OT:Help!!! desperiate for ideas!!!

[hugabearjo]

Hi budget friends- I am putting this here because this is where I spend my time. It is budget related because I must come up with creative ideas to pay for travel to and from hospital plus my co-pays.

Today- I come for prayers and ideas. My baby DS15- has a consult with the interventional radiologist. He has had a tumor on his foot for a year and a half. We removed it once and pain and swelling returned about 3 months later. The last year has been spent at doctors, upon doctors. The medical travel has tested us and stretched us budget, and emotionally. Well, it has brought us to today. Where we go to see yet another specialist. However, now there is not denying what we are looking for. I am so scared. I am usually a rock and this has me shaken. Tomorrow we are schedule for an angiogram/plasty depending on what they find. They will go in the major artery in his groin and tread a camera/injector to his foot and inject dye to take a bunch more pictures. If they find a blockage we might be able to fix it with a stent (much like heart cathe). If too many blood vessels then who knows depending on what is drawing the extra blood supply.

Please, Please pray for my son. He is the youngest of three boys and I am a single mom. My budget is tight anyway and this just adds to it.

Thanks friends-
Jo

 

[magiclj]

My thoughts and prayers are with you. Sending hugs your way.

 

[tommya60]

Thinking of you and your son. Sending prayers for a speedy recovery.

 

[Stan's MaggieMouse]

My baby is also a 15 year old boy. My prayers are with you!

 

[mrsmom]

First off prayers to your son and your family. About paying for stuff, talk to someone in the hospital alot of times they have programs to help pay for stuff that insurance don't cover Let us know how things go.
Kim

 

[minnie1928]

My thoughts and prayers are with you!

 

[GoofyFairie]

Prayers for you and your son. Try talking to the hospital social worker too see what programs you may qualify for. Also, you can just make payments on the outstanding balance until it is paid. Tell them what you can afford and be sure the amount won't strain your budget. I could be wrong, but as long as you are making some kind of payment, no matter how small, they have to accept it. Good luck to you and DS. You will be in our thoughts and prayers.

 

[java]

Prayers for your son.
Have you looked into Ronald McDonald houses? My friend uses them when she is staying at various hospitals for her son. They are clean and free. Your hospital can refer you to the closest one.

 

[dfchelbay]

Hi budget friends- I am putting this here because this is where I spend my time. It is budget related because I must come up with creative ideas to pay for travel to and from hospital plus my co-pays.

Today- I come for prayers and ideas. My baby DS15- has a consult with the interventional radiologist. He has had a tumor on his foot for a year and a half. We removed it once and pain and swelling returned about 3 months later. The last year has been spent at doctors, upon doctors. The medical travel has tested us and stretched us budget, and emotionally. Well, it has brought us to today. Where we go to see yet another specialist. However, now there is not denying what we are looking for. I am so scared. I am usually a rock and this has me shaken. Tomorrow we are schedule for an angiogram/plasty depending on what they find. They will go in the major artery in his groin and tread a camera/injector to his foot and inject dye to take a bunch more pictures. If they find a blockage we might be able to fix it with a stent (much like heart cathe). If too many blood vessels then who knows depending on what is drawing the extra blood supply.

Please, Please pray for my son. He is the youngest of three boys and I am a single mom. My budget is tight anyway and this just adds to it.

Thanks friends-
Jo

You have our prayers. Feel better knowing that I had my first angiogram in 1985, leading to corrective surgery. I am in perfect health all these years later as we pray your son will be. You may want to ask the hospital about what programs they offer for those with financial need. Ronald McDonald House, St. Judes, etc. If you contact them perhaps they can help you with your medical bills, or they can lead you to the organizations in your area that can assist you.

 

[thebeesknees]

Praying for you. Please do ask the hospital what options there are for you. They often have a social worker whose job is to match people with whatever programs they qualify for, whether it is financial aid or medical programs. I hope you get some good news.

