Another Miracle!

Tonight about 7:20 p.m. Jim Jr.'s phone rang as we sat in Mom's room. It was the insurance company calling (after hours, mind you!) to tell us that the appeals committee had reversed the denial and approved Mom's continued stay at IMC!!!!! The approval is only for 1 week, but it is standard procedure for the insurance company to approve things a week at a time. The way it was explained to us is that Medicare requires documentation a month at a time, whereas insurance companies require it weekly, and tend to micromanage all care received. So, we will take this gift, and express gratitude to a loving Heavenly Father who continues to guide Mom's recovery. We are thrilled with this news!

Jim Jr., Randy and Dad also deserve a medal for the many hours they spent gathering information and packaging it for submission to the appeals committee. The hospital was a tremendous help as well. Even the therapists banded together and wrote letters to facilitate the appeal. We are so very grateful for everyone's efforts!

Today has been a great day for Mom in many aspects. Lorraine came again this morning and watched Mom walk clear around the entire 12th floor in her walker. Mom told Lorraine that she knows what she has to do, but that it is just so incredibly hard to actually do it. Before she began walking, Mom and her physical therapist, Alex, were chatting and laughing together. Then Mom, in a joking, but slightly defiant manner piped up with a funny line, "Now, just who is the therapist here, you or me?" Everyone burst into laughter. In reality, it is an overwhelming task Mom faces on a daily basis to look this incredibly painful therapy in the face and literally keep putting one foot in front of the other. And, we all pretty much "require" her to do it, even when she doesn't much feel like participating. She is to be commended for her efforts. In fact, this afternoon Mom walked around the entire floor a second time. Way to go, Mom!!

Thank you everyone for being a part of this miraculous journey. We couldn't do it alone!