If your kid is sick, if your child is dying, you believe in miracles.
Shohreh Moldenhauer believes in miracles. She and her husband, Bob, have just one child, a son named Robert. Two weeks after he was born, 14 years ago, Robert underwent a heart transplant.
Comments
Thank you Kevin Cullen for taking the time to reach out to help this family, to share their story of challenges and miracles. One more miracle is needed - to have Robert again be healthy and happy with a new kidney! I believe in miracles too and hope it won't take much longer for this one to happen.Children are our greatest resource. We must come to embrace that, realize the treasure they are and value their lives enough to provide for their health needs. With the riches of America this cost is precious little and must be a priority. Kevin I hope you will continue to follow Robert's story, keep everyone updated and announce the next miracle!
As a mother and grandmother, I know from this well told story that Shohreh is doing exactly what she should be doing. In checking this insurance company's website, it appears that everyone can email Mr. Mike Mahoney, the President and CEO, under 'suggestions for improvement'. The website lists the children's museum, a child advocacy program and youth hockey as among causes they support. They also need to support this young insured. After all, since Robert's mother found one of the best children's hospitals in the country to help improve her son's condition to the point he no longer needs the immediate heart operation, it's half price! Santa, are you listening? Best wishes to the Robert and his parents.
Thanks! Not only does he not need an immediate heart operation, the cardiologist said his heart is strong enough for a lifetime. His heart was in trouble because WI hospitals would not do the necessary dialysis treatments and the build up of toxins from kidney malfunction did harm to his heart. Imagine, they told mom to let him die! How could any mother do this? You are right, Shohreh is doing exactly what she should be doing and we need to support her. Thank you for your support and thanks to all who have taken the time to read and comment. If you would like to support them further there is a very active facebook group doing just that who would welcome you! https://www.facebook.com/savesunshine
And yet single payer is the system that brings us "death panels?"
But they WILL pay millions to keep granny or grampy on a ventlator. Amazing!
This is an example of why we need Obamacare.
I believe in miracles too; I also believe in fairness. And for stories like these, the devil is often in the details. Why did all the other hospitals decline this young man? After all, it doesn't seem like his needs are that complex-he needs a kidney transplant right? I'm pretty sure they can do those in Milwaukee; it's not like Milwaukee is a third world country. So what aren't we being told?
The thing is, I know there's something missing here because I do insurance work like this. And there is almost always a reason for insurance companies to say "no". Generally the reason has nothing to do with money. Generally it's because the insurance company has reason to believe either that the proposed miracle can't happen (unlike holy miracles, medical "miracles" are subject to biology). And the insurance company really can't say what it is, because saying anything about what they know about the boy's health violates privacy laws.
A public outcry may perhaps make the "miracle" happen, browbeating the insurance company into paying for something they perhaps should, but perhaps browbeating them into wasting money-other people's money-they shouldn't. And we can't tell which it is. It's a nice story, and looks good for the paper: poor kid and family thwarted by evil insurance company. Especially around this time of year, it plays well, and sells papers. But I'm not sure we're getting the whole story, and I don't think you should be either.
Oh, I don't know why the biggest buildings in many of our cities belong to insurance companies; insurance company presidents are some of the highest paid executives (especially compared to their workers' salaries). Insurance companies make money by not paying claims. Childrens has treated this child so that he doesn't need a heart transplant, a kidney donor has been found. This is an operation that should take place. Thanks, supero for your suggestion of advocating for this child's operation on its website. Thanks, Kevin for bringing light to Robert's plight. Now, let's see what we can do.
"perhaps browbeating them into wasting money-other people's money-they shouldn't." I'm assuming that the family has been paying for their health insurance - so who are the "other people" whose money would be wasted by trying to save this child's life? Insurance executives? It's not public money, it's not anyone's tax dollars - and if the company raises premiums for other clients, it won't because they paid this claim - it will be because the big guns want larger bonuses. But, first and foremost, tamarosomd - insurance companies shouldn't decide which lives are worth saving. Hope you never find yourself in a similar situation.