 

[stsomewhere]

My Ds was born with a heart problem. During one of his hospital stays, we were told about supplemental insurance throughthe state. We paid $60 a month for it. It covered what our insurance did not. co-pays, deductibles, etc.

 

[cats mom]

It's so hard to watch our kids deal with medical problems isn't it? As parents we just want to fix everything, and sometimes that's just not possible. Hugs and strength to you.

Looks like you're getting lots of financial advice, so I'll stay away from that... other than to say I know how you feel.

Maybe I can help with some reassurance about the procedure tomorrow though. My DD had a similar one last summer (although her problem was in her neck, not her foot) She is now the proud owner of multiple stents. DD had to stay awake during the procedure to breathe for the doc, and she said it was easy-peasy, and quite interesting. DD was in the operating room for almost 6 hours, but we still had her up and on the plane heading home by 10am the next morning. She said the worst part of the whole thing was being on blood thinners after the procedure. Thankfully that was only for a couple of months.

I hope they're able to get the blood flowing properly for your DS tomorrow. Positive thoughts being sent your way.

 

[Promomx2]

As a mom of 15yr son, just wanted to send you prayers and hugs.

 

[hugabearjo]

Thanks guys. We are heading out now to get a book before we head up the hill to the Hospital. Your kind words mean a lot and the experiences shared are comforting and helpful. I am so thankful for my friends her at DIS... Have a great day. I will update this evening after the consult and tests.

 

[tommya60]

Just stopping by hoping things have gone well. Thinking of you and praying all is well.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

My prayers are with you and your family.

 

[hugabearjo]

Well, today was an emotional rollercoaster. We had the consult and an ultrasound and he doesn't think it is a vascular issue, this is a double edged sword because we still have chronic pain. So no proceedure tomorrow, I am very relieved but, still praying for answers. We will go to the pain clinic at Emanual Children's for an appointment tomorrow, so one more day in the Portland area then the 4 hour treck home. DS15 is pretty discouraged because this was another door closed without and answer.
Please continue to pray for the doctors tomorrow to have an answer and a plan. I am so thankful they didn't find what we feared the most. However, he can "feel" something in there but not "see" it on any of the pictures. So strange.
On a funny note. We went to a Goodwill Outlet today. It was amazingly interesting. Bins upon bins of stuff thrown together. You just dug through it, people were amazing in their "race" to find the stuff and dig. there were signs that read, dig at your own risk sharp objects may be hiddnen in bins. WOW!!!! I am a treasure hunter but even this was a bit much for me. lol
Thank you dis friends for all the support. I am so blessed to have such neat people to turn too.
Going to try to get some sleep, didn't sleep last night but, hopefully tonight sleep will come.

 

[hugabearjo]

Sleep why do you evade me? I have never been a great sleeper, buy I am so tired and can't figure out what to do. because I have had chronic insomnia over the years, I have prescription for lunesta, it is very expensive (my insurance Regency BC/BS will only allow 14 am month and still my copay is crazily expensive) so I use it sparingly. It normally works like a charm. I am out quick and sleep a fabulously. However, not tonight.

Any ideas or stradagies to be a GOD send.

 

[tink1969]

My prayers are with you and your son.
Here is Canada, all those doctor's appointments and tests would be covered under our government health plan....we are very lucky.

 

[hugabearjo]

Well, we made it home. The pain doctor was an anasthesiologist and he gave him lidocaine patches and a referal to a a pediatric neurologist and a pediatric physiatrist (pain rehab doctor). I will get those scheduled on Monday and see what is next. In the mean time I have a very discouraged son who just wants answers. I for one am thankful we didn't have the proceedure but, he thought it iwould cure all and is sad. Will travel back to Portland Oregon for the appointments as soon as they can get him in.

Thank you so much for all the support I have her. You are all very dear to me. I am going to have to do some very creative budgeting to find travel money. I think I will list some un needed items on Craigs list. Any tips about successfully doing this?

Smile-
Jo