What is wrong with our Province!? *So Angry!*

[Doreen1]

Did Walid go to Shriners for MRI then went back home?

Warmly,
Doreen

[Elisa]

Yes, he went to Spokane Washington for an MRI, a breathing test, blood work and to meet with the 'team' who will handle his case. I wish I knew more but unfortunately I have not heard from Debbie in a few days but the last time I talked to her on the phone, she had not heard back from Shriners about the MRI results nor had a date to take Walid back down. I am dying here waiting for updates!

Edit: I also don't know if she's been approved to post on this forum. As soon as I find out anything, I will post.

[Doreen1]

Edit: I also don't know if she's been approved to post on this forum. As soon as I find out anything, I will post.

Why is it so hard to get approved to post on this forum? I recall waiting days before I got the green light to post.

I was really really hoping Walid would have stayed at Shriners after the MRI to get the halo started. :/

Warmly,
Doreen

[Elisa]

I think it's so hard to get approved on this forum b/c there is only one person (Joe O'Brien) who can approve new members. She might be approved already and just hasn't posted but I don't know b/c she has not been in touch with me these past few days. I am sure she has a LOT going on the moment and will get back to me as soon as she can. I know when I joined I waited several days to be approved and was desperate to ask questions and eventually had to email Joe myself to ask what was taking so long. He did email me back and told me he was cautious with everyone b/c of spam, which of course we had a big attack of lately.

I think Shriners didn't keep Walid there b/c they need to figure out the results of the MRI and where to go from there. His is a very complex case.

[Pooka1]

I'm not sure I'd want to be approved for any forum that would have me as a member. :-)

Apologies to Groucho.

[Elisa]

I'm not sure I'd want to be approved for any forum that would have me as a member. :-)

Apologies to Groucho.

You must be part of the Harley Davidson gang then too eh... Vroooooom!

[Elisa]

I think they're getting closer to receiving an actual date for Walid to have his halo applied. *fingers crossed it's really soon*

[walid]

waiting is not fun

Okay here it goes my first contribution to this forum ... I have been following lots of posts but could never add my two cents. So where to start ... waiting lists and children are a dangerous combination!!!! I can't believe that after over two years someone is finally going to take charge and stop further progression of my son's condition ... finally. Thank you Shriners. You know the worst part of this experience is that when I asked the bc children's hospital if there were other options last summer, 2010, I was told there weren't any but not to worry my son would get the best care at bc children's hospital. This is ethically wrong especially if your mission is to deliver expert care. If they couldn't help Walid and knew someone else could, shame ... where is child-centered care ... too many other agendas. What I would like to find out is what are the waitlists like in other provinces for canadian children??!

Thank you everyone for your support ... I will check out the ombudsman ED - so awesome to feel your love. I know everything is and will be perfect for my son. Thanks to you Carol you have helped me through some times were fear and worry took over - peace and blessings.

[Pooka1]

Welcome! So glad you are posting.

As for your question about waiting time in other provinces, someone actually spoke to that but I can't remember who. The gist was that one of the eastern provinces, perhaps Ontario, did not seem to have a problem that she saw. But that's just one testimonial.

Good luck with the upcoming procedures. The wait time you have endured is a crime. I am guessing the pediatric orthopedic surgeons must be completely doing emergency surgeries to try to even explain that wait time. If not then I'd like to know who they triage all other patients such that Walid and Elias had to wait so long.

It appears that some surgeons are being rationed so much that the medical system is not able to serve the population. I lived in Calgary AB for three years and knew a doctor who immigrated from South Africa. He was there and ready to provide service but they didn't let him until a slot opened up. He said that is how they keep down costs... by rationing the number of medical professionals.

[Doreen1]

Okay here it goes my first contribution to this forum ... I have been following lots of posts but could never add my two cents. So where to start ... waiting lists and children are a dangerous combination!!!! I can't believe that after over two years someone is finally going to take charge and stop further progression of my son's condition ... finally. Thank you Shriners. You know the worst part of this experience is that when I asked the bc children's hospital if there were other options last summer, 2010, I was told there weren't any but not to worry my son would get the best care at bc children's hospital. This is ethically wrong especially if your mission is to deliver expert care. If they couldn't help Walid and knew someone else could, shame ... where is child-centered care ... too many other agendas. What I would like to find out is what are the waitlists like in other provinces for canadian children??!

Thank you everyone for your support ... I will check out the ombudsman ED - so awesome to feel your love. I know everything is and will be perfect for my son. Thanks to you Carol you have helped me through some times were fear and worry took over - peace and blessings.

Welcome, Debbie and Walid!

Congratz on the date for admittance to Shriners! How does Walid feel about his big day on Oct 31st? What will the surgeons be doing on day one?

I've been watching your facebook for updates daily, along with my family in Florida. We are all praying for you and Walid to continue to be strong in your journey to help him.

Warmly,
Doreen

[Doreen1]

I forgot to ask, what did they determine the measurement of Walid's curve?

Warmly,
Doreen

[Elisa]

Hey Debbie, really good to see you got your account activated and are able to post now. It's a great group we have here and I know you will get lots of information and support. AND I just read that you've got an official date for Walid's halo application on Oct. 31st. So happy for you guys. :-D

Pooka, the poster who was happy with her province's wait time lives in Nova Scotia, not Ontario. Still can't believe the hell I went through with BC Children's and how the receptionist snapped at me when I called and how when I mentioned Shriners she got extra nasty and told me that 'if we went that route then there would be no followup for Elias here in BC'. CRIMINAL!

[titaniumed]

Very good, welcome Debbie and Walid!

Now that Walid is pointed in the right direction, its probably best not to worry about “why” things like this happen. Governmental policy always has us wondering regardless of which country we are from. Perhaps in the future, after Walid has recovered, a loud noise can be made, “maybe” they will hear it, and “maybe” they will make a decision. Just take a deep breath and focus on what needs to be done with Walid.

I worked with a senior engineer who used to come to my business every now and then. He passed away in March 2009, and after reading his obituary, I noticed that he was running kids down to Shriners in Sacramento from Reno. I always wondered where he was all the time, he was kind of hard to get a hold of if I had a question on a project. He would always say “Ed, you will figure it out”, now I knew why he said this. He was a busy guy. When I was in my recovery, (I was grey, and lost 40#) he asked what happened....why didn’t you have this addressed as a child? I told him that I had elected to wait, I was scared to death. He was speechless after looking at my x-rays. RIP Norm Justice.

When you know that you have no choice, being scared is replaced by bravery. This happens as the days go by leading up to our surgical dates. Its one thing to do this as an adult but the kids are “especially brave” as deformity surgery is an area that they have little knowledge of. They don’t know what questions to ask, and don’t know what to expect. Somehow, the kids pull through. They actually pull through better than the adults. Its instinctual, a life instinct. Like a newly hatched turtle heads for the sea...

Maybe its time to start a new thread, just like Elias’s thread. Keep all Walid’s posts in the same thread.
Ed

[Doodles]

Debbie and Walid--
I haven't been following things on here as much as I like but know that you've been through quite an ordeal to get the surgery scheduled. Very best of luck to you and hope we all can give you some positive support and information. You've come to the perfect place. Welcome. Janet

[JenniferG]

Ditto from me. I look forward to reading about another amazing Shriners success. The very best of luck to you both.