Since Everyone's Talking About Health Care

There are two things that God is using in our lives right now to cause us to have to deepen our dependence on Him. One is our Ethiopian adoption. The other is keeping our son covered with medical insurance. In case you didn’t already know Harry has a condition called Sturge Weber Syndrome. The vascular birthmark (called a Port Wine Birthmark) that is on his face is also on his brain and causes him to have seizures. He takes a very expensive drug called Keppra twice a day to manage the seizures.

Because of the Sturge Weber and a couple of other medical problems, Harry is uninsurable. Our only hope of keeping him insured is a program called Katie Beckett Medicaid. The good news is that he was accepted to the Katie Beckett program as of February 17th. The bad news is that we can’t get anyone at Chatham Country DCFS to enter his information into the system so that the doctors and pharmacists can know he is covered.

As of today we’re about to run out of Keppra. The Keppra actually keeps him from having seizures and the seizures can cause brain damage and developmental delays. Today, as a last resort I called the Epilepsy Foundation. Not only did I immediately hear a voice on the other end of the line but I found him both cheerful and helpful. After only a few questions he made arrangements to make sure that Harry has his medication for the next month. We are very thankful to the good folks at www.epilepsyga.org for helping us when we needed it most. If anyone at the Epilepsy Foundation ever calls and asks for money know that it will be going to a good cause.

Update: Finally heard from the social worker this afternoon. She needs a couple of documents faxed over but she won’t be in again until Thursday at which time if she gets the information entered it will be 10 days before Harry is fully covered. Ladies and gentlemen, say hello to government run health care!