Update on my Boy **home 8-8-08**

[nccountrygirl]

When my DH was battling Cancer in August of 06 we would not have made it spiritually or financially without our church. They did a fund raiser at a restaurant here selling BBQ plates, tickets were sold for 7.00, Mike the owner if the River Lodge only kept 3.00 of the 7.00 and the rest came to us. Our church family was there for us when our own family wasnt able to be here. God saw us through a rough patch of road but we came through it with his help. Churches in your area will help you and your family out, just let your need be known.

 

[Ellie_NY_chick]

Dear Em -

I work in healthcare, so I've seen families in your situation.

Yes, your church is a great resource, but a more immediate resource is THE HOSPITAL.

Go to the administration desk, ask your child's doctor, or the nurse supervisor in PICU to have the hospital social worker contact you ASAP. You absolutely should not have had your power turned off.

I know you're exhausted and at your wits end. Your energy needs to be directed towrds your child right now. Why you haven't been assigned a patient advocate or social worker is beyond me, but ask for one immediately. You don't have time to sit on the phone with the dumbasses who turned off your lights.

Also, LET PEOPLE HELP YOU. I know some families do not want to accept charity, but it makes the givers feel good if they know they've helped someone. Local news loves stories like this, so why don't you give them a call?

Do you have a family member or close friend who can help handle the billing situation? Someone who can make those calls so you can be with your son?

Best of everything to you and your family.

 

[ginbart]

Dear Em, I live in PA what hospital are you in. I see you said childrens but I don't know where that is.

I will be praying for you and yours.

 

[hereachick]

Em - what a beautiful boy you have! he's absolutly gorgeous! You surely have been blessed and will make it thru this rough time only to be stronger and closer than ever.Please take the advice of the others and look into getting help from the churches,hospital and other community groups.People are basically decent underneath it all and I'm sure these groups would be more than pleased to help your family in your situation. If you will only reach out to and let them.Put your faith in God and he will provide.Best wishes for a full recovery and to be back home again together real soon.Thoughts and prayers are with you and yours.What a precious boy he is.

 

[Ellie_NY_chick]

Em - working on some other things, but just real quick in case you don't have the actual law/text for PA:

State Pennsylvania
Date-based yes
Protection Dates December 1 - March 31
Temperature-based no
Temperature

Seasonal Policy No termination of utility service between protection dates. If a household is shut off prior to December 1, the utility must contact the customer within 90 days to reach an agreement regarding payment of any arrearages and restoration of service.

Other: 30 day disconnect delay with medical certificate, may be renewed 2 times. Customer is required to negotiate a payment plan. No utility shall terminate or refuse to restore service if health of household member would be adversely affected, need medical certificate. Low income with children under 11 or elderly are exempt from termination.
Deferred Payments No disconnect if customer agrees to payment plan.

This is from the Dept. of Health and Human Services website (federal gov't).​

 

[ponderchick]

Our thoughts and prayers are with you always!

 

[mangled]

Thanks, everyone.

The social worker breezed in here this AM with guns blazing, LOL. She's getting stuff set up for us, but it can take up to 4 weeks to get the funds to the bill companies. Isn't that crazy?

Anyway, my boy is doing pretty well. The drainage from his effusion has stopped, almost completely, but he's on a TON of lasix. His IV infiltrated this AM, so unless I can get him to take the oral Potassium, which tastes HORRIBLE, we'll have to have another IV inserted.

They're going to start to back off on the lasix over the next few days and see what the effusion does. They feel we have a pretty good chance of another effusion, I guess it's a pretty common thing with the type of surgery he had done, and how poor his heart function was.

I got a ton of sleep last night, he actually slept through the night, even with the nurses coming in and fussing with him every couple hours. I feel almost human again.

Thanks for all the prayers.
Em

 

[maplesky7]

Quote:

Thank you for the awesome suggestions! I'm sure this will help indeed!

YEAH!!!

Regards,
Gretchen

 

[gumpsgirl]

I'm so glad that social services has jumped on this for you. Hopefully it won't take that long to get the help that you are needing. Maybe they have to just tell you that so they cover their tails just incase it doesn't go through quickly. Fingers crossed here that things will get rolling fairly fast.

Also glad to hear that you got some good sleep last night! That always helps. Especially when things get tough, the more sleep you miss, the tougher things get.

Prayers are stilling being offered daily here on your behalf. Give that little angel a big squeeze for me, will you?

Hang in there Em.

 

[maplesky7]

oh Em...
So glad he got some sleep. Hope you can get some too soon. You guys are doing great.

Hugs and prayers,
Gretchen