Please help!!!!

[mikaylasmommy]

Do any of you know of a web site that will help me find a surgeon somewhere close to me. It doesn't have to be real close just within a days drive. I live in mideastern Michigan. I tried to go to Ian Jacksons office but of course they don't take my insurance. I am still trying to get this second opinion. I have an appointment right now with Dr. Jackson and it will cost me around 300 dollars. I will take it if that is all I can get but what if he wants to do surgery and I have to pay all of those bills. AAAARRRRRRGGGGGGGGG!

[Matthews Mommy]

http://www.pediatricneurosurgerygroup.net/contact.htm
http://www2.med.umich.edu/healthcenters/
This is all I could find sweetie, hope it's helpful. I'll keep looking and what is the name of the city or town that will help me better.
OK here's another list:
Craniofacial Anomalies Program C.S. Mott Children's Hospital
1500 East Medical Center Drive
Floor 3, Room F7859
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0219 (800) 863-6227
Pediatric Plastic Surgery C.S. Mott Children's Hospital
1500 East Medical Center Drive
Floor 3, Room F3841
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0219 (734) 763-8063
Plastic Surgery Domino's Farms
24 Frank Lloyd Wright Drive
Reception: Lobby A
Ann Arbor, MI 48106 (734) 998-6022

[Katie]

Jenny, I'm getting some links tha tmight help you with cost. Dillon was in a program called Healthy Kids (it's a Medicaid program) which covered anything our primary insurance didn't. There's also a program called Childrens Special Health Care Services which is insurance for children with qualifying conditions (craniosynostosis is one of them) that will cover all costs associated with the condition. Give me a few minutes and I'll get more info for you :hugg The only three hospitals in MI that i know of who deal with Cranio are Dr. J's office, Childrens of Detroit, and U of M in Ann Arbor.

[Katie]

Here is info on Children's Special Health Care Services:
http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,1607,7-132-2943_4845_5036---,00.html

And an application for MI Child/ Healthy Kids. It says it is for uninsured children, but if you have primary insurance, it will probably approve you for Healthy Kids suplimental insurance:
http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,1607,7-132-2943_4845_4931-37347--,00.html

Hope these help :hugg

[verdon2]

:shrug Gosh I can't help at all, but best of luck finding what you are looking for. Hugs to you both!!!! :hugg

[KALEMSMOM]

Sorry I can't help but good luck and please let us know the outcome. By the way, how are you feeling?

[vancesmommy]

Vance's surgery was done in Columbus, Ohio. I would highly recommend both his ps and ns, but I don't know if you want to drive that far. I have been to Flint quite a few times when I was younger, and if I remember right it took us about 4-5 hours to get there. So that would put you about 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 to get to the hospital. If you want the information just let me know. Good luck!!

[vancesmommy]

Ok, I looked it up on Mapquest and it says from Flint to Columbus it is 3 hrs and 57 mins. So it's not as far as I thought! Anyways, I will get ya the information if you want it!

[Applepeel]

I cant believe you have to worry about insurance cover and cost, as if you dont you have enough to worry about!!! Good luck in your search, sorry I cant help.
Maria

[mikaylasmommy]

Mikayla used to have CSHCS but I let it go because they wanted us to pay $4000 a year to keep it. I figured since she was done with her major surgery that it would be cheaper to not have it. The lady at Dr. Jackson's office also said that CSHCS would only cover what my insurance didn't cover if they accepted my insurance. Since they don't accept is she says they wouldn't cover anything anyway. I will check with Healthy kids. I will also check with the Columbus Ohio think if you don't mind getting that infor for me Denise. Thank you all for your help and well wishes. I don't mind driving as opposed to paying 40-50 thousand dollars for another surgery. I drove down to St. Louis MO just to spend time with my hubby when he was away on business. Again thank you guys so much!

[vancesmommy]

I will post the info for you later today! I have to wait until my husband gets home, my book is in the Van.:doh

[mikaylasmommy]

Thank you!

[vancesmommy]

Their website is www.columbuschildrens.com

Here is a link to a bio about our ns Dr. Scott Elton
http://www.columbuschildrens.com/gd/applications/controller.cfm?page=52&pname=pprofile&pid=4799&Gsection=PFV
and our ps Dr. Gregory Pearson
http://www.columbuschildrens.com/gd/applications/controller.cfm?page=52&pname=pprofile&pid=7451&Gsection=PFV

There is another ns in Dr. Elton's office, but he doesn't work with a ps. I think you should be able to get all the phone numbers off the website. If you need anything else just let me know!!

[mikaylasmommy]

Thank you I will see if my insurance covers them today!

[mikaylasmommy]

OMG they are in my plan. I don't believe it!

