Just a quick update, Chris is at Connect 20445 73A Ave. They have an open door policy, any of you can visit and I encourage you too do so, as he could use all the company and visitors he could get at the moment.
There is no therapy started yet and wont be for another week at least if not longer. Fraser health will not be following HJC recommendations as they said it would nor did they have all the therapy set up for a seamless transfer like they said they would. Fraser Health plans on using care aide to do the work of a neuro-physio to treat Chris.
I wonder how the Physio therapists association views this because if that’s all it takes to be a trained therapist then I am now an expert. I will get into in detail in the days to come.
This is now the time for me to research a little further and start naming names and bringing to light all the promises that are never fulfilled. I am tired and exhausted. I am going to spend a few days getting caught up with some things I have not yet finished and I will write in detail how things went from great to below basic, even though all of the assurances were in place!
Connect has some great people and the transition is slow but positive. The therapy is a disaster and that is my priority at the moment. Heather all of your concerns and mine have come true, BC and the therapists here do not share your passion or dedication and if there is, I have yet to meet them.
I know there has not been much in the blog lately, I have avoided putting in what I thought would be happening just to see if these incompetent government puppets were actually able to bring all of what they say together in a plan that shows leadership and builds trust with family’s. It turns out the expectations and false promises I was given by the government and Fraser health are not coming through. My pre-judgement and concerns were right on the money. I may have to apply for a job in health ministry, as I am starting to think like them. But we know I could never do that because I care too much about the people whose lives have been turned upside down.
Please feel free to drop in and say hello Chris would love it. I will put up lots more in the days to come.
Kevin
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Newspaper article
Check the link to the Ponoka News they have been a tremendous source of support and understanding through allot of difficult times.
I will update more as I clear all of what is happening, I am confused by the Ministries latest rant as it makes no sense but still plays out the same, usual way, they do not know exactly what they are doing or what is needed to be done. It is hard to be on top of something you do not understand or care about!
Accountability, this is paramount in the dealing with decisions that will affect someones life.
http://www.albertalocalnews.com/ponokanews/news/90770349.html
Bye,
Kevin
I will update more as I clear all of what is happening, I am confused by the Ministries latest rant as it makes no sense but still plays out the same, usual way, they do not know exactly what they are doing or what is needed to be done. It is hard to be on top of something you do not understand or care about!
Accountability, this is paramount in the dealing with decisions that will affect someones life.
http://www.albertalocalnews.com/ponokanews/news/90770349.html
Bye,
Kevin
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Friday's late evening Post
It’s now later; never new so much chaos would transpire from this morning until this afternoon, lots to talk about.
Got a call from the contact at Fraser Health this afternoon from the same contact who told me their doctor wrote a letter to “themselves” asking for an extension to June 4th. This letter supposedly was to cover the floundering ministry officials who could not figure out how to put a rehab program together or how to pay for it. So after three and a half months of not figuring it out, they asked for directions from the professionals in this field that deal with this rehab day in and day out and are successful at it.
In fact they asked several times what they had to do; then they decided to do nothing, yes just nothing.
No conversing with me or the doctors at Halvar Jonson or listening to their own neurologist in Surrey, mainly because they all told the truth and no agenda to fulfil and would not give what the ministry was looking for, the ok to bring Chris back and stick him in an extended care home.
When they realized that the Minister of Health had made statements that were so far from the truth I imagine they all ran for cover so they didn’t have to tell him to keep his mouth shut about things that are far above his ability to comprehend.
So from there they went behind the backs of Chris’ family making candid calls to doctors and therapist making inquiries to see if they would agree that if they just provided the bare essentials of rehab would that do. None of the true professionals would by into their behind the back tactics and so the waiting turned into another few months without decisions or living up to the commitment the Minister of Health said he could provide.
Just two weeks ago this same person at Fraser Health told me their new doctor had written a letter asking for an extension so they could have more time to put it together. At this rate we should have bought a house in Ponoka?
It took a month and a half after this request and still no answer, from what I can make out from all the calls made to different people with different questions was that they just could not put a simple rehab plan together that would be comparable to HJC.
During this time someone above these puppets in the ministry of Health, decided to call HJC and ask what they were doing, and got the response from HJC, we are “waiting for you to get your act together” another embarrassment for the health ministry. When they were told what the cost was for Chris being there (you would think they would know they have been paying for a year now) they decided to just bring him home as fast as possible with no regard for planning. This is what provoked this call today to tell me they were bringing him home on April 26, 2010 with no plan.
