RUBY RED SLIPPERS ARE NO MATCH FOR INSURANCE

WELL-here it is - Day 168 of residing in Baltimore, and Day 119 on 6-W. People around here are just shaking their heads. According to the plans at the end of last week and the beginning of this one our sights were set on Tennessee. I had clicked those ruby red slippers until the heels were void of sparkles and the nurses knew when they saw me talking to myself it was just my daily mantra of "There's no place like home". Perhaps I should have kept those slippers here with us instead of sending them on home with all our other belongings - Dorothy actually had her pair on when she went home - should have thought that one through better.

I mailed the last of the boxes on Tuesday morning, and I was ready to fly, but when I got to the hospital and talked to the coordinator who is arranging our trip --she was not smiling -- BIG MESS!!!!!!!!!!! After all this time, there is now a question of who is primary on paying for this little adventure. Insurance I carry through work or Medicare. The debate and investigation is still ongoing and until it is resolved looks like we are remaining in Baltimore. Phone calls, e-mails, and meetings have been taking place in an effort to resolve this issue or find alternative solutions. The first issue is getting home. Medicare does not pay for air ambulance. The second issue is where to go when we leave here. The rehab in Nashville does not want to accept Ken if Medicare is primary. As I understand it, this has to do with the amount of time he has been in the hospital and the number of days left with his Medicare benefits. The phone calls, e-mails, and meetings are taking place on both ends and between parties at all levels.

Nurses that told us bye, knowing they wouldn't see us Tuesday or Wednesday are now coming back, shrugging their shoulders as if to say 'what's up, why are you still here?'. We have had nurses offer to drive us back themselves. One of our favorites said she could rent a U-Haul truck, load Ken and his bed up, drive us home and then bring the bed back. She even had an accomplice -then they came to their senses (liability). We can't wait to get back, but we sure are going to miss a great group of people around here.

Monday and Tuesday night I stayed at the empty apartment, but yesterday I went ahead and moved everything we have left over to the hospital (that's not much - you can't take much on the air ambulance). The funny thing is those boxes that were dropped off Monday and Tuesday to be shipped home - according to my neighbor - have already started arriving. I didn't think they would be there until next week since we sent them at the cheapest rate. Looks like I got that backwards - the boxes arrived but we may not get there until next week.

Ken has now had dialysis four days in a row. The goal is to get as much fluid off as possible before sending him back to Tennessee. Yesterday alone, they removed four liters, that's a lot. The total for the week has probably been eight but they plan to try again tomorrow. Today he has been so tired, he would fall asleep in mid sentence. One of the transplant NPs wanted him to do some exercising in the bed. He is still working on raising his arms and hands up off the bed so he was suppose to wave at everyone who walked by his door. We had a tally chart drawn up on the white board but those brown eyes could not stay open. Maybe he'll have more success tomorrow.

I have added a couple of blankets on the fold out chair so I think I'll go try it out and see if that improved it's comfort level. I don't know what answers tomorrow holds but we hope and pray they are the ones that get us home. We covet your prayers as we have from the beginning and continue to thank you for your faithfulness in lifting us up. God has definitely been faithful to answer prayers and work out the details - He will this time as well. Guess we don't need those Ruby Red Slippers after all - The insurance is no match for God!!!