New Year

As we enter a new year it is our hope that a resolution can be found for this continuing pain. I continue to see my neurologist to discuss my options and have recently changed my medication again. When the whether gets better and warmer, I will once again be a presence down at Jefferson hospital. I appreciate all those that have viewed this blog and hope you are passing it on to as many people as you know. Also, if there is anyone who has any contacts in the media, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks again and have a good new year.

Applewood Elfs

When you least expect it your friends and neighbors are there to lend a hand in a difficult time. A time made more difficult because we know this is the last holiday season in the home where so many wonderful events took place over the last 22 years. The generosity and concern that people have shown has been overwhelming to us. What will make this Christmas the most memorable is not the things we couldn't do or have but, the memories and friendships we made and to have experienced the compassion of neighbors to reach out to other neighbors. We are very grateful for all that you have done.

Jayne, Hal, Brynne and Mya

Insurance Fraud

Keystone insurance has spent in excess of a half of a million dollars in treating me since this tragedy began. Most of it has been wasted on tests, hospitalizations, drugs, doctors visits. All this money wasted and no one asks any questions. And they will keep on wasting millions more until I die. If the doctor had only done his job correctly from the beginning without malice and carelessness, I would not be in the position I am in now and the insurance company would have saved allot of money. And I'm only one patient. Think of all the people this has happened to and the insurance just pays the bill no questions asked. There is no other service in America where the consumer doesn't deal directly with the provider. If you buy a product and are dissatisfied you return it with a refund. If a service is provided for you and you are unhappy, you don't pay.

Insurance companies are paying out billions of dollars each year on behalf of dissatisfied consumers because you're not paying the bill and they don't know what level of service you received or even if the service was provided. It should make you sick. I intend to notify the management of Keystone Health Plans of exactly what has happened and, all of the other insurance providers that Jefferson does business with. I also intend to contact the attorney generals office and make them aware of this. There needs to be an investgation because this is all costing the citizens more in health care coverage every year.

Still in pain

Since my return home from the hospital on December 3, I have been in a lot of pain. I am no longer on I.V. medication. I am trying new medications which up to this point have not worked. I went into the hospital on December 9 for a procedure that would freeze the occipital nerves and hopefully reduce the pain. This did not work. I once had an extremely high tolorence for pain. I was able to survive a heart attack at 38 years old that should have killed me. I survived the meningitis as well. There have been other injuries along the way and I managed them. This however, has finally consumed my life. I need to find a cure because I am no longer able to manage the pain.

A week not to remember

I,m sorry for not keeping in touch with all of those wonderful people following this blog however, I was in Abington Hospital from November 26 until December 3. I experienced severe head pain and uncontrollable shaking on Friday morning following Thanksgiving and, I had my younger daughter take me to the hospital. I spent the week on several different IV drug trials trying to control the pain. Since the doctors don't really know what is causing the severe pain there method of treatment up to now is to try several medications for migraines for a period of time to see if it brings me any relief. I feel like a lab rat at times on all these different drugs but, I know that there is no other alternitive. Jayne and my girls are keepimg my spirits up and the fact that I can communicate this story to all of my friends old and new is a huge relief. I am in the process of applying for long term SSI benefits but expect that it will take 4 to 6 months. The hardest thing to deal with besides the medical problems is that I have to give up a business that for 23 years has been our whole life. There is much uncertainty going forward but, I will not give up until Jefferson Hospital deals with the situation they've put my family in. Thanks again for all the support, it helps more than you know.