Kudzu and Giants!

According to our super-scientific and highly accurate pencil marks on the wall, Jonah grew approximately one inch in January alone!  That brings his grand total up to around 2.5 inches since the beginning of the school year.  I swear, he's growing like kudzu.  I have heard that, in Georgia, kudzu grows so fast you can actually hear it growing.  How's that for full service?!  Information on growth disorders and random vegetation trivia all in one place.  Thank God for the internet.

  

The nurse who taught us how to give the injections told us not to expect much progress in the first six months of treatment, so you can imagine how surprised we are to see him shooting up like this.  It makes me a little nervous to think about the rack-like effect this could be having on his joints.  In fact, it made me so nervous that I began to think that I was administering the growth hormones incorrectly.  When a child starts growth hormones, they begin at a low dose and work up to what their actual dose will eventually be.  I started wondering if maybe I was supposed to start each Norditropin pen at the low dose and work up to the .8mg.  I wasn't doing that.  After a few days of obsessing about it, I began to have visions of Jonah's poor joints popping as they try to keep up with his insane growth.  I imagined him ultimately looking like this guy.

A quick call to the Pediatric Endocrinology clinic allayed my Jolly Green Jonah fears.  We are doing the shots right, and if Jonah is growing too quickly we could reduce his dose at his appointment in two weeks.  So, that takes care of that. :) 

Our other HUGE piece of news (besides the fact that i'm not ODing my kid) is that we have been accepted to the Novo Nordisk Patient Access Program!  This means that we will be receiving Norditropin pens, needles, and alcohol swabs at no cost for as long as Jonah's insurance refuses to cover it!!  

From the Novo Nordisk website:

The Norditropin^® Patient Access Program (PAP) reflects our commitment to social responsibility and our belief that a lack of financial resources should not stand in the way of necessary medical care. Through the Norditropin^® PAP, those who qualify may receive free medicine.   Eligibility is based on financial resources, cost of living, size of household, and out-of-pocket medical costs.

Upon approval, NordiCare^® will ship a free 30-day supply of Norditropin^® directly to the patient’s home.  Patients are eligible to remain in the program and receive monthly shipments as long as their financial and insurance situation does not enable them to afford Norditropin^®. Every 6 months, a NordiCare^® Case Manager will contact the patient to evaluate whether assistance is still required.   

So, that's where we are now.  Thanks to Novo Nordisk, we will be able to continue our kudzu-like march toward being back on the growth chart!  Look out, growth chart!  Here he comes!!