Ironic, To Say the Least

It would be an understatement to say that the U.S. State Department did not want us moving overseas with our middle child. As some of you know, he has a panoply of issues, including developmental delays and seizures. The rest of us passed our medical exams with flying colors; not so for Graham. It took two months and three appeals for us to convince the Medical Office of the State Department that his needs could be met in Serbia and in the region. Until our third appeal finally was granted, the good folks at the State Department consistenly took the position that because of the relatively undeveloped healthcare system in Serbia, Graham's seizure-related needs could not be met, and that he would be at risk living there.

In reality, what we found was that despite a healthcare system still struggling to emerge from the crippling after-effects of communism, Serbian physicians were highly-trained and very capable. The facilities in which they saw and treated patients were deplorable, and the equipment in some instances was very outdated, but the docs, well, they were good. Moreover, we had the opportunity to deal with physicians in Slovenia, Austria and Italy, and across the board, we were very impressed not only with the service and care we received, but with the "customer service" provided, for lack of a better term. Suffice it to say that it was immensely easier for me to reach these doctors by email, and to receive timely, meaningful responses, than it ever has been here in the U.S. Granted, we have pretty hospitals here, modern, fancy and expensive equpment, and great doctors, but the system is bureaucratic, and sometimes getting through to a doctor is like trying to speak directly to President Obama himself!

Well, to get to the point, the reason for this post is to share the struggle that we are now encountering here in the good ole US of A. Graham's neurologist has prescribed a medication called Diastat to be used only if Graham has a seizure that goes on for a while, and which isn't stopping on its own. Luckily, we've never had to use this medication. We had it with us in Serbia, however, and Graham's assistant had it in his backpack at all times, and was on ready to give it to him if he needed it.

Our school district, however, has refused to give the medication to Graham, even if he were to need it. The reason? Why, because he's never had a dose before. The alleged reason for this is that the health department in Nashville evidently believes that it is more dangerous to give this medication to a child who has not had it before, than it is not to give it to a child who is experiencing a seizure that will not stop. Where is the logic here? Are they really going to sit there and watch my child seize endlessly (while waiting for 911 responders to show up), despite the fact that an effective and safe anti-seizure medication that has been prescribed by his highly-trained physician is right in his backpack? The answer, sadly, is "yes."

And so, I'm on the rampage. Trying to figure out the best way to reverse this policy that could result in death or serious brain damage for Graham and/or other kids like him. The great irony, as I see it, is that, in light of this most recent development, apparently Graham's critical seizure-related needs were actually better met in Serbia than they are right here in Nashville. Go figure.

Happy Labor Day weekend to all of my blog readers!