As he put it, I have some great news “they have approved funding for a bed for Christopher at Connect and are going to move him on April 26, 2010”
This is the same person that two weeks ago said they would need the extension to bring it all together? He and Fraser health people all heard the Connect facility say they needed four weeks minimum and would prefer six weeks, so the transition would be smooth and seamless and in fact this same person reiterated this to me just two weeks ago. How can you have trust when these people can not be honest, can not make a commitment, will not follow direction of the professionals with degrees in their field of study and know best as how this should be handled?
It is more the conniving and underhanded way of trying to circumvent the truth then bend and twist it, respect comes from a degree of trust and honesty, it is hard to get once lost. I believe most people in health care deserve our trust to do the right thing. But I am afraid the Minister of Health and most under his command do not deserve nor will they get mine from here on out until they earn it back.
A question for all of you how trusting would you be if your family member or you had to trust these people to do the right thing for you. I think not as far as you could through them. This is just the opening round; I do hope they are prepared for the can of worms they are opening.
These are the same people that have taken two months plus, just to tell me that funding for a bed was approved. The same health ministry people that denied extensions for no reason, then set deadlines that even they could not fulfill, the same ones that after numerous reports and professional advice by some of the leading doctors in this field decided to ignore all of them and bring Chris back to BC with no plan and yet again they rise to the occasion, moving ahead without a plan or purpose, ignoring yet again the professional advice that was provided not once not twice but several times. As it turns out no one who works for the Ministry of health or Fraser Health has the knowledge or the foresight to put together that this information forms all of what is needed for Chris’ future. I think if one of them or their loved one was in the same situation it would be different or maybe their health coverage covers them in the US.
This whole time, over the last five months, all of the dragging out and all of the stalling that was going on, was so they could work in the background behind my back, not being honest and upfront with the professionals at HJC so they wouldn’t question why it was taking months and months to finish what was supposed to be a week long task. Instead they were busy trying do down size the therapy and care instructions that the experts at HJC have given them several times as well as a couple of phone calls and to top it off a teleconference with me then a teleconference with the people at HJC back on February 10, 2010
This person from Fraser Health insisted that Dr G had talk to their doctor and told them that the care required was actually lessoning since we had the teleconference. I talked with Dr G at HJC yesterday he was in the dark and asking me if I had heard anything yet from BC as he hadn’t.
I was unable to get a firm commitment from him on the length of time this facility will be given to Chris for his continued rehab. Nor was I able to get a straight answer from him as to what funds were available to provide rehab therapy similar to HJC as the Minister of Heath said we had and would provide for Chris. The Minister Kevin Falcon went on to say they would do what ever the recommendations of the health care professionals that have brought Chris this far over the last13 months. This now seems to have been forgotten by the Health Ministry.
I guess they are all still high on the Olympic dream. Dreaming seems to be a favourite pastime of this and several ministries.
So at the moment we are trying to squeeze Chris’ departure into a two week slot because of a knee jerk reaction. A time frame that all had agreed was not do-able, it has not allowed for planning or thought of process, no therapist’s in place no written commitment to as how long we will have access to this house, no therapists have been contacted or interviewed. Lets throw more money aimlessly out the door when we do not have enough to look after our injured in the first place, not one person agrees with this, not even the facility Chris will go to.
This place supposedly will be used until we are ready to handle all of it on our own. Something ICBC has managed to stop for the last two and a half years.
This facility has said they need 4 weeks to prepare and be ready and to get therapies in place and make all of the arrangements.
I was told by the person from Fraser Health today that everything will be ready, but can not tell what it is that will be ready, no details, no direct answers to my questions as to how long or how much is available for therapy or if therapy is still in their plan, no answers, only that they think they only needed a portion of therapy that was told to them but couldn’t tell me who or where that decision was made from. Now want s confer with their doctor again and further info from HJC Christ it just never ends.
If I ran my business like this I would be broke and have no customers. Instead I have to deal and listen to these people and now I am broke, both financially and in belief in our system of honesty.
The dishonest, misleading, inept, unprofessional way of dealing with the very people you serve as a public employee. Does this all come naturally, I hope not, it must be the system you work for that produces all this chaos?
