Gastric Mucosa and The Wino

Biopsy test results conclude that Andi has Gastric Mucosa.  Good luck reading up on that, it's like reading latin.  Basically, that's Andi's stomach lining coming up the g-tube hole.  Initally, the surgeon we spoke to the other day said that the fix for that is, redo the surgery. Although, redoing the surgery is no guarantee that it won't happen again.

I've sent a lovely email to our pediatrician to forewarn him that we're pissed, and our meeting on Thursday is not going to be full of warm, fuzzy feelings.  We were hospitalized at the end of March about the leaky g-tube, searching for reasons doing every test to determine why, and yet, this is the first we've heard of Gastric Mucosa.  It's inexcusable.  I went so far to state that we are not an ATM for Kaiser Permanente.

Andi's ear tubes surgery, although we just found out an hour ago that it's been canceled, was costing us just under $600.  I don't know about you, but, I'm definitely not sitting on a pile of cash!  I may have an American Express card, but it ain't black!  There's a limit on there, and all the Kaiser charges, even simple co-pays are adding up!!!  We're finding ourselves being killed by copays!  The surgery was canceled as the anesthesiologist feels that Andi runs a risk of aspiration and therefore, they want to do the surgery at the hospital, not in their mini surgery clinic.  Better safe than sorry, for sure, but just another glaring glimpse of how far from normal our lives are... this is the most common surgery done in the U.S., yet, for us... it's pretty big.  They are seeing how quickly they can get Andi scheduled.

I'm feeling a Kaiser Permanente overload.  Momma Bear is packing and ready to tear asses.  Lucky for our pediatrician, I have a full day and a half to really calm down.  Sadly though, this g-tube has been an issue for over a year, and here we are no where near having a resolution that will work for Andi.  It feels like the many, many hands that have played a role in fixing Andi, have also failed Andi miserably.  I'm beyond disappointed, I'm sad.  Here's this kid with nothing more than a desire to make people laugh, and she has a heart of gold, yet - the people we're working with to make her bigger, better and stronger are failing her miserably.  It's inexcusable.

As I just put as my facebook update, 'I'd like to take the Kaiser Permanente 'Thrive' media campaign and shove it up many asses!'  Forgive my language, but if you're a parent, you should really understand my statement.

Andi's appointment with her pediatrican has just been increased in time, so we can spend more time discussing this latest development.  I think Momma Bear is going to break the no-weekday wino rule tonight.  Stress is quickly becoming my middle name, and that is not okay with me.