My only grandson is very sick (2 trips to ER)

[Omaha Steve]

I've never tried to hide my identity on the DU. Please respect my daughters privacy. Yesterday my only grandson (third of three grandchildren) was taken by rescue squad twice to the emergency room.

My daughter is getting divorced. Her husband lost his job by his own fault last month. IF he didn't make the COBRA payment on time, Beanie will be without health insurance for both of them. Beanie had no idea yesterday morning her soon to be X didn't pay the phone bill as promised. It was turned off yesterday morning without her expecting it. She had to run door to door to find a neighbor at home during the day to call 911. She had a one year old that had a fever and was having a seizure in her arms. He was turning blue. Her soon to be X paid the bill after the first trip to the ER.

I mentioned a few months ago his epileptic symptoms started after a reaction to childhood immunizations. He had not had any problems since.

I've been pro health care reform since the 90's. Watching Keith Olbermann tonight while thinking about my family was a stark reminder of what is on the line for our nation. Thank you Mr. Olbermann for sharing your family's story. I just wish those that need to see this info would watch it.

OS

Edit to add (soon to be) X

[Berry Cool]

1. Request granted, and thanks for sharing your story.

I sincerely hope that everything turns out OK for your grandson. In every way possible.

[proud patriot]

Sending strength to your daughter and grandson

:hug:

[Stinky The Clown]

2. ....

:hug:

[spanone]

3. k&r.....

[malaise]

4. Hope everything works out Omaha Steve

:grouphug:

[blaze]

5. Oh Steve!!

Is he OK?

Keith had me in tears tonight.

[Omaha Steve]

10. He is on meds to stop the seizures

Jason's first birthday party was on the 25th. Because of the drugs, he is having trouble with his balance. He and Beanie both have a form of flu too.

[TexasLady]

6. Oh No!

I want so much for him to be ok. I just know he will be! I have been waiting for health care reform forever too. So many of us have.

[MiniMe]

7. The Ex has 60 days to opt in for COBRA

Daughter needs to get to court fast to make sure insurance is taken care of.

edited to say I hope your grandson is OK.

[gkhouston]

34. and the Ex might be eligible for a reduction in the COBRA premium.

If he was fired for gross misconduct, then no, but otherwise, he might qualify, and the discount is hefty:

http://www.dol.gov/ebsa/faqs/faq-cobra-premiumreductionee.html

[stuball111]

8. One of the things I never worried about when I lived in Canada...

Was coverage. It is very strange adapting to that down here. I am on COBRA right now, (Thanks Teddy K.) and pay about $350 per month, which is about how much I paid PER YEAR in Canada for full coverage, no co-pays, and no extras, no deductible,no pre-existing conditions. It was a great and comforting feeling to have that security, but now, I am really afraid. I just turned 55, and I was going to apply for full citizenship, but I am having second thoughts. I now know that if I was to retire here, I might someday find myself in an ambulance on my way to total destitution. I went to the doctor the other day, and just received a bill for $85, 1/4 of what I pay monthly for a simple check up. Just think of what I'd have to pay if I had a heart attack or some other serious condition?

[NMDemDist2]

9. oh Steve, I'm so sorry

:hug:

hope the baby, the daughter and you have much better days, starting tomorrow.

[unkachuck]

11. hang in there, Omaha....we'll say a prayer....n/t

[mzmolly]

12. It was a very important special comment.

My heart goes out to you and yours Steve. I'll thinking of you and your family.

[abelenkpe2]

13. I hope your grandson is OK.

[Fumesucker]

14. ...

:grouphug:

[alittlelark]

15. I'm so sorry... I assume this is a link to the Olbermann clip...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=agqdTUjS2HE

:grouphug:

[nadinbrzezinski]

16. Hang in there, and we need to get health care for ALL

it is a right.

[southernyankeebelle]

17. Just reading your comments makes me cry - I pray for you and your

family. I know its sooooo hard. Sometimes when we get hit you think you never will be ok. I can tell you that it will. Hang in there. For 2 yrs my husband was having seizures. Finally they ended up being tremors shaking and scaring me to death. He was in thte ER 8 times in one month. He has had all kinds of tests and nothing showed. Finally I ask the doctor could he see if he could get him in to Vanderblit hospital. My husband is retired from the army and for some reason Vanderblit would no longer take our Tricare primary. It is a retiree military government plan. It is excellent. Well finally got the approval for 3 to 5 days. He ended up staying 3 days and they took him off all the heavy duty drugs they put him on. Finally the doctor told him there is nothing wrong with him. He has been having these tremors since his mom died about 2 yrs ago. The dr said people that have allot of stress and don't talk about it show it in different ways. He told him to talk with someone. He did and he hasn't had a tremor in over a month. Just take one day at a time. Ask god to give you the strength. You aren't the only one. Try to find friends that are there for you that can give you a shoulder to cry on and you can trust.