Who do we send money to? Would love to help.
Citizens Bank Shohreh Mansouri Moldenhauer Account # 132173-653-0 *For people in the USA: The Routing Number is 211070175 *For people outside the USA: Swift Code CTZIUS33 Citizen Bank Brookline Avenue 435 Brookline Avenue Boston, MA 02215 USA THANK YOU!
Guess the answer is the mom should file for divorce from her husband and go down the welfare office..then she can say she has no insurance and get on Masshealth...then the surgery will be covered...everything that isn't covered under private insurance is usually covered under free care or it is considered discriminating against the poor.
It would be wonderful if they had been able to find and fund an apartment near Boston Children's to establish residency in MA, then Medicare and Medicaid would be helping!
Please just tell us where to send a check. Children's?
Please see my comment above. thanks!
I have had some vicious fights with insurance companies...that said, I feel that there is a big slice of information missing from this story. As another commentor mentioned, the insurance company has some sort of reason for turning down coverage for this boy. The reason may not be a good one but whatever it is it is not reported here. The boys mother must know what it is but this reporter does not ask her or does not report what she knows. He falls back on not being able to get the information from the insurance company. Well, of course he can't!
I wrote this about Robet earlier this year when I first heard about his story and I am in disbelief that insurance is still not willing to cover his lifesaving transplant:
HELP PLEASE !!!!! If someone knows what this family can do please post, this is URGENT he has waited way to long and his life is hanging in the balance something needs to be done now!!!Imagine this...
Your son looking at a Christmas tree with wonder and excitement. The smile on his face melting your heart.
Imagine this...
Your son playing in the water at the beach, laughing and giggling with every wave that comes in splashing his face with cool droplets of water, feeling nothing but true happiness.
Imagine this...
Your son looking at you smiling and giggling because you have stubbed your toe and now it no longer hurts because the love for your son and his smile takes the pain away.
Imagine this ...
Your son coming and grabbing your hand to take him to bed, because he wants you to cuddle him as he falls asleep and how wonderful that feeling is.
Imagine this...
Looking at your son as he sleeps with so much love, but now tears are streaming down your cheeks, you find yourself sobbing, praying for a miracle that will save your son.
Imagine this...
A family needing help to save their only son. Well this is not something to imagine, it is happening right now and they need our help, please share this to as many as you can, PLEASE.
Imagine this...
Someday this could be one of our children that is in desperate need of help, no child should be overlooked because of a disability or lack of funds. Please be a part of the fight to save this child...
Update on Robert Moldenhauer: He is still awaiting the insurance approval for lifesaving treatments in Boston, how they can drag their feet like this is beyond me, all of the hospitals that could help him within his state refused to and now one of the top hospitals in the country wants to help but the insurance isn't wanting to pay because it is out of state, hopefully his mom Shohreh Moldenhauer will hear good news soon !!
This was back in the spring of this year and now it is almost Christmas and still insurance is dragging their feet, unbelievable !
For those who are wondering how they can make a donation here is the information: Citizens Bank Shohreh Mansouri Moldenhauer Account # 132173-653-0 *For people in the USA: The Routing Number is 211070175 *For people outside the USA: Swift Code CTZIUS33 Citizen Bank Brookline Avenue 435 Brookline Avenue Boston, MA 02215 USA On behalf of Robert and his parents, Shohreh and Robert Moldenhauer Thank you!
Someone is asking why the Insurance Company in WI is not willing to pay and the answer is quite simply that they do not cover out of state medical expenses. The Moldenhauers were forced to go out of state to save their son's life and Boston Children's Hospital has done that with 8 months of dialysis. They have been preparing for surgery the past month to hopefully happen before year's end, with a live donor waiting to be called to Boston and on Nov 30 Medicare announced if the Primary Insurer was not paying they would not be paying either (policy)
I have been asked to share this for those who would like to provide on going support and follow Shohreh's daily updates please join us on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/savesunshine