Help please!

[melliska]

Hi everybody,

I don't know exactly where to find help with this, but I'm sure someone here does (or could even help me)

This all goes back to a previous post of mine ¤ i need everyone's help please ¤ (in Cure, Care, and Life at...
http://carecure.org/forum/showthread.php?t=14274
http://carecure.org/forum/showthread.php?t=3404
http://carecure.org/forum/showthread.php?t=28545
respectively)

The boy from the post, Keith, was hurt Oct. 9th of last year. He had a lot of injuries and complications, so he wasn't able to start rehab for quite a long time.

My mom talked to his mother this morning and she said that their insurance is kicking him out of rehab March 15th. (They will only pay for 8 weeks)

Keith still has a trach and his stomach feeding tube. They just starting him eating pureed foods a week ago. (It takes him over a hour to eat a meal) He is very weak and is slowly improving, but he hasn't had much energy for rehab. (He had pneumonia again for a week in there)

The rehab told his mother he would need 24 hour care (He has a C5 injury) and they haven't taught her his cares yet. They said that he would need a nurse to care for the trach and feeding tube also.

He's covered under his father for insurance (his parents are divorced) but they won't speak to her so she's having a hard time dealing with them. (I wonder why...grrrr) There is also some question about him having Title 19 (Medicaid) (They pay for my aide because my insurance won't and his insurance doesn't cover aides either)

Does anyone have any ideas on where they can go for help? I personally think he needs more rehab, but I could just be projecting my rehab inadequacies on his rehab. I do, however, know that his mother needs to be taught his cares properly.

Then there is the caregiver problem. If he can't get Title 19 to pay for aides, does anyone know where we can contact for help?

Also, does anyone know how his mom should handle getting equipment? I don't think they've ordered his chair yet (I'll double check on that) and he'll need a bed, etc. Is there someway she can get the insurance to communicate with her or is she just stuck with it the way it is?

After he gets home, I'm going to try to help with the school angle too. Vocational Rehab said they can't help him with a PC or voice software (I'd give him mine when I get it, but I'm guessing they'd be way pissed off) but I'm sure there must be some resources to help him finish high school. He has a tutor at rehab and has been using voice software there so hopefully he's gotten some work done in case it takes awhile to get started at home.

I called my favorite DHS girl and she said she'll call his mother tomorrow. Paul also helped (thanks Paul) and I'm going to wrack your brains too B I got a call from Voc Rehab about my computer (it's all going very well), but it's not very exciting since I'm worried about Keith. They have already put a ramp on the house, so the poor family is going to have to expect me (once they're ready of course. I wouldn't want to scare the poor boy)

Thanks everybody. Your collective knowledge has got to be the biggest pool on Earth. thanks, Melissa

Life is a lesson you learn when you're through.

[KLD]

See discussion on Care and Cure forum on this duplicate topic.