost of the surgery, calling it investigational and advising her to seek an in-network doctor. The surgery was cancelled.