angelb49
09-22-2003, 02:05 AM
Hi, I have a question for anyone out there who may know what to do. Here's my story:
I became pregnant in December of 2002 after only 1 month of trying-we have a 2 year old and decided it was a good time to try for another child. The pregnancy progressed to 4.5 months with regular prenatal care. I was then told my AFP results came back high for a neural tube defect. We were devastated, but had heard of children who had had operations that were successful in repairing the damage, allowing them to lead almost normal lives. We went to our 18 week ultrasound and were told everything was fine, and it was a boy. However, when we arrived home 2 hours later from baby shopping, there was a message from our OB telling us to meet her at the hospital right away. They did another ultrasound and my worst nightmare came true. Not only did my baby have spina bifida, but he also had a chiari malformation of the brain, missing septal wall of the brain, kidneys that didn't work which was causing him to constantly vomit the amniotic fluid he swallowed back up, malformed intestines, a keyhole bladder, hydrocephele, the list just kept getting longer and longer. At the end they told us our baby was dying, slowly, and that he would most likely be dead by the beginning of the third trimester. I had twice the amount of fluid I needed already, and they were worried about my health as I had already been horribly sick throughout the entire pregnancy. I asked if there was any possibility for me to carry the pregnancy to term. I was told that even if I did, he would die hours after birth. My husband and I had to make the hardest decision of our lives, and so we set our son free. I gave birth to him and we had him cremated and put in a little urn for us to keep. There is no way this baby was ever not wanted, but that's exactly how the insurance company is making us feel. They consider the whole thing unethical, so they are refusing to pay for a dime. I was told if I became seriously ill due to continuing the pregnancy, my hospital bills would have been paid for. If worse came to worse and I died, the funeral would also be covered-I thought they have got to be kidding! No. I just need to know what to do with all of this. I haven't even had much of a chance to greive for my baby, and I have to deal with this! They even sent me a notice saying I needed to collect more information before they would consider paying for a follow up bill-and I have to get it back to them by a certain date-his due date-is that just a coincidence? I'm having a hard time not going off on these people on the phone. My child is dead and all they care about is money! Please, someone give me advice. I'd sue them if I had the emotional resources at this point.
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Angela
I became pregnant in December of 2002 after only 1 month of trying-we have a 2 year old and decided it was a good time to try for another child. The pregnancy progressed to 4.5 months with regular prenatal care. I was then told my AFP results came back high for a neural tube defect. We were devastated, but had heard of children who had had operations that were successful in repairing the damage, allowing them to lead almost normal lives. We went to our 18 week ultrasound and were told everything was fine, and it was a boy. However, when we arrived home 2 hours later from baby shopping, there was a message from our OB telling us to meet her at the hospital right away. They did another ultrasound and my worst nightmare came true. Not only did my baby have spina bifida, but he also had a chiari malformation of the brain, missing septal wall of the brain, kidneys that didn't work which was causing him to constantly vomit the amniotic fluid he swallowed back up, malformed intestines, a keyhole bladder, hydrocephele, the list just kept getting longer and longer. At the end they told us our baby was dying, slowly, and that he would most likely be dead by the beginning of the third trimester. I had twice the amount of fluid I needed already, and they were worried about my health as I had already been horribly sick throughout the entire pregnancy. I asked if there was any possibility for me to carry the pregnancy to term. I was told that even if I did, he would die hours after birth. My husband and I had to make the hardest decision of our lives, and so we set our son free. I gave birth to him and we had him cremated and put in a little urn for us to keep. There is no way this baby was ever not wanted, but that's exactly how the insurance company is making us feel. They consider the whole thing unethical, so they are refusing to pay for a dime. I was told if I became seriously ill due to continuing the pregnancy, my hospital bills would have been paid for. If worse came to worse and I died, the funeral would also be covered-I thought they have got to be kidding! No. I just need to know what to do with all of this. I haven't even had much of a chance to greive for my baby, and I have to deal with this! They even sent me a notice saying I needed to collect more information before they would consider paying for a follow up bill-and I have to get it back to them by a certain date-his due date-is that just a coincidence? I'm having a hard time not going off on these people on the phone. My child is dead and all they care about is money! Please, someone give me advice. I'd sue them if I had the emotional resources at this point.
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Angela