Update: Pray for Dom- Dom has passed, His Services, Thank You- Page 48 post 949

[Sabeking]

Thanks for the update Teresa! Going on a church highschool retreat tomorrow for a week. I
will submit his name for prayer. There will be 500 youth there; we will cover him in prayer all week!!!

 

[TeresaNJ]

Thanks for the update Teresa! Going on a church highschool retreat tomorrow for a week. I
will submit his name for prayer. There will be 500 youth there; we will cover him in prayer all week!!!

Oh my gosh, thank you so much!

 

[TeresaNJ]

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[TeresaNJ]

1

 

[lynxstch]

So glad to hear he's making progress , and that he has someone fighting for his rights (besides his family I mean). I hope they can get him back where he belongs so he can have the advanced therapy and get farther along on the road to recovery. Thanks for keeping us updated. He is in my daily prayers.

 

[King Schultz]

So after not even three weeks at the acute care rehab hospital, Health South, Dom was transferred back to the Linwood Care Center on Saturday August 6th. Apparently the insurance company, Horizon NJ Health, doesn't think he's getting more benefit from acute rehab than he would at subacute, so they wouldn't pay to authorize any more days there. Dom's mom, as well as my husband, made call after call to the insurance company, as well as to advocacy rights groups, fighting like crazy for Dom to get the therapy he needs. Dom's physiatrist, Dr Sui, was very upset, and he did a peer to peer review with the insurance company, but they still denied. You can do a first appeal, and a second appeal, by the family, which Dom's mom did. Denied. There is a third appeal, which is called a Fair Hearing, but in order to do that, we were told Dom could possibly be sent to a long term care facility while the review is taking place, which could be up to three weeks, and as a family we thought we couldn't take the risk of Dom not getting any therapy for three entire weeks, so chose not to do the third appeal, at that point in time. We've now come to find out that that information, provided by Dom's Case Manager at Health South, was incorrect.

As it is, he's receiving 1-2 hours of therapy a day at Linwood, as opposed to the 3-4 hours he was getting at Health South, but the staff at Linwood love him, wanted him back, and we knew he'd be well taken care of. This subacute stay at Linwood though, is only approved for about a week at a time. The insurance company could say they don't think he's benefiting enough, and only agree to pay for long term care, where you only get 1 hour of therapy a WEEK!.

Fortunately, after attending a few brain injury support groups, we received a lot of good info, and my husband made calls to the organization Disability Rights New Jersey. Dom is now being represented by an attorney of Disability Rights New Jersey, which is an advocate group who fights for the civil and legal rights of citizens of New Jersey with disabilities. We, & they, feel he was unfairly treated by Horizon NJ Health when they declined to continue to approve his stay at Health South, and discriminated against him due to his disability. We're hoping this group can assist in getting Dom either back to Health South, but preferably to a neuro specific acute rehab sooner rather than later.

In the meantime, Dom continues to make progress. I was able to get him to repeat the word "Hi" to me the other day, after repeating it to him slowly over & over, touching his throat & face, encouraging him to use his voice. He repeatedly mouthed it back to me, and finally his voice came out! We were so excited we yelled yay, and clapped our hands. Scared the heck out of him, as he jumped in his wheelchair! LOL His upper body and head strength are improving all the time. He received his custom arm & feet dynaplints right before he left Health South, which should greatly improve his contractures. Those custom splints can only be ordered through an acute rehab, so thank God they were ordered in the nick of time before he was discharged from there.

Dom's awareness of people is through the roof & he looks really good. Very alert, and observant, appearing as if he is trying to follow commands. This type of injury has a very very slow recovery process, and it's important to remember that, as to not get easily discouraged. I was able to spend about three hours with Dom yesterday, and he is doing great at sitting in his wheelchair, staying upright, and lifting his head forward to assist when getting his hair washed & combed. With his new dynosplints his feet are looking a lot better, not nearly as contracted. Hopefully someday in the not too distant future Dom will be getting physical therapy to stand and walk again!

Dom had a beagle named Max, who he greatly loved. When I saw the character Max from the movie, The Secret Life of Pets, I knew I had to get Max for him!

Dom's room with a view at Linwood

Patty & Harry putting up posters for Dom to look at, of Khaleesi & Jon Snow, characters from Dom's favorite show, Game of Thrones.

It's a disgrace at times what people have to go through to get the health care they need in this country.

A family in your situation has more than enough to deal with without having to fight insurance companies to get Dom the care he needs.


Great to hear Dom is still making slow but very definite progress Teresa. . you all remain in my thoughts and prayers.


WillyJ

 

[Dan Murphy]

Thanks for the update, Teresa. Good to hear the continued progress that Dom is making, but sure is terrible to have to continue going through all the hoops to get the proper care. Great idea with those posters.

Continued prayers for Dom, Teresa.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Continued prayers for strength, healing and courage. Sadly, it's a neverending, exhausting battle with insurance and the facilities. Unfortunately, qualifying for treatment is becoming increasingly difficult and less is being covered. Thankfully, your family appears to have the knowledge and ability to fight for the best and most appropriate care.

 

[jevs]

Thanks for the update on Dom, Teresa.

I hope the advocacy groups kicks some butt to make things a little easier on your family x

 

[PollyannaMom]

Thanks for the update. Sorry to hear about the insurance battles, but the progress is encouraging!

 

[anniemae]

Slow and steady. He will get there. Sounds like he is doing great!

 

[macraven]

With Team Dom involved, I know getting Dom back to the place where he receives more intense therapy and care, will have him on the right path for improvement

Great to read he has a lawyer on his team now

Dom continues to be on my daily prayer list

Hugs

 

[Sabeking]

Thank you Teresa for the update. Sorry to hear his struggles but in spite of it all Dom seems to really be making some slow and steady progress. He looks more alert in the photos you shared for sure! Prayers for strength on this continued journey.

 

[flyingdumbo127]

Continued prayers and love to Dom, you, and your family, Teresa. Thinking of you

 

[superme80]

No idea how I missed your last update. Will keep praying. Sending your family lots of love.

 

[Keli]

Praying for your nephew, thank you for the update

 

[macraven]

Just thinking of our boy ....

Always in my prayers

 

[TeresaNJ]

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[bellebud]

Teresa, I can feel the love you have for Dom through your posts, it's really beautiful! Continued prayers for Dom and your family.

 

[TeresaNJ]

Teresa, I can feel the love you have for Dom through your posts, it's really beautiful! Continued prayers for Dom and your family.

Thank you so much!