Red Tape

Wow, talk about red tape. The insurance company wouldn't approve Parker to go to rehab until today, and in the meantime the rehab place had to give away his bed because they held it too long. Poor Lori, our Case Worker, spent two days on the phone with the uncooperative insurance people. But after a lot of screaming and yelling and stamping her east coast foot on the ground, she finally got it done. Yea!

So tomorrow we are off to the 8th floor, Central Texas Rehabilitation. Whew! Nurse Miranda will not be here, and we were happy before knowing she would be doing the transfer with us. But she's been here four 12 hour days and I'm pretty sure she is ready for a break. Sherrie very kindly offered to find out who was working and pick a "good" nurse for us. Jeff will be back tomorrow. Yea! We love Jeff. Even if he does need to eat more. :-)

Parker has had tremendous anxiety about the transition. Dr. Berg said every bit of anxiety he is feeling is valid, and he would think something was wrong if he didn't feel it. Parker has been through so much since March 10th. Assuming his rehab stay goes past July 10th, he will have spent four months in the hospital. 1/3rd an entire year. And what a year it's been!

Once we find out how long he will be in rehab, we can plan the skin graft surgery. In theory, if he got out July 10th or so, he could go home and rest for three weeks, come back for the skin graft surgery July 31st (or there abouts), stay in the hospital another week during which time he could gradually get the trach out, then have another 3 1/2 weeks to recuperate before he returned to work. Sigh..... if only life came in such simple packages!

The BCBS Case Worker today told me when we go home from rehab we will have a nurse come for a bit everyday to help us with the wound care, the trach care, everything. Thank goodness!!! The thought of managing it all by myself, even after a stint in rehab, was causing me some serious anxiety.

Dad had surgery yesterday, on his back. I spoke with him this morning and he was feeling pretty good. Thank you God for watching over him.

I miss you James.