'It has changed our lives'
ISSAQUAH, Wash. -- An Issaquah woman awaiting a transplant says she has gone from a death sentence to a second chance at life now that her insurance company has changed their mind about covering a needed marrow transplant.
Newlywed Alyssa Olsen is dying -- her lungs are failing, and every week seems worse than the last.
"It's kind of a progressive drowning, because cells are going where they're not supposed to be and I'm losing my ability to breath," she said.
This 24 year old suffers a severe immune deficiency, diabetes, and Crohn's Disease. Even small walks with her husband are work.
And without a bone marrow transplant, Olsen's immunologist calls her diagnosis discouraging.
"It has caused me to rely a lot on faith in God," Olson said. "He has a bigger plan for me and I trust that completely."
Twice, Olsen's insurance company Regence rejected her request for a transplant, shattering her hope for a healthy immune system.
"I don't understand how somebody could make that decision and still sleep at night," she said.
But after a desperate third appeal, they now have hope.
KOMO News aired Olsen's plight and met with Regence Blue Shield's medical director.
The insurance company now agreed to cover the $379,000 procedure.
"It has changed our lives," Olson said. "I could not be more grateful to you or the team because we would not be able to do this right now had you not listened to my story."
Her story doesn't have a happy ending yet. Olsen's next challenge is finding a bone marrow match through the national registry.
"We actually got the call yesterday that the search has been initiated and we have a number of potential matches," she said.
Olsen says after years of being the constantly medicated sick girl in and out of hospitals, a transplant offers a second chance.
"The promise that comes with that and the hope that comes with that is indescribable," she said.
Olsen will have to undergo chemo and radiation to prepare her body for the procedure, which could happen within the next two months.
Newlywed Alyssa Olsen is dying -- her lungs are failing, and every week seems worse than the last.
"It's kind of a progressive drowning, because cells are going where they're not supposed to be and I'm losing my ability to breath," she said.
This 24 year old suffers a severe immune deficiency, diabetes, and Crohn's Disease. Even small walks with her husband are work.
And without a bone marrow transplant, Olsen's immunologist calls her diagnosis discouraging.
"It has caused me to rely a lot on faith in God," Olson said. "He has a bigger plan for me and I trust that completely."
Twice, Olsen's insurance company Regence rejected her request for a transplant, shattering her hope for a healthy immune system.
"I don't understand how somebody could make that decision and still sleep at night," she said.
But after a desperate third appeal, they now have hope.
KOMO News aired Olsen's plight and met with Regence Blue Shield's medical director.
The insurance company now agreed to cover the $379,000 procedure.
"It has changed our lives," Olson said. "I could not be more grateful to you or the team because we would not be able to do this right now had you not listened to my story."
Her story doesn't have a happy ending yet. Olsen's next challenge is finding a bone marrow match through the national registry.
"We actually got the call yesterday that the search has been initiated and we have a number of potential matches," she said.
Olsen says after years of being the constantly medicated sick girl in and out of hospitals, a transplant offers a second chance.
"The promise that comes with that and the hope that comes with that is indescribable," she said.
Olsen will have to undergo chemo and radiation to prepare her body for the procedure, which could happen within the next two months.