I Don't Do FACEBOOK, but if You Do, Will You Please...
join this particular one? Bring Braden Home Facebook Page
Braden with his twin brother, Jacob.
That is the site for a little boy, Braden, who is just five months old, who needs to be able to go home from the hospital. He needs to live with his family. He needs to meet the two year old brother he has never seen. He needs to sleep in his own room, in the same house where his parents and his brothers live. He will always need medical care in his life, but he could have it provided at home, at a much lower cost, and live with his family instead of alone at the hospital. Right now the insurance company is refusing to pay for the in-home nursing care he needs with his ventilator. They will pay for hospital care "forever", however.
Braden's story is best told by his Mom, Amanda.
A few weeks ago I contacted some folks in DC on Braden's behalf, and they asked me more questions than I could answer, so I asked Mom to write the response herself. She wrote it beautifully here: Mom's Letter to Sec. Vilsack and Senator Grassley
As a child health advocate, I have to say, that letter is the best I have ever read from a parent.
I am trying, along with many other people, to bring Braden home. His family is using many tools to get the word out, and Facebook is just one of them. Please add to their number of supporters; it will help the cause. For Braden and many others like him, this insurance rule has to change to allow them to go home to their families.
On the weekends, if Jacob doesn't have a cold or something else, he goes to the hospital to visit Braden in the NICU. Their two year old brother, Evan, is not allowed in the NICU until he is three. Thus, he has never met Braden.
Thank you, kind OSers. I know joining the Facebook page doesn't seem like much, but we really can use it in our work to promote this issue and to get this policy changed for Braden and all the other children who are stuck.
Braden really deserves to live his life at home with his family.
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Yeah, this one wakes me up at night.
Right. Right.
Thanks again.
Mom said to me yesterday, "One of the hardest things is that now that Braden is five months old (and was eligible to be released from the hospital as long ago as March 30th), he is very aware when our visit ends. He cries and cries if he is awake when we leave."
That about makes my heart stop.
Many thanks to you all.
I'm glad you're part of the process to fix this. I can't imagine a better representative than you. Thanks.
*CaringBridge is a site for families to keep friends/family informed during health issues.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/bradenandjacobbyersdorfer
Rated for change.
Rated
That our insurance-hungry nation should have to put up with this form of nonsense is truly revolting.
I'll pass the word along where applicable. To be sure, I will.
R for reporting revolting practices
On Monday, first thing, we're contacting the press - TV and newspapers. I will keep you posted as to what gets picked up. Braden's Mom is so wonderful. She says to me all the time, "You know, of course I think we need to do this for Braden, but what about all the other children this is happening to? We have to try to help them, too." I just love her.
Thanks again, dear friends. You are good people.
Good post, waking.
Believe me, from nearby, I shake my head, too.
Fingers crossed on the press outreach today.
As I heard myself telling a journalist this story this morning, it was impossible not to keep saying, "Isn't this insane????"
One point I did make, the insurance cannot keep blaming the high cost of health care on obesity and diabetes when they makes decisions like this!
R
The waiver has a one and half year wait in Iowa because it is underfunded every year. Senator Harkin's office seems to have maneuvered something to get this boy on Medicaid, but there is still concern that it is just temporary.
I'll tell you though, my isse and the parent's complaint is that the private insurance company SHOULD pay for in-home nursing. They are shirking their responsibility to this family, to this little baby. It benefits the insurance company for him to go on Medicaid, but he shouldn't have to.
I'll let you know if we get an article about it. I have high hopes about the media outreach.
The journalist I talked to yesterday called Braden's Mom today, so.... I'm very hopeful about getting a story soon. I would love to see this get some national press, as it affects kids all over the country.
thanks again
What is the point of human civilization, the enlightenment of man, if we cannot spare compassion for our youngest and oldest? Our weakest, and even for those of us, most of us really, who stumble once or twice and need an assist toward their next step.
An attorney (who happens to be running for US Senate) looked into Braden's case thinks there is not a legal remedy, but suggested that we picket the insurance company as "they really hate pickets". I would love to find a way to do it simultaneously all over the country. That would be cool.
Poor baby. This story just breaks my heart.