Andrew normally gets his blood drawn on Mondays and Thursdays when we're at home, but when the home health nurse came on Monday, she pushed in saline and pulled back blood, then air. I looked at the line and saw a break at the same place it has broken twice before. Thankfully, we were only at Primary Children's for about 3 hours (I wasn't sure if they'd make us wait the full 4 hours after they repaired it until the glue dried), but our home health nurse (for nights) came and de-clotted it for us. I'm so glad the yellow lumen de-clotted (the blue lumen is completely clotted off), because I really don't want to pull his line right before he's done. I really hope it lasts us until we're done. Not a fan of PICCs.
By the way, if anyone has suggestions about health insurance for Andrew, input would be much appreciated. The calendar year for Andrew's current insurance (my COBRA) ends July 1st, we've paid through June, and it's ~$450/month. I can have it until Feb 2012. Stew and I are both on his (terrible) student insurance (catastrophic), which has a lifetime maximum of $250,000, which certainly wouldn't work for any sort of chemotherapy in case he relapses (as each round is about $100,000). Also, Medicaid is not an option for our situation.
They're coming to draw today. We're hoping for the magic number of 1000, but considering it was only 200 on Monday (and, knowing Andrew), we'll keep waiting.
At Texas, if we had an assistantship (teaching or graduate) we were eligible for the same insurance as faculty and we didn't have to have student insurance - does the U not offer that?
ReplyDeleteNope--grad students get the same insurance as undergrads :(
ReplyDeleteSo glad you didn't have to stay at the hospital too long! I want to come down and talk to you but my voice isn't working! (totally frustrating for a chatter box like me)
ReplyDeleteAs far as insurance I would just suggest checking online. My girlfriend has 3 different insurances for her, her husband and child to save money. Good luck!
Hi, we don't know each other, but I read your blog every chance I get, my daughter has ALL. Andrew is such a cutie and I include him in my prayers every night, you guys are such an inspiration, reading blogs like yours makes me feel a little bit braver. It must be really stressful to have to worry about insurance on top of everything else, wish I could offer some advice but we don't have to deal with health insurance where I'm from.
ReplyDeleteUGH! Line breaks are the worst. I hated it when Erin's would break. We were like you, praying that it would last through the last round of chemotherapy. I sure hope it does for you. I wanted to see you guys on Thursday, but Kristi Smith told me you had escaped ICS. You guys seriously have lightening quick rounds! Andrew is a star AML patient. I hope you can figure out the insurance thing. We are on IHC Select Health through John's work. Hopefully you'll find something that isn't too expensive. Another thought - we have some friends here in Logan who just went to their pediatrician for their post-treatment check-ups instead of to the Oncologists at PCMC. They did the CBC in the hospital lab here, and had the results sent to PCMC. Our follow-up appointments cost about $250 each just so you know in advance.
ReplyDeleteHey, I stumbled on your blog...I don't know if it would be possible for one of you to work at IHC...but I know they give you insurance if you work 23+ hours. That might be an idea. we have my insurance through my job and it is hard with both of us working and figuring out who will watch our little guy...but I guess its better then having no insurance. good luck!
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