As
most of you know we “were” planning on moving to Texas as soon as school was
out….well that has changed….things just didn't work out for this year....we’re
hopeful we’ll get to go next year.
Since
we have to stay, I will just continue to go down the path that I started here….as much as I would rather move to be by Dani and my little buddy
Ashley (and his special doctors)….I will say, I'm proud; I have worked my butt
off trying to get all these services here that Corbin is eligible for and after
6 ½ years I finally did it!!!!
Here's
a preview of what's going to be happening…….
Therapy:
In November, Corb was
denied for more therapy sessions….but as far as the company understood, in our
state you get 30 sessions each year, without a Prior Authorization….so the
speech therapist came on Thursday January 5th and did her report and
the company billed it right away….well on Monday the 9th while we
were out doing errands the occupational therapist called asking if we were
gonna be home for her appointment….she was waiting outside….needless to say, I
guess he got approved for more sessions lol
Waiver/request form:
I'm hopeful that I'll be
able to help change our screwed up system….I created a form that will make it
easier for the doctors or therapists to request items for the waiver to
cover….Corbin's worker sent the forms into the state to see what they
think….she’s gonna set up an appointment with me soon, so we can go over the
forms to see if state had decided it needed something more....I'm more then happy to tweak it to make sure
it covers everything that’s requires.
So far we've gotten a few things that were written up the old fashion way:
Asking the therapist to request items for Corb, is like pulling teeth:
I had talked to one of the therapists and told her straight up that whatever she didn't feel comfortable writing for….I’d just ask the Doc to do it (you should have seen the dumbfounded look on her face, I do what my son needs, sorry if it hurt your feelings). The new Doc was more than happy to sign (my forms) for just about everything I asked her too....like:
Medicaid items:
We’re waiting for the seating and mobility rep to call about his walker
and stroller
also the new Doc wrote a script for Corb to have a custom wheelchair seating eval.
PCW:
Many
many months ago I found a new PCW company.…well for the longest time, just
about every week I was checking in with them (with no one ever calling me
back), because they still weren't able to get Corbin approved for any hours….I
took it upon myself to get them 2 hours a day, 7 days a week from the Waiver
until the PA paper work was completed….I talked to the scheduler and I asked
her to get it fully staffed first, before we make a start date, NEVER heard
from them again….well before I picked that company, I tried to get into a
different company but they said it was way too much work with us moving away
anyway….well since we’re not going I called to see if they would consider it
now….the intake nurse was here, everything is set to go….as soon as Sarah heals
from Gallbladder surgery she can start.
Dynavox EyeMax:
I've always wanted a Dynavox EyeMax for my sweet Corbin Lee, but
because we've never had any consistent therapists, there wasn't ever anyone to
write the reports for insurance....well since we got approved for the 30
sessions that we had hoped for, we gave the go ahead for the device to be sent
to us….we had ordered one and put it on hold, hopeful he wouldn't get
denied….we are all so excited, it's so awesome we will get the 4-week trial
that our insurance will cover….the REP was here on Tuesday Jan 17th
to help me and the speech therapist get it set up
1 week into the
trial….sadly, we’ve “had” to come to realize and accept that this device isn’t
right for Corbin and personally, it’s actually not what I thought it was…..I
guess I was always under the assumption that it was more of an interactive
device….something he could pick and make choices from and something fun would
pop up, or we could play with him, with what he chose….well, the rep said don’t
even use the word “choices” in the report….the device has to use it for communication only,
example….Mom my show is over, then he’d have to go to the next page to say,
what one he wants all –by himself-
Dystonia/New Doc:
Corbin was diagnosed with
Secondary Dystonia in Dec 2010….Dystonia
is a neurological movement disorder, in which sustained muscle contractions
cause twisting and repetitive movements or abnormal postures. The disorder may
be hereditary or caused by other factors such as birth-related or other
physical trauma, infection, poisoning or reaction to pharmaceutical drugs,
particularly neuroleptics. Treatment is difficult and has been limited to
minimizing the symptoms of the disorder, since there is no cure available. Because
we were going to be moving to Texas, I was going to just wait to discuss
treatment options with the new doctors when we got down there, but since we
can't go yet, I decided since I really felt a connection with the new Doc at Corb’s PMNR clinic, that I would asked her if she has ever dealt with treating
patients with Dystonia, and she has YEAH!
We talked about the fact
that he has tried all three of the main medications but I asked her, if since
Corb was very young when we tried Sinemet, did she think the side effect of the
vomiting might be different now that he’s bigger, well she was happy to try….I
planed to start it on Sat Jan 28th but on Fri Jan 29th he had a very bad seizure
which ended in him having to be intubated….I’ve made the decision that I’m not
starting him on the Sinemet at all and I’m weaning him back off the seizure
medication that the Neuro started him on....and I'm just bringing him back to Mayo.
Dystonia medications:
While at Mayo in Dec 2010
the Doc’s had put Corb on the last possible Dystonia treatment before Deep Brain
Stimulation, it’s a medication called Artane; you HAVE to try it to move
forward, well….
Seizures:
Corbin had only had one
seizure ever and that was during the accident; until May 2011, then again Dec
2011 and then the one on Fri Jan 2012….Dani brought it to my attention that
Corb started having these seizure approx. 2 months after discontinuing the
Artane, there’s no way to know for sure and no way to prove it but I’m feeling very
angry, guilty, and sad for my baby….I do everything in my power to help him and
sometimes it gets screwed up even worse.
DBS (deep brain stimulation):
Bill and I, through all my
bawling had a heart to heart and he asked me if I was really considering
bringing Corb back to Mayo to farther discuss the DBS and I said yes I am and
he said maybe it “is” time to think about it….my heart dropped, I can’t even
start to express how much that meant to me in that very moment….I have felt
very alone in this journey and it’s nice to have support….I love you Honey
I already called Mayo and
I’m having them send me the list of motels that give discounts to Mayo patients
(we will try to get into the Ronald McDonald house, but that’s never a guarantee)
so that brings me to my next topic….
Small fundraiser:
I wouldn’t even know where
to start but I’m considering looking to some form of small fundraiser so if we
do decide to do the DBS we’ll be able to afford staying out of town for many days and all the travel expenses in general….if anyone has any ideas please let me know....corbinleeproject@yahoo.com
Thought of a cute name....
Something neat to end with:
We had Chinese for supper on super bowl Sunday….both me and Corb’s
Fortune Cookies had the same Fortunes (it’s not the right direction), it’s
kinda creepy....
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