I thought I might give an update on Jesse, for those who are following the situation!
I called the insurance company a few weeks ago, after being pre-approved for one hour of testing (out of the 15 hours that were requested). What we figured out was that the testing the psychologist that we were working with requested was a very specific and thorough test, probably a lot more than we needed. So, I got the names of a few other psychologists in network and thought I would try a different route. I called a name that came recommended and he picked up the phone right away. He told me that the testing he did was more of the standard testing and that start to finish would only cost $400, compared to the $3000 the other testing would cost. And he just so happened to have an opening, the next day. Jesse and I went for the initial visit and I am so glad that he was with me. I don't think that the psychologist needed to do any formal testing after sitting in an office with Jesse for an hour (ADHD in the flesh!) and after I read off my two page sheet of concerns. But we left with a bunch of questionnaires to fill out and for his teacher to fill out as well. I turned them into him yesterday and we meet again on Monday to discuss the results an his recommendations. Phew! I feel like we are in good hands and that things are moving forward (and it looks like insurance will pay for most, if not all of the testing).
Thanks you to everyone who has been praying for us. I am even more convinced of God's goodness and care for us through this whole ordeal, even when it seemed like doors were closing. I will keep the updates coming!
Showing posts with label ADHD. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ADHD. Show all posts
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Tuesday's Truth
The truth of the matter is, if you want to get an insurance company to do something for you, throw the "lawyer" word around (whether you have one or not).
Since the end of January we have been awaiting approval of ADHD testing for Jesse and have not heard anything from the insurance company.
After a month I started calling every week. I got passed around, put on hold, promised it would be flagged a priority.
After another month I started calling every day.
And then they started asking for faxes of the form. After the psychologist faxed it about eight times, I took over. Five faxes later and they still claimed to have not received the form.
So, I bypassed the behavioral health department and went to the top.
I filed a complaint and told them I had a lawyer on stand by (it wasn't a complete lie, my brother in law is a real estate lawyer and was ready to write a nasty letter with his letterhead).
That was on Friday afternoon.
On Monday morning I got a call from some guy who sounded like he was in charge of a lot. Since then I keep getting calls from this one lady who is now handling the case. She called me twice today to tell me what the status is.
It sounds like things are finally moving forward. Hopefully.
But in the meantime, while I am battling the insurance company, I have also been fighting some personal battles.
I am finding it hard to talk about Jesse and our moving forward with testing for him, especially in Christian circles.
I have to be careful who I tell because several times now I have gotten that eyebrow raise, the one that says, "Really? ADHD? That kid just needs a good spank" or "Your son is just a sinner, ADHD is just excusing his behavior." I was also told this weekend that, "Everyone has a little ADHD/Asperbergers in them." Like I haven't agonized, prayed and waited over this next step? Like I don't KNOW my son? Like this is just something everyone struggles with?
And then there are the assumptions from other people that I just don't know how to parent, that I let my son give up too easy when I take him out of basketball when it was totally overstimulating him to the point where I didn't recognize him.
So, I am being more careful who I share details with. And I realize that as I write this I am sharing with A LOT of people who might cruise my blog.
But, it's not like me to not be real.
So I feel caught. And frustrated.
I am trying to keep my eyes on my perfect Savior, my complete righteousness, the one who knows me and my son better than anyone.
I am so grateful that I can hope in Him and not my parenting abilities or the opinions of others.
There is peace there.
It's hard, but there's peace.
And I am finding there is a lot to take joy in. As I walked down the hallway with Jesse last night at his school for Author's Night, we passed the other first grade class. Almost every student in the class smiled and said hi to Jesse as he walked by, they actually looked like they were excited to see him.
It brought joy to my heart to know that he has come so far this year.
So I see how faithful God as been, even when others have not been, even when I have doubted his goodness.
And I can look foward to the next part of the journey, to the joy waiting there.
Since the end of January we have been awaiting approval of ADHD testing for Jesse and have not heard anything from the insurance company.
After a month I started calling every week. I got passed around, put on hold, promised it would be flagged a priority.
After another month I started calling every day.
And then they started asking for faxes of the form. After the psychologist faxed it about eight times, I took over. Five faxes later and they still claimed to have not received the form.
So, I bypassed the behavioral health department and went to the top.
I filed a complaint and told them I had a lawyer on stand by (it wasn't a complete lie, my brother in law is a real estate lawyer and was ready to write a nasty letter with his letterhead).
That was on Friday afternoon.
On Monday morning I got a call from some guy who sounded like he was in charge of a lot. Since then I keep getting calls from this one lady who is now handling the case. She called me twice today to tell me what the status is.
It sounds like things are finally moving forward. Hopefully.
But in the meantime, while I am battling the insurance company, I have also been fighting some personal battles.
I am finding it hard to talk about Jesse and our moving forward with testing for him, especially in Christian circles.
I have to be careful who I tell because several times now I have gotten that eyebrow raise, the one that says, "Really? ADHD? That kid just needs a good spank" or "Your son is just a sinner, ADHD is just excusing his behavior." I was also told this weekend that, "Everyone has a little ADHD/Asperbergers in them." Like I haven't agonized, prayed and waited over this next step? Like I don't KNOW my son? Like this is just something everyone struggles with?
