Saturday, December 20, 2008

What a Christmas Present!!!

I haven't posted much about our funding problems with Annie because it has just been too life sucking.  Suffice it to say that we have been doing the Medicaid denial of funds and subsequent appeal dance for the last few months.  We have called in favors from our network of social service folk, and we have talked with our State Senator and Representative (or at least their minions).  But we were really scared.  We cannot let Annie come back home because she is too dangerous to the other people in the home, particularly Kendra as she has intense jealousy towards her and has physically attacked her many times in the past.  But there didn't seem to be anywhere for her to go, I am not sure even homeless shelters would take her.

Well today the official sounding knock came at the front door and I was required to sign a certified letter for Annie.  We opened it and to our surprise discovered that Annie has qualified for the Acquired Brain Injury Waiver.  This is a new funding program and there were only 50 spots funded for this year and Annie got one!!  Some one is looking out for her, her guardian angel pulled some major strings.

With this funding stream we can now seek a residential/group home style facility for her much closer to home and one that will meet her needs for brain injury rehabilitation.  This funding stream was created to fill the hole between children's services which end at 18 and adult services which don't start until 21.  It is totally amazing that Annie got funded.  I mean, I am not saying that she isn't in desperate need but so are so many others.

The weight that has been lifted from our shoulders is immense.  I feel like we can be happy at Christmas now.

There is still a lot to do, we have to find a case management agency and then start investigating programs.  There is one we have in mind but we don't know if they have an opening or if they would consider Annie given her issues.  But it so much more hopeful to know that now we can start looking for a home for Annie rather than worrying about her being homeless.

Our prayers have been answered and now there are just the ton of details to deal with, but I am not  complaining.

5 comments:

Lisa said...

Wow! That is such unbelievably great news. I'm doing a happy dance for you!!!

Hoping you can relax and enjoy the holidays now!!! You deserve it!

Torina said...

That is excellent! I am so happy for your family!

Linda B said...

Truely a Godsend. I am so happy for your family. This is such a heart breaking situation to be put in. I hope you are able to find what you need without roadblocks and it all comes into place quickly. I'll be praying for you.

quilted family said...

Thanks you all, we are still in shock and I am not delusional enough to think we won't have a fight ahead of us still to get just what she needs, but the money is there and that is so unbelievable in this era of government deficits and cutbacks.

Hope everyone is having an okay pre-Christmas rush.

Anonymous said...

I'm so, so glad Annie managed to get funding support! Your family has been in my thoughts and I hope the new year will be good to you.