[a la izquierda]

18. Hugs to you and your family.

[ezgoingrl]

19. Hang in there Omaha Steve.

We're all thinking about your family.

[cbdo2007]

20. Aren't all kids eligible for Medicaid? Or what are the income requirements?

You may want to look into it because I'm sure there's help for your grandson out there either through Medicaid or through a Catholic Charities or something. Good luck to you!

[calimary]

21. Once again, Keith said what needs to be said. And so do you, Omaha Steve.

I hope your grandson gets better.

And I hope the tide is turning on the health care reform mess.

[GreenPartyVoter]

22. Oh, no! Your poor daughter and grandson. *hugs and prayers*

[intheflow]

23. Steve, you and your family are in my prayers tonight.

I hope your grandson is ok. This is scary stuff. :hug:

[DainBramaged]

24. My prayers and best wishes go with you and yours

:hug: :pals:

[niyad]

25. prayers and hugs for you and your family, OS. keiths commentary, and your situation

reinforce the need for universal health care NOW

please let us know how everything is going.

[lonestarnot]

26. I'm sorry OS.

Hope he gets what he needs and gets better. :(

[omega minimo]

27. +50 Rec and (((((((healing thoughts)))))))) for your family and the little one. ++++++Re: COBRA

if he was laid off last month, the deadline to pay for COBRA would not be this soon. There is also a Federal Subsidy now (thank you Obama Admin and Congress) that covers 65% of premium for at least 9 months, i.e. family pays 35% of premium. Usually, signing up has a 60 deadline but the billing for that is later; retroactive to the last date of previous coverage.

Best to you all :grouphug:

[Love Bug]

33. The premiums are retroactive to the last date of previous coverage, too

so the son-in-law needs to step up ASAP and get his children covered.

[roguevalley]

28. I wish only the best for all of you. This is so damned wrong I can't

find words. WTF is going on with all of us?

[Control-Z]

29. A similar thing happened to my daughter (for different reason).

She was squatting on the floor, the way toddlers do, playing with a little neighbor girl, and lost her balance. She tumbled forward and bumped her forehead on her little friend's knee.

I heard gurgling noises coming from her and knew instantly there was something very wrong. She was seizing by the time I had her in my arms. She stopped breathing and turned blue while I was on the phone with 911. The paramedics were at my door within about 3 minutes. (I'm not exaggerating.)

I am feeling so much for your daughter right now. That was one of the most frightening moments of my life. But everything went right. My phone worked. The fire department happened to be only two blocks from my home. We were lucky. I can't imagine what I would have done if the phone hadn't been working. Please give your daughter a really big hug for me. Hugs to all of you. I hope your grandson recovers quickly and permanently.

If it helps at all, my daughter actually had two similar incidents before she was three, but has not had a problem since. She is now a healthy, sassy 16 YO, driving me crazy just like she's supposed to.

My best to you all.:grouphug:

[LeftishBrit]

30. Very best thoughts to your grandson

[Divine Discontent]

31. just now seeing this. praying for you and yours Steve.

:hug:

DD in FL

[knitter4democracy]

32. Similar situation here. My ex is now refusing to pay medical bills.

Of course, he's thousands behind in his support payments, so how he expects me to pay, I have no idea. I've been begging and pleading for more time, better payment plans, anything for help. I've at least got a medical enforcement officer at Friend of the Court I can give all the paperwork to and have him go after the ex--do they have that where your daughter lives?

PM me your daughter's e-mail if she wants to talk. Sometimes, just talking to someone else living in divorce hell helps. My ex has refused to pay bills, refused to pay me, used my support payment for the down payment on the new house he bought with his fiance before our divorce was final and on and on and on.

[pinto]

35. I hope he got the care he needed, Steve. Must have been harrowing.

The best to you and yours. :hi:

[mopinko]

36. best wishes to both the baby and beanie.

they are both lucky to have you on their side. i am sure all will be alright.

[CrispyQ]

37. I'm so sorry for your daughter's difficulties & I hope your beloved grandson is ok.

:hug:

[CrispyQ]

38. I'm so sorry for your daughter's difficulties & I hope your beloved grandson is ok.

:hug:

[Omaha Steve]

39. Beanie & Jason both went home this morning with the swine flu

Marta drove them both home. Jason is better with the meds. He still isn't balancing very well. They are treating his flu for now. In a few days they will be looking into the other problems.

My thanks for all the public and private wishes for good health for them.

OS

[eleny]

41. I'm keeping you all in my thoughts today

I'm glad they're home. There's no place like it! :hug:

[noiretextatique]

43. not the greatest outcome, but certainly not the worst either

wishing them both a speedy recovery.

[Ignis]

40. Hang in there, Steve.

I hope it all works out for the best. :hug:

[BlooInBloo]

42. :(((((

[patrice]

44. Know that many of us deeply desire your grandson to be well, O. Steve,

Knowing that connection, just as KO described it, will help you to help him.

Om namah Shivayah!