We have TEETH!!!!!! One statement I never knew I would be so excited to make!
The road to get here was not easy. I feel I would be doing a disservice to not be transparent about the reality of what it is like to get here. The simple act of flying over the handle bars of a bike is in reality pretty complicated. The medical bills that arrived after he returned to school were jaw dropping. I think it would be rude to share actual numbers but know that a medical helicopter ride (alone) for a short 51 miles, costs more than a 2016 fully loaded Honda Accord (I just googled that to confirm:). Thankful that Sam at least appreciated the ride even strapped to a board! And that was just the helicopter ride…
Sam came to me with Medicaid and so far I am surprised how they have handled most of the bills. But…there is a but…I have had to spend hours and days advocating for these bills to be covered. I wonder how someone who is truly sick deals with this…
We were fortunate to have an amazing oral surgeon in the emergency room. In our follow up appointment and discussing the options he suggested that we stay with CMC and further his treatment at their dental clinic. What a blessing this has been! They have taken the BEST care of Sam and saving his teeth. And on top of saving the top 4 teeth…they were fighting with Medicaid to get a “flipper” piece (the bottom teeth, think retainer) approved. It only took 6 months to get this approved…and they never gave up advocating for him. He has had more root canals than I can keep track of. He went 7 months with no bottom teeth. And he has not complained once!
This school and this program that he is in, is not inexpensive either. BUT it is worth every sacrifice! For him to not complain, not cry, not completely lose it over the last 6 months is a testament to that. I wonder what would happen if the kids that do not have the means could go through a program like this. With everything I experience I can’t help but think about how I can help. My goal would be to be able to provide scholarships for young men and women that need the “Pit Stop” that Sam needed. I want to be able to help other young people become solid, functioning, productive members of society. Every child deserves a chance to learn who they are while being guided down a path that will lead them to success. (If you also feeling a calling to help, please let me know as there are some immediate needs).
Success looks different for everyone. Success for Sam means going from depression, sadness and hunger to thinking about the future, smiling and opening up his heart to actually trust someone. The pictures speak for themselves…
Right now the unknown is a scary place for me. My life has greatly and wonderfully change over the last year of him being at school. While making plans for Sam’s future I have to remember that I have to consider my future as well. We have some many exciting things to work towards. The option to go on a mission trip ( if we can raise enough money, sorry for the shameless plug). The reality that Sam is going to graduate…yes graduate…from high school before he completes his program. The unknown of what his calling will be when he gets home. Right now Plan A is for him to try and get into the Coast Guard. Plan B is most likely community college and working.
Yall thank you so much for coming along with us on this journey. Please pray for both of us right now. The future is so bright, but so unknown. Praying constantly that I can be faithful in God’s plan for both of us.
