Liam's doctor is attempting to have him admitted to the cardiac ward at Sick Kids in Toronto, in order for Liam to undergo a sleep study (his tet spells occur when he is in a deep sleep). Sick Kids has no respiratory beds available, but he may be able to get a cardiac bed due to having a heart echo scheduled at Sick Kids at the end of the month. While it would suck that Liam would be even further away, it may provide the answers we need to treat him and bring him home safely.
If Liam does come home requiring a monitor, we got the wonderful news today that such a monitor is not covered by the government. The price tag? $2,400. That's approximately $2,400 more than we have available. It's possible that he won't require a monitor (particularly if the sleep study gets a green light), and there's a slim chance that we may tap into funding to reduce the cost. If all else fails, it looks as though our extended family, once again, will help us take care of such a hefty financial burden.
We learned an interesting factoid today as well: Liam's nearly 11 weeks spent in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit thus far would have a bill of around $150,000 if we weren't Canadian citizens. I'm feeling thankful we are. The cost to us: $0. Imagine if we lived south of the border (especially having seen Sicko). We'd be looking at bankruptcy or Zefram being an only child.
Liam's doing well otherwise. He's at 8 lbs 7 oz and eating like a champ. Nothing new with Zef... it still floors me every time he smiles (which he does often).
More news as it becomes available...
1 comment:
Hi Mary
We,too, are realizing just how blessed we are to be in this country with our little one's problems. So sorry to hear about the latest delay-I understand about patience wearing thin! I'm going to be at Mount Sinai Hospital (across from Sick Kids) on the 30th for a prenatal apt. (since we have to deliver there) so maybe we can meet up if your appointment works out. We could "talk shop" :)
Blessings,
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