With all of the fuss and rumble regarding the potential rollback of the Affordable Care Act under the incoming presidency, I have to say that of everything I am grateful for, employer-provided family health care ranks pretty much near the top. It’s not something you think about on a regular basis, except perhaps to grumble about the monthly takeout from the paycheck. But when you need it, you can’t get a better safety net for your financial and physical well being as well as your peace of mind.
Everything’s fine now, but we had a medical adventure of our own recently. Will’s been allergic to penicillin since infancy, so when he recently suffered strep throat, he was put on an antibiotic in the sulfa family. Eight days later, he was playing in his first indoor lacrosse game of the season when he came running over to me during a break in the action to whisper, “Mom, my head hurts.” “You didn’t get whacked in the head, did you?” I asked in alarm. To which he grinned and responded, “No, probably just had too much fun hanging out with my friends last night.” After the game, his coach ribbed him just a little bit, “Kinda light on second-half action there, Will.”
I heard the comment and theorized that Will wasn’t in prime shape, especially since it was his team’s first time out on a full field in months. My theory seemed to be confirmed when he noted, on the way home, that he had felt out of breath.
But the next morning was a different story. When I woke him up at 6:30 for school, he was covered in red blotches, face and chest, and he moaned that he didn’t feel well. I told him to stay in bed, drink lots of fluids, and sleep off whatever bug he must have caught.
Here’s the lucky thing: that afternoon, Will had a signing ceremony at school with the two other Division 3 lacrosse recruits, so I stayed home from work so Bill and I could attend and get our pictures taken for the school newsletter. I shudder to think what would have happened if neither one of us had been home for this next part, if we had done what we normally might have done for a 17-year-old not feeling well: tell him to rest, drink lots of water, and stay in touch by phone.
‘This is a story that could have ended differently if not for a series of very fortunate events and wonderful people.’
I went to check on him at 8, and this time he was covered with an angry rash. But it was his next words that had me immediately on the phone with the doctor: “It’s hard to breathe and my chest feels constricted.” “Call 911,” said the advice nurse when I repeated those words to her. I hadn’t thought the matter so serious. “Our protocol dictates that you call 911,” she repeated. We live close to the new Princeton-Plainsboro hospital. Six minutes door to emergency room door, in fact, and the last thing I wanted to do was to call an ambulance and then be billed for the trip. “Are you calling 911?” insisted the nurse. Instead, I told a protesting Will to haul out of bed and get in the car. When he described his symptoms to the intake nurse, he was expedited into the Emergency Department. Things moved quickly from there. He was put on an IV with steroids and Benadryl. His drug allergy had caused not only a violent skin reaction, the toxins were on the march through the rest of his body.
Confession time: with this drama unfolding, I was plagued by a nagging worry— what was all of this top-of-the-line emergency care going to cost? Of course we weren’t going to skimp on anything for Will, but at the same time, I couldn’t help but try to remember which health plan I had chosen, the deductible and our out-of-pocket responsibilities.
Now can you imagine if you didn’t have insurance? What thousands of families across the country have to worry about if they don’t have coverage? Do you simply keep your child at home and hope he will sleep off whatever ails him? Do you forgo emergency care because you know you won’t be able to pay for it? Do you put your child’s life at risk?
Long story short: Will was admitted for an overnight stay for more treatment and observation. He came home the next day and thanks to his youth, good general health and quick medical care, has made a full recovery.
Lessons learned: When you are sick, no messing around. If you are short of breath or feel weird in your chest, move on it, tell someone, and go to emergency right away. Will’s poor heart had been trying to fight off the enemy and was working overtime. If you’re allergic to anything — whether it’s food or medicine — stay away from it and make sure others know of your vulnerabilities. If you are not aware of an allergy, then act quickly once your body shows signs of obvious distress.
We have great health insurance and we used it. We are lucky. In Plainsboro, we live minutes from one world-class hospital that has a relationship with a second world-class hospital—CHOP—Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and we are indebted to all the amazing physicians who treated Will. This is a story that could have ended differently if not for a series of very fortunate events and wonderful people, and in this season of blessing and joy, we know that and are grateful indeed. From my family to yours, I wish you health, love, and the gift of time to enjoy it all.
suburban mom,
