{"id":32075,"date":"2020-06-30T00:05:12","date_gmt":"2020-06-30T05:05:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/differentdream.com\/?p=32075"},"modified":"2020-06-30T00:05:12","modified_gmt":"2020-06-30T05:05:12","slug":"being-my-childs-voice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jolenephilo.com\/staging\/being-my-childs-voice\/","title":{"rendered":"Being My Child’s Voice"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.4.2″][et_pb_fullwidth_post_title featured_image=”off” _builder_version=”4.4.2″ title_font=”||||||||” title_text_color=”#42313A” title_font_size=”40px” meta_font_size=”14px” background_color=”#B4DBC0″ custom_padding=”50px||50px||false|false”][\/et_pb_fullwidth_post_title][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ specialty=”on” _builder_version=”4.4.2″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|||”][et_pb_column type=”3_4″ specialty_columns=”3″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_row_inner _builder_version=”4.4.2″][et_pb_column_inner saved_specialty_column_type=”3_4″ _builder_version=”4.4.2″][et_pb_image src=”@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF9mZWF0dXJlZF9pbWFnZSIsInNldHRpbmdzIjp7fX0=@” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.4.3″ _dynamic_attributes=”src”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.4.3″]

Being my child\u2019s voice after he was born in 1982 was difficult. But it was nothing compared to Trish Schaeffer\u2019s advocacy to get the wheelchair her son needs. Read on to discover what keeps her going.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

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Being my child\u2019s voice when everyday problems arise as the parent of a boy with disabilities is a journey. I have so much chaos going on any given day and come out of it wiser and more tired.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But does that stop me from being my child\u2019s voice again and again?\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

No. It will never stop me or you from giving children the best we can. I\u2019m not alone in this and neither are you. The problem I loathe the most is trying to get my child the adaptive equipment he needs. In this day it\u2019s a long waiting game matched with a battle of wits and a will to win.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The battle is with the insurance companies and the medical equipment companies. I get that nothing happens over night or in a month.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

But why does it feel like a hostage negotiation and an uphill battle of over a year? Do they want to break me? Drive me insane?\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Being my child\u2019s voice meant putting in a request and year and six months ago to get \u00a0 <\/span>him a wheelchair when he grew out of his old one. I am waiting as the company has not even submitted it to the insurance for pre authorization. Put on top of that I\u2019ve made a phone call at least every week since, and have not even gotten a call back on the status of his order.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Now he is too big for his old chair and cannot start school without the new one we should have had over a year ago.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I have lost my mind and sleep over the whole ordeal and even hurt my back because of the fact that I now have to carry him at fifty pound because of not fitting in his old wheels.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

How much longer can this battle go on? It\u2019s a test of wills at this point. First the battles for insurance to pay for it. Then the medical company has dropped the ball for a year. And today I found out I may have to battle the insurance company again because the old paperwork expired.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite it all I will continue to fight for my son\u2019s new chair and endure back pain for him. He is worth it all.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

I hope that someday insurance and companies will change with the companies, and it becomes easier for kids to get medical equipment. Until then I will continue being my child\u2019s voice and make do with odd adaptations for my son.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n