Hi all,
After being through this insurance dog fight with my son's HMO, I am going to have a lot to write after all is said and done. He was approved Monday night at 9 p.m. to come to Toledo. Even though the diagnosis is different, the process or hurdles navigating insurance will be applicable.
I have learned more about heart valves, then I ever thought possible.
Keith finished two tests thus far. He has never had an IV before...I told him I would add that to his "baby book" <grins> All joking aside, I've already met the doctors and really like them and really believe that coming here was the right decision. Being that he is 26, the best valve brought us to Toledo rather than keeping us in Chicago. It is one put out by the Medtronic Corp.
The cardiologist who did the first two tests said that this Medtronic freestyle valve will give my son a completely "normal lifestyle"--like participating in triathalons. One of the nurses said that when she does echocardiograms for patients having the valve done by Dr. Moront, it is seamless and can't tell it from an actual normal valve. It has been 12 years since this valve was used in surgery and they have only had to replace one. Like all tissue valves, it has a life expectancy..this one is 15 years. It is the construction and shape of the valve that makes it different from most tissue valves. A tissue valve keeps him from a life of daily coumadin and restrictions in other ways.
Surgery is at 7:15 ET tomorrow.
Kate
