We have finished Jonah's third Norditropin pen and his fourth is supposed to come on Thursday. He continues to improve in his willingness to take the injection and his level of calm about the whole thing. He assembles the injection himself, counting off the steps from taking off the cap to snapping on the needle and dialing up the dose. He picks which leg he wants to use (he has decided that his belly and butt are fully off-limits), and I do the actual injecting. When I press the button, he counts down from five, we yell "BLAST OFF!" and the pen flies away like a rocket. Because of the New Year holiday, there will be a longer gap than usual between pens, and I anticipate that he will need some time to get back to being such a pro.
The literature claims that we shouldn't expect to see growth for the first six months, but I have to show you something after only three months. Check this out...
The bottom line is Jonah's height at his fifth birthday, September 26, 2011. The top line is his height yesterday January 1, 2012. It's about a half an inch of growth!! Not bad for a kid who usually only grows a few centimeters per year! Jonah has also moved up to 4T pants. He was firmly a 3T when he started kindergarten. Now he can reach the remote on top of the entertainment center. His teacher, Ms. Ashley (whom Jonah LOVES) noticed that he was growing when he stopped soaking his shirt in the water fountain!
Our insurance company firmly rejected our claim and our appeal for the Norditropin synthetic growth hormones. We are working with the NordiCare program to see if we qualify for their patient assistance program. We have to submit all kinds of tax forms and medical forms as well as apply for Medicaid and submit our anticipated rejection. So, I have filled out an application for Medicaid and have an interview on January 10. I have left a message for the case manager handling our interview to ask if we could do the interview over the phone, since the goal is to be rejected. Understandably, she never responded. She is entirely too busy with people who need help to mess with people who waste her time seeking a rejection letter.
I have also contacted the Magic Foundation and spoken with a wonderful woman named Melissa whose entire job is to get appeals approved by insurance companies. So, if patient assistance through NordiCare doesn't work out, there are still other options.
In the meantime, we are enjoying watching Jonah's pants get a little shorter and his confidence get a little bigger!
Oh, I love this. And I am so happy for you, but most especially, Jonah! Praying for all the best with the insurance issues and Jonah's growth and continued happiness.
ReplyDeleteI'm a little disturbed that a little boy who clearly has a medical issue is denied treatment from an insurance company. I mean, it's not even a life-time of treatment, right? Give the kid his meds, you big bully!!!
ReplyDeleteMy conference tip is bring a bag large enough to place the literature you’re given (will be lots!), suit your note taking things or portable computer in, and enough area for goodies. fortuitously one in all the sponsors at BBC were freely giving baggage thus I may place my containerful of takeaway in. useful post!Alcohol Swabs
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