March 22, 2006
Arizona Burn Center
Phoenix, AZ
Today we didn’t have to look too hard or too far to see the Silver Lining of Lisa’s situation. We, you and I, have been dealing with fear, uncertainty, and doubt as it relates to
Lisa. Questions. Questions unanswered: How long is she going to be at the Burn Center? What condition will the Stevens-Johnson leave her in? Of course there are many other questions, but let’s get to the good part. Lisa has sent the Stevens-Johnson syndrome packing! Although the SJS delayed the progress she was making at Northwest Medical Center, it did not stop the healing. The areas of her most severe lesions are showing healthy, pink, and that’s great. Lisa will be ready to leave the Burn Center before the week ends, and her well being is the direct result of the informed, excellent, professional care she received while there.Lisa February 2005 5
You will recall all the back and forth between Richard, Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Kindred Hospital to work out a special contract to enable Lisa to receive the best care Tucson had to offer. It ended with everyone agreeing that Lisa would transfer to Kindred Hospital. And now? Lisa isn’t going there, at least not right away! The doctors at the burn center recommended Lisa as a candidate for Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph’s. The latest U.S. News & World Report ranks Barrow “…as one of America’s best hospitals in the areas of neurology and neurosurgery.” Barrow is an internationally renowned medical center that offers care to people with brain and spinal diseases, disorders and injuries.
Richard received a call from the Meg, Admissions Coordinator at St. Joseph’s Specialty Care Unit. Normally Barrow only takes patients who are capable of responding to, and communicating with the medical staff; therefore it would seem Lisa would be ineligible for their care. However, it appears that Lisa still qualifies for admission because Barrows has a specialty care unit which works with patients like Lisa.
Now, get this, although Lisa, for the time being, is unable to meet the first criteria, Meg said, “After the attending physician reviewed her chart… [Lisa] has potential for significant recovery.” Richard asked Meg, “Do you realize that Lisa is still in only a minimally responsive state, is that ok?” Meg replies, “It’s not just ok, we have a cortical stem care team that works with patients just like Lisa [in order] to get them into full-blown rehab." Dr. Kwanzaa, the attending physician who reviewed Lisa’s chart, assigned Lisa’s case to herself and will follow her from day one in the special unit until she returns home to her family and friends, new and old. They know this because the part of her brain that was damaged by the stroke controls respiration, yet Lisa breathes on her own! It also controls movement and stimulus response, and yet Lisa moves and responds to stimulus of her limbs. Further, as a plus, Lisa’s vital organs function as normal. Having said this, it still raises another question “How will Lisa gain admission when Barrow has waiting lists and challenging admissions criteria? Once again, people who have been moved by Lisa and her plight involved themselves. Friends to Lisa who by happen stance were in the right place at the right time, friends some old, some new intervened on Lisa’s behalf and made the difference. Two friends and colleagues from Richards work over the years had contacts into Barrows, and were glad to help after they learned of Lisa's story. A third friend, is Lisa's case manager at the Arizona Burn Center, is who got Meg Lisa’s file, this along with her story that did the trick. Here is Barrow Institute’s web address, copy and past it into your web browser: http://www.mha.chw.edu/index.asp?pg=news_BNIBest&supnav=au_news_supnav
Michael (Richard's dad) (Photo: Lisa 02/2006)
mlwintory@msn.com