[vancesmommy]

That's great! Let me know if you go see them and how it goes.

[mikaylasmommy]

I will call them in the morning! I will give you an update later!

[Matthews Mommy]

I am so happy you found a doctor. :hugg

[mikaylasmommy]

Her appointment is on the 18th of July. They could have gotten her in there sooner but we would be on vacation. I am so impressed. There is a 3 month wait to get into Mikayla's current surgeon.

[vancesmommy]

That is great! Who did you make an appointment with?

[mikaylasmommy]

Dr Pearson. I couldn't get my online insurance thingy to see the NS as a provider. So I figured it was safe to go with the PS. Most of my concerns are cosmetic anyway.

[vancesmommy]

He is wonderful!! I can't say enough great things about him. Not only did he do an amazing job on the surgery, he was amazing with Vance. He did Vance's palate surgery too, and when he ended up in ICU Dr. Pearson came to see him everyday. Here is a pic of him with Vance.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y57/denisetumey/vdrp.jpg

[ExpatJen]

Jenny,
I'm thinking of you and hope all goes well.
Big Hugs,
Jennifer C.

[vancesmommy]

Jenny, how did Mikayla's appointment go yesterday? I hope you got the answers you were looking for!!

[Matthews Mommy]

Hope everything went well :hugg.

[mikaylasmommy]

The appointment went great. Sorry it took so long to post. Anyway, my husband and I loved Dr Pearson. He was great with Mikayla and treated us very nice. We wish we lived closer to Columbus. He explained everything to me in detail. Here is what I sent out to my family:

Everything went good except the drive. Allie was tired of being in her car seat after about 30 minutes. Other than that I am really glad we went. I don't remember if I told you why we were going down there. Anyway, Mikayla has a lot of pain where the plates are in her forehead. Well, the doctor explained the healing process of this if they are absorbable. If they are not and they are metal she will just have to be really careful for the rest of her life unless she happens to have another surgery for some reason and they can remove them. I was also concerned about the assemytry in her eyes. I was concerned that bone was growing the wrong way. This surgeon assured me that he didn't feel that is was bone and he didn't see it as much as I did. He told me he thought her canthus (skin at edge of eye that looks like a v) was lower on one side and if she wanted in the future she could have a surgery to fix this. It only involves the skin and not the bone so it would be a minor surgery. I told him my concerns about her stuttering as far as it being caused by intercrainial pressure. He says stuttering is not usaully a symptom but it is a possiblity. We are going to get develpmental testing done by the school when that starts back up and try to get a referral to a speach therapist to see about that. She had a speach evaluation last year around this time and she did well. I think I might be able to call them back and see if they will do the eval again. I am still happy that we went down there and don't feel like all the driving and money we spent was a waste being that the Dr. explained everything to me in such detail. I am really happy she doesn't NEED another surgery at this time. If I hadn't went down there I would have wondered all the time if Mikayla was the best she could be. I have a fear of her growing up and asking me "why didn't you do this or that". At least I know I did everything in my power that I could to make her experience growing up and going to school be as smooth as possible. The doctor down there says he thinks she has a great result from the surgery. That made me feel really good. I am sure other doctors are more critical of the outcome than the actual surgeon who did the surgery.

[vancesmommy]

I am so glad that she doesn't need another surgery right now!! What a relief!! Vance is coming up on his 1 year post op, and i am kind of concerned with the way his head shape is looking. We are going up to Ohio in a couple of weeks to visit family, so I made an appointment to see Dr. Pearson while we are there. We have to pay out of pocket since we moved, but to me it is worth it. I figure since he done the surgery he will know where things are suppose to be.

[Matthews Mommy]

Glad everything went well, happy to hear that no surgery is needed!:icon_mrgr

[Doug]

Jenny - Glad everything went well! You drove right past us and could not stop and say HI!:mad:

Denice - You say you are coming up this way in a couple weeks. I think it would be tragedy if are kiddos couldn't have a mini meet-up. We could include anyone within a couple hours of Columus.

[plukids]

Oh Jenny! I am so glad that Mikayla's appointment went so well. I am with you on the wanting to be sure I did everything thing right thought! I am so critical scanning her head and face to be sure it looks like it is healing well. I think that is our job as parents though. You done well Mama!!

Hey Doug, that meeting would not include us as we are 6-8 hours from there I am sure but you better post pix!!

[mikaylasmommy]

OMG Doug, my kids were screaming all the way there and all the way back. I was so emotionally drained. I just wanted to get home and get out of the car! My niece lives in Farmington isn't that close to you guys? Maybe next time we go for a visit we could do lunch with you and Katie and Dillon of course.