SURGERY FOR TEENS

MY NAME IS BRITTANY, AND I HAVEN'T BEEN ON THIS SITE IN A WHILE, BUT BEFORE I START TO VENT AND WANT TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW THAT I'LL BE 16 IN AUGUST AND WE HAVE BEEN GOING THRU THIS SINCE I WAS 4 MONTHS OLD. THE DRS TOLD MY MOM THAT I HAD "BABY FAT" AND I WOULD LOSE IT WHEN I STARTED TO WALK.WHEN I WAS 4, I WAS WEARING A SIZE 14 IN GIRLS SIZES. I HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO WEAR THE PRETTY GIRL CLOTHES. NEVER IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. I HAVE BEEN TEASED SO MUCH THAT I DON'T EVEN FEEL THE HURT ANYMORE. MY CURRENT BMI IS 71.1. WE CONTACTED A DR. HERE IN ATLANTA AND HE HAD THE SURGERY SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 2002 AND 2 WEEKS BEFORE THAT DATE WE WERE CALLED AND TOLD THAT THE ANESTHESIOLOGIST AT NORTHSIDE WOULD NOT DO IT. THE DOOR WAS SLAMMED IN MY FACE. THEN WE PROCEEDED TO UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AND THAT WAS IN OCTOBER OF 2003. WE ARE NO CLOSER TO GETTING THE SURGERY DONE AS WE WERE IN OCTOBER. THE DOOR WAS SLAMMED A SECOND TIME. WE CONTACTED CINCINNATI CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER WEIGHT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM(EXCELLENT FOR ADOLESCENTS) AND THEY GOT THE BALL ROLLING FOR ME......BUT PEACHCARE FOR KIDS WILL NOT PAY FOR THE SURGERY BEING DONE OUT OF STATE ANOTHER DOOR!!!! WE CONTACTED SEVERAL DRS THAT WILL PERFORM BUT THEY DO NOT ACCEPT PEACHCARE. WE FOUND ONE THAT WOULD HELP(BRUNSWICK, GA) AND ACCEPT PEACHCARE..BUT WILL ACCEPT ANY PTS MORE THAN A HOUR AWAY FROM HIS OFFICE BECAUSE OF FOLLOW-UPS. PEACHCARE STATES THAT THERE DRS HERE IN GEORGIA THAT PERFORMS THIS SURGERY. YES THEY DO BUT NOT AT MY AGE OR THEY DON'T ACCEPT PEACHCARE. I AM SO DOWN NOW..MY MOM HAS DONE EVERYTHING SHE CAN FOR ME. SHE STAYED HOME TO DO HOME SCHOOLING FOR ME LAST YEAR THINKING THAT BY NOW THE SURGERY WOULD BE OVER AND SHE COULD BACK TO WORK. CAN ANYONE OUT THERE GIVE US ANY SUGGESTIONS ON WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT? EVERYBODY SAYS WAIT TILL YOU'RE 18...I WON'T LIVE TO SEE 18. HELP PLEASE!!!!!!!!!

Brittany, If your pediatrician or primary care doctor is behind you on having WLS, ask for their assistance. My thinking is because PeachCare is a form of Medicaid, then it seems to me that doctors who accept Medicaid ought to accept PeachCare...especially for someone like yourself. I would also speak with seniority at PeachCare to get some answers on what route you should take. If you/your mom has done all this, then contact your local state representatives and senators. Seek their assistance. Send them all a letter explaining your situation, your hurt, anger, health, insurance....and ask that they assist you in having WLS. I do hope things will get better. Please do keep us posted! Karel

THANKS FOR ALL THE INFO; I WILL LET MY MOM KNOW SO WE CAN GET STARTED RIGHT AWAY!!!! THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND I WILL DEFINTELY LET YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS!!!

Why dont you try the wish center. I think the web site is wishcenter.org. I wish you all the luck in the world and God Bless You and your mom. Dont Give UP.

IT IS SO GOOD TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE CARING PEOPLE OUT THERE LIKE YOURSELF. THANKS FOR THE INFO. I JUST WENT TO THE WEBSITE AND REQUESTED AN INFO PACKET. I WILL KEEP YOU POSTED.

Brittany, you are in my thoughts and prayers. I don't have any answers other than don't give up, I know how easy it is to get discouraged but I have faith that for every door that is shut another is opened we just have to keep plugging away until we find what we are looking for. Please keep updating, for I will continue to pray for you and your mom.