October 14, 2008
Cigna is insanely stupid!!! I suppose that is the nicest thing I could say about how I really feel. I've been trying to get an EPTS Tens 1000 by Acumed for Ethan since July. Finally after sending this paperwork, that letter, another letter from pcp, cpt code, hc pic code, diagnosis code... and everything else different they requested EACH AND EVERY time I called... they denied paying for the machine. I am so freaking mad! Come on, how stupid can they be? The machine cost 471.00 which includes tax and shipping and handling. I won't even weigh the benefits of this machine but just cost of machine vs botox shots every 3-4 months... or cost of machine vs rounds of serial casting... or better yet, the cost of machine vs surgery! AGGGGH! Stupid, stupid Cigna! I finally got so fed up that I called Acumed directly and ordered the machine. (back ground: EPTS machine was used during physical therapy on Ethan during the summer. The EPTS is a tens unit that releases the tension in the tendon/muscle.. not to mention all the other benefits it offers. Ethan's Achilles heel on right side is so incredibly tight that he walks on his tip toe on right side. Every time Ethan goes through a growth spurt his tendon gets that much tighter. I've seen personal results after only one use during our hour of physical therapy. Ethan walked with a flat foot! The results only last for the day... thus I asked for our orthopedic Dr to write me a script so I can use it daily. This machine will eliminate casting, botox, and surgery. Plus I can use this machine on Evan when he comes home.) Stupid, stupid, stupid Cigna. Cigna said I can dispute the denial which I am going to do. Cigna denied it based on the EPTS being "new technology." When I called to order the EPTS they said the first model was made over 8 years old and the new model has a new name. They even said that Medicare covers this machine. They are going to send me tons of research material and studies they conducted for my dispute claim. Stupid Cigna... big sigh! Machine should be here in about a week.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Evan update....
October 14, 2008
I called Homeland Security today regarding the status of our I800A form. They quote a 90 day approval. I mailed it on 6/26. They noted as receiving it 7-17 thus making the 90 days 10-17. I call them about once a week for an update. They received our fingerprints and told me that I wasn't a criminal. I said, "well, I could have told you that." As of today our paperwork still has not been assigned to an adjudicator yet to review and approve our paperwork. This is so very aggravating, depressing, stressful, etc, as we desperately want our son home. Estimated time for travel is 3-5 months. Therefore if we get approval by end of October, God willing, then he won't be home until Jan, Feb, March 2009!
Please keep Evan and us in your prayers. Please pray for speedy paperwork and quick travel!
I called Homeland Security today regarding the status of our I800A form. They quote a 90 day approval. I mailed it on 6/26. They noted as receiving it 7-17 thus making the 90 days 10-17. I call them about once a week for an update. They received our fingerprints and told me that I wasn't a criminal. I said, "well, I could have told you that." As of today our paperwork still has not been assigned to an adjudicator yet to review and approve our paperwork. This is so very aggravating, depressing, stressful, etc, as we desperately want our son home. Estimated time for travel is 3-5 months. Therefore if we get approval by end of October, God willing, then he won't be home until Jan, Feb, March 2009!
Please keep Evan and us in your prayers. Please pray for speedy paperwork and quick travel!
Ethan's EEG results.....
October 8, 2008
Ethan had his six month EEG appointment on October 8th. I dread taking him to these appointments because he freaks out so much. They technically want him to go to sleep during the test but by the time they "hook him up" there is no way he is going to sleep. They lay him on a table and wrap him in a blanket with his arms tucked inside. He looks like a little sausage with his head sticking out. They they squirt this gel/glue stuff in points all over one side of his head then the other side. They hook up the "wires" to each glue spot on one side of his head then the other. Well he cries so much that by the time they finish the second side of his head the first side has come off because he is sweating and hot. They quickly wrap his head with gauze. He has to hold completely still while the test runs for 20-30 mins. During the test they turn on a strobe light above his head and turn it on at different speeds to invoke a seizure. (Ok, that like freaked me out the first time I found out that is what the strobe is for!) Once the test is done then they use warm water to wipe off the glue stuff. You can see why I hate it so much. I can only imagine what poor Ethan goes through.
This time was COMPLETELY different! His appointment was set for 1pm. He fell asleep driving in the car to his appointment. Once asleep I can pretty much do anything to Ethan except bath him. I put him on the table and wrapped him in the blanket just in case he woke up. He slept the entire time. Let me say it again... he slept the entire time. Putting the glue on both side of his head, putting the "wires" on both sides of his head, the strobe light... everything! He stirred a couple times but I just began to softly sing "You are my sunshine" to him and he went right back to sleep. He even slept through the lady putting a warm water wash cloth on his head to get the glue off. I finally had to wake him! I am so very thankful that he wasnt awake and had to go through that!
The doctor then reviewed the EEG... all is "normal" with no change from the first, second, third, etc, EEG. No seizure activity. No medicine required. All is good!
What a fantastic result! Praise God! God is good!
