Red Letter Day

Yesterday was crazy, as if any day isn't.
Deak had kind of a nightmare experience with the sedation Friday during his MRI, and for some unknown reason, it has triggered an asthma episode reminiscent of his first year of life. 
I stopped by the mailbox on the way to pick up Deak from the bus and noticed a letter from my insurance company. I assumed it was a letter telling me something I didn't want to know, like I needed to pay extra money or they denied me for life. You know, simple catastrophes that have become somewhat commonplace in my day to day life.  I opened it and read that they had authorized something, but I carelessly disbelieved it. I don't get letters...EVER...saying my insurance will authorize anything.
I stuck the letter in my purse, grabbed Deak and rushed around for the next couple of hours to cheerleading with Ab and the pediatrician with Deak.
(A visit which I am still grieving over due his retirement announcement...I truly can't bear to think of what I will do when he is gone...but, it is deserved of an entry of its' own when I can mumble through it without losing control of my emotions).
Deak was placed on prednisone (yippee) and given x-rays to rule out aspiration and pneumonia. They were clear, thankfully and we are hopeful Deak will recover quickly. (Although I'm not sure I'll survive a five day prednisone course with this child. He already eats me out of house and home, and this morning he was climbing all over the couches by the coffee tables, laughing hysterically and acting like a hyperactive monkey.)

Needless to say, I didn't think much of it until midnight or so last night when I mentioned to Blair, "Hey, I think I got a letter from the insurance saying they'll cover Deak's growth hormone."  We kind of laughed, certain it was some sort of mix up.

Well, this morning, I opened my purse in my office and remembered the letter. I decided to call the customer service line and verify the accuracy.

Yep, it's covered.
What in the Hell?
I have fought the beastly core of medical insurance agencies for three years; I'm estimating I've been through 14 or so appeals. I've hand-written personal letters, changed pharmaceutical carriers, filled out mountains of paperwork, and prayed. 
I. am. in. shock.

We obviously will have to pay a portion of this medication each month, 10%. Which, probably doesn't sound like a lot until you discover this medication has the capability of costing over $1500/month. The money will work itself out; I am just cautiously grateful for this sudden change of heart.

This medication has changed Deakon's quality of life.  It is not about height, it's about muscle strength and myelin production in his brain. It has truly been amazing, in a mixed blessing kind of a way, because giving your child a daily shot is never fun.

But, man...with the year or two we've had...we'll take this good news and we will celebrate.

Read here, here and here to learn a little more about our story with Growth Hormone.

Hooray for my red letter day!