And then there are the assumptions from other people that I just don't know how to parent, that I let my son give up too easy when I take him out of basketball when it was totally overstimulating him to the point where I didn't recognize him.
So, I am being more careful who I share details with. And I realize that as I write this I am sharing with A LOT of people who might cruise my blog.
But, it's not like me to not be real.
So I feel caught. And frustrated.
I am trying to keep my eyes on my perfect Savior, my complete righteousness, the one who knows me and my son better than anyone.
I am so grateful that I can hope in Him and not my parenting abilities or the opinions of others.
There is peace there.
It's hard, but there's peace.
And I am finding there is a lot to take joy in. As I walked down the hallway with Jesse last night at his school for Author's Night, we passed the other first grade class. Almost every student in the class smiled and said hi to Jesse as he walked by, they actually looked like they were excited to see him.
It brought joy to my heart to know that he has come so far this year.
So I see how faithful God as been, even when others have not been, even when I have doubted his goodness.
And I can look foward to the next part of the journey, to the joy waiting there.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Thankful Friday
Yesterday was insane. Not a completely bad insane, just full and pulled in a lot of directions. In some ways it was good that my TV night ended up being reruns, it gave me the opportunity to have a good talk with my hubby. Something we both needed.
But another reason why I didn't write my Thankful Thursday post yesterday was because I couldn't. I was struggling to find the words, to find the thanks. As I have been learning so much about God's desire and plan for marriage in our women's bible study, I am also struck with how broken this area of life is for so many people. I am trying to help a friend through an incredibly hard situation. My heart aches. I hate all the pain and the hardship she is enduring, with no visible end in sight. I was feeling pretty hopeless after talking with her yesterday and was thinking that I didn't even know what to thank God for in this situation.
I have also been struggling with parenting Jesse (which I alluded to in my Monday post) and I feel like I am running out of wisdom and ways to relate to him. We are waiting on insurance approval (FOREVER!) to get him assessed for ADHD and I think I also want to explore some of the Asperger's type symptoms we see sometimes. I am at the point where I just need help and I think that getting some sort of diagnosis will help us get the resources we need- we have exhausted everything else.
Then today I went to Jesse's school, like I do every Friday, for lunchroom duty and I met one of my neighbors, who was also doing lunch duty. We got to talking and I asked her why her two sons didn't ride the bus to school (Jesse is the only one from our neighborhood on his bus) and she responded, "My older son has ADHD and Asperger's and it is just not the best situation for him." I had to hold back my amazement at the irony. God took care of me this afternoon. He sent this mother to me to encourage me, to give me great resources and to let me know that I am not alone. I left school feeling a little something like hopeful.
Despite my faithlessness, despite the brokenness and the heartache, I continue to give thanks because these are the places to see God and to know him.....
the opportunity to glorify God with my marriage
the prayers of friends
laughter and this quote from a friend, "There's not going to be a scale [in heaven], not if Jesus is involved." Amen.
a God who binds up the broken
a long talk with Matt
having him hold me close
comfort at the end of a hard day
a big bear hug from Jesse when he saw me at school
seeing him interact with his friends at lunch
a God of hope, who fills me with hope
the wisdom of those who have gone before
therapy groups that teach kids social skills (!)
God's tender care for me
his spirit in me, drawing out the thanks
time to myself this afternoon (thanks Bek!)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13
But another reason why I didn't write my Thankful Thursday post yesterday was because I couldn't. I was struggling to find the words, to find the thanks. As I have been learning so much about God's desire and plan for marriage in our women's bible study, I am also struck with how broken this area of life is for so many people. I am trying to help a friend through an incredibly hard situation. My heart aches. I hate all the pain and the hardship she is enduring, with no visible end in sight. I was feeling pretty hopeless after talking with her yesterday and was thinking that I didn't even know what to thank God for in this situation.
I have also been struggling with parenting Jesse (which I alluded to in my Monday post) and I feel like I am running out of wisdom and ways to relate to him. We are waiting on insurance approval (FOREVER!) to get him assessed for ADHD and I think I also want to explore some of the Asperger's type symptoms we see sometimes. I am at the point where I just need help and I think that getting some sort of diagnosis will help us get the resources we need- we have exhausted everything else.
Then today I went to Jesse's school, like I do every Friday, for lunchroom duty and I met one of my neighbors, who was also doing lunch duty. We got to talking and I asked her why her two sons didn't ride the bus to school (Jesse is the only one from our neighborhood on his bus) and she responded, "My older son has ADHD and Asperger's and it is just not the best situation for him." I had to hold back my amazement at the irony. God took care of me this afternoon. He sent this mother to me to encourage me, to give me great resources and to let me know that I am not alone. I left school feeling a little something like hopeful.
Despite my faithlessness, despite the brokenness and the heartache, I continue to give thanks because these are the places to see God and to know him.....
the opportunity to glorify God with my marriage
the prayers of friends
laughter and this quote from a friend, "There's not going to be a scale [in heaven], not if Jesus is involved." Amen.
a God who binds up the broken
a long talk with Matt
having him hold me close
comfort at the end of a hard day
a big bear hug from Jesse when he saw me at school
seeing him interact with his friends at lunch
a God of hope, who fills me with hope
the wisdom of those who have gone before
therapy groups that teach kids social skills (!)
God's tender care for me
his spirit in me, drawing out the thanks
time to myself this afternoon (thanks Bek!)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)