Ethan had his six month EEG appointment on October 8th. I dread taking him to these appointments because he freaks out so much. They technically want him to go to sleep during the test but by the time they "hook him up" there is no way he is going to sleep. They lay him on a table and wrap him in a blanket with his arms tucked inside. He looks like a little sausage with his head sticking out. They they squirt this gel/glue stuff in points all over one side of his head then the other side. They hook up the "wires" to each glue spot on one side of his head then the other. Well he cries so much that by the time they finish the second side of his head the first side has come off because he is sweating and hot. They quickly wrap his head with gauze. He has to hold completely still while the test runs for 20-30 mins. During the test they turn on a strobe light above his head and turn it on at different speeds to invoke a seizure. (Ok, that like freaked me out the first time I found out that is what the strobe is for!) Once the test is done then they use warm water to wipe off the glue stuff. You can see why I hate it so much. I can only imagine what poor Ethan goes through.
This time was COMPLETELY different! His appointment was set for 1pm. He fell asleep driving in the car to his appointment. Once asleep I can pretty much do anything to Ethan except bath him. I put him on the table and wrapped him in the blanket just in case he woke up. He slept the entire time. Let me say it again... he slept the entire time. Putting the glue on both side of his head, putting the "wires" on both sides of his head, the strobe light... everything! He stirred a couple times but I just began to softly sing "You are my sunshine" to him and he went right back to sleep. He even slept through the lady putting a warm water wash cloth on his head to get the glue off. I finally had to wake him! I am so very thankful that he wasnt awake and had to go through that!
The doctor then reviewed the EEG... all is "normal" with no change from the first, second, third, etc, EEG. No seizure activity. No medicine required. All is good!
What a fantastic result! Praise God! God is good!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
It's been awhile...
We've been busy in the Pendleton household. I just now posted pictures from Ethan's 4th birthday party (8/28). Ethan is in school and the "back to school" cold has run through this house. It seems to linger something awful. I spoke to his teacher on Friday and she said that Ethan is the healthiest one in her class. All of us have been going to bed early. The lights were out and we were all asleep just a little past 9pm last night. Oh my!
We went to a beautiful wedding in September. Karrie and Paul Rudd's daughter, Chari married Brian. The ceremony was lovely. Chari was beautiful. The reception was elegant. Ethan loved dancing to the music and the photographer kept taking his picture. However, Karrie was the most beautiful of the day. She just got her haircut and it was styled in this little bob. She was wearing a stunning dress and the cutest gold sandals. She looked amazing!
The big 40 birthday is coming up for me! Yeah what fun! However, I am looking forward to my birthday present. Matt asked what I wanted for my birthday. I said I desperately wanted to take the Wilton Cake Decorating class at Michael's. I've wanted to take it for a few years now. Well, he gave me my present early! The cake class starts 10/6! I am so very excited. I called Rachel and she signed up for the class too. I can't wait!
Still waiting for Evan to come home. I called Homeland Security about our I800A. She said our fingerprints came back with no criminal record. I said I could have told her that. She said it has not been assigned to an adjudicator yet. Big sigh! She said they have 90 days. 90 days is 10/17! So say she is right and I get the approval by end of Oct then it is 3-5 months to travel... praying the holidays dont impact the travel time. So I guess we are looking at January, Feb, March 2009 for his arrival home. However, it is all up to the Lord. He makes the rules!
Speaking of the Lord, I was praying and talking to Him while driving the other day. I looked up and the car in front of me had a sticker on the back of his window that read... Let go...Let God! That is one of my favorite sayings/scriptures. It truly made me believe that He IS listening!
Coming events in October: Fay's big 40!, Fay cuts off her long hair for charity!, Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival, train ride with the Rudd's to the pumpkin patch... my favorite, Halloween!!!!!
We went to a beautiful wedding in September. Karrie and Paul Rudd's daughter, Chari married Brian. The ceremony was lovely. Chari was beautiful. The reception was elegant. Ethan loved dancing to the music and the photographer kept taking his picture. However, Karrie was the most beautiful of the day. She just got her haircut and it was styled in this little bob. She was wearing a stunning dress and the cutest gold sandals. She looked amazing!
The big 40 birthday is coming up for me! Yeah what fun! However, I am looking forward to my birthday present. Matt asked what I wanted for my birthday. I said I desperately wanted to take the Wilton Cake Decorating class at Michael's. I've wanted to take it for a few years now. Well, he gave me my present early! The cake class starts 10/6! I am so very excited. I called Rachel and she signed up for the class too. I can't wait!
Still waiting for Evan to come home. I called Homeland Security about our I800A. She said our fingerprints came back with no criminal record. I said I could have told her that. She said it has not been assigned to an adjudicator yet. Big sigh! She said they have 90 days. 90 days is 10/17! So say she is right and I get the approval by end of Oct then it is 3-5 months to travel... praying the holidays dont impact the travel time. So I guess we are looking at January, Feb, March 2009 for his arrival home. However, it is all up to the Lord. He makes the rules!
Speaking of the Lord, I was praying and talking to Him while driving the other day. I looked up and the car in front of me had a sticker on the back of his window that read... Let go...Let God! That is one of my favorite sayings/scriptures. It truly made me believe that He IS listening!
Coming events in October: Fay's big 40!, Fay cuts off her long hair for charity!, Hunsader Farms Pumpkin Festival, train ride with the Rudd's to the pumpkin patch... my favorite, Halloween!!!!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
