[birdiecup]

well being still rather new to all of this, we are still in need of a lot of help. we live i the country. which is nice and quiet and has very little help from the doctors. the one my son did have really made him made several times in the hospital (arround Easter) while he was still going thru the terrible first month of becoming a paraplegic,from transverse myelitis. he has just been accepted this week for getting some help from medicaid. which will probably be very little....but even if the will pay most of the medicines that will help...the hospital bill is over 80,000. the meds and equipment which we have had to pay for so far adds another 20.000. i honestly i can not help any more. i am broke. being a mom this hurts alot on top of watching this all happen to my strapping young man of 34.... and the doctor we were hoping to change to,has been talking to the one that mad him mad and theyve decided they have had too many patience to change back and forth between then this past two years and wont take my son. now we have to go back out to saginaw a good drive away from us . to see the ones in the hospital that took care of him while his was is covenant. this is bad we need one close by to cordinated things between us and all the different people involved. his main problem right now is the contant fevers he gets 104 and chills. we realize he has a bad infection from the (staf) first pic line. and gets bladder infections easily. he has a bed sore already for being to long in the wheel chair..........he still was trying to paint his new deck and ramp i had built so he could get outside....he was never in the house before always putsing arround the house. and two acrers now his wife has to work , take care of him !!!!!!! (lots of work) and the house and yard......she is already showing signs of getting worn out..her ibs is coming back hard....... i go over all i can during the day. he has a nurse that checks his blood once a week. to make sure it is the right thinness and check if the infection is getting worse .. so far they just have been able to keep it steady not getting any bettter............... the main problem with the doctor we are complain about is his remarks he has said to rob and me i use him too and cant find another his not knowing ,he admitts, about tm and his office is known to be very slow in getting refils.....even if you start two weeks early you may run out of your pills before they are called in to pharmacy. and you never get a call back on questions even if they are urgent to you anyway i want to do something so bad and do not know what to do without making things even worse for us all..... i guess if anyone has any ideas what to do about the fevers . that would help. there are alot more problems but it all has to be asked slowly please please just write a crying mom and hurting young couple and give us comfort.....i have my faith to help but i need someone one earth to talk to too birdiecup

[car]

First of all I hope you are seeing a specialist. You may have to drive a bit to see one.

Call your local rep as he is a tax payer and they should be able to assist in your disability claims or starting to collect medicaid. If he does not have insurance many times the hospitals have information about special programs that help pay the high hospital bills. I am surprised the hospital let him leave without speaking to you about this.

If he has TM he may be on meds that are causing his immune system to be weakened which means he will get infections easily which means he will have fevers. Really good hand washing and hygene is so important.

If you have questions about tm and do not understand what is happening to your son you need to read all you can about it. A good place to start.......

1787 Sutter Parkway
Powell, OH 43065-8806
info@myelitis.org
http://www.myelitis.org
Tel: 614-766-1806

Sometimes it is a battle but don't give up. The more family members and friends that can help, the better and easier it will be on you. when was he diagnosed and is there any chance of recovery for his paralysis? Once he is ready to go back to work call OVR Occupational Vocational Rehab. Federally funding is available to assist people to get them back to work.