Power chair prayers needed!

I wanted to let everyone know that Max continues to do FANTASTIC!  He is blowing his therapists away.  Next week we plan to begin the therapies out of the home (e.g aqua therapy...yea!).  Our new night nurse is doing well and even managed on her own last night, which meant Aaron and I got our first full nights sleep in over 2 weeks (yea!). 

Now for the serious part...Max's power chair is currently in physician review with Tricare.  We are praying that it gets approved, as the appeals process can be long and drawn out and we would like Max in his chair as soon as possible.  I could go into a long explanation about how power chairs are vital for appropriate development for the physically handicapped, but I won't because you would like to finish this post before tomorrow.  It would literally be his legs and children learn so much from exploration.  Please, please pray for a positive outcome.  This chair costs roughly $25,000 and our mobility van will run about $60,000.  Needless to say the chair being paid for by insurance is important for us to be able to afford the van to transport it.  This chair will open up a whole new world for Max.  Aaron and I have witnessed the difference with other children who already have a power chair.  We want Max to have the same opportunity.

Now for the funny part... our case manager cited one possible reason for denying the chair is the parental controls on the back so that Aaron and I can operate the chair.  Basically, they think it means that we will be moving the chair, not Max.  O.k., I'm gonna do something crazy here and be a little logical.  How many parents of able-bodied children allow their children to run wild in all locations and under all circumstances (e.g  church, airport terminal, the road).  How in the heck am I supposed to stop a 300 pound chair from going into the road?  Of course there will be times it is necessary for Aaron and I to control the chair!  We cannot control the chair the same way Max does as the controls are very sensitive and designed specifically for Max.  With our touch we could actually break the controls.  So next time you are with your child or grandchild try just telling them to stop without ever physically intervening and let me know how that works out for you...especially if they are a two-year-old.  Obviously, Tricare's kids are much better disciplined than mine.  Shame on me for my poor parenting skills.

O.k. enough venting...I will let you enjoy the rest of your day and I am going downstairs to enjoy Max's smiles!

Comments

[Margo Viche]

Oh you make me laugh! I just the other day had to stop Trevor from running out into the road...well ok, he had a head start and he made it out to the middle, but using my "parental controls" my feet and arms, I scooped him up to which he yelled at me to "LETTTT GOOOOOO" at 15 months what else can you do but laugh? We continue to pray hard for Max's chair!

[April Lawhorn]

I can't stop my almost two year old when he decides he wants to do something :) Good luck on getting Tricare to fully understand the situation! Prayers are coming your direction.