If so then you choose to be a part and propagate the unfairness and inapprehensible way in which people are treated.
I certainly hope all of you who work for the government, ICBC, Fraser health all remember that one day you will be in this situation, will you be looking for a person that will lie and mislead you or would you like to be treated with respect, honesty and truth. You would think it would be common sense, but once in a public sector job obviously all of that is given up, is that a requirement?
Enough for today, I must rethink our position, as I put my trust and Chris’ future in people that said they cared and I believed them, they have sorely let us down. Chris can not defend or speak for himself I will be his voice and spirit and I will fight every minute of every day to make these people accountable for their inaction.
Bye for now,
Kevin
Got a call from the contact at Fraser Health this afternoon from the same contact who told me their doctor wrote a letter to “themselves” asking for an extension to June 4th. This letter supposedly was to cover the floundering ministry officials who could not figure out how to put a rehab program together or how to pay for it. So after three and a half months of not figuring it out, they asked for directions from the professionals in this field that deal with this rehab day in and day out and are successful at it.
In fact they asked several times what they had to do; then they decided to do nothing, yes just nothing.
No conversing with me or the doctors at Halvar Jonson or listening to their own neurologist in Surrey, mainly because they all told the truth and no agenda to fulfil and would not give what the ministry was looking for, the ok to bring Chris back and stick him in an extended care home.
When they realized that the Minister of Health had made statements that were so far from the truth I imagine they all ran for cover so they didn’t have to tell him to keep his mouth shut about things that are far above his ability to comprehend.
So from there they went behind the backs of Chris’ family making candid calls to doctors and therapist making inquiries to see if they would agree that if they just provided the bare essentials of rehab would that do. None of the true professionals would by into their behind the back tactics and so the waiting turned into another few months without decisions or living up to the commitment the Minister of Health said he could provide.
Just two weeks ago this same person at Fraser Health told me their new doctor had written a letter asking for an extension so they could have more time to put it together. At this rate we should have bought a house in Ponoka?
It took a month and a half after this request and still no answer, from what I can make out from all the calls made to different people with different questions was that they just could not put a simple rehab plan together that would be comparable to HJC.
During this time someone above these puppets in the ministry of Health, decided to call HJC and ask what they were doing, and got the response from HJC, we are “waiting for you to get your act together” another embarrassment for the health ministry. When they were told what the cost was for Chris being there (you would think they would know they have been paying for a year now) they decided to just bring him home as fast as possible with no regard for planning. This is what provoked this call today to tell me they were bringing him home on April 26, 2010 with no plan.
As he put it, I have some great news “they have approved funding for a bed for Christopher at Connect and are going to move him on April 26, 2010”
This is the same person that two weeks ago said they would need the extension to bring it all together? He and Fraser health people all heard the Connect facility say they needed four weeks minimum and would prefer six weeks, so the transition would be smooth and seamless and in fact this same person reiterated this to me just two weeks ago. How can you have trust when these people can not be honest, can not make a commitment, will not follow direction of the professionals with degrees in their field of study and know best as how this should be handled?
It is more the conniving and underhanded way of trying to circumvent the truth then bend and twist it, respect comes from a degree of trust and honesty, it is hard to get once lost. I believe most people in health care deserve our trust to do the right thing. But I am afraid the Minister of Health and most under his command do not deserve nor will they get mine from here on out until they earn it back.
A question for all of you how trusting would you be if your family member or you had to trust these people to do the right thing for you. I think not as far as you could through them. This is just the opening round; I do hope they are prepared for the can of worms they are opening.
These are the same people that have taken two months plus, just to tell me that funding for a bed was approved. The same health ministry people that denied extensions for no reason, then set deadlines that even they could not fulfill, the same ones that after numerous reports and professional advice by some of the leading doctors in this field decided to ignore all of them and bring Chris back to BC with no plan and yet again they rise to the occasion, moving ahead without a plan or purpose, ignoring yet again the professional advice that was provided not once not twice but several times. As it turns out no one who works for the Ministry of health or Fraser Health has the knowledge or the foresight to put together that this information forms all of what is needed for Chris’ future. I think if one of them or their loved one was in the same situation it would be different or maybe their health coverage covers them in the US.
This whole time, over the last five months, all of the dragging out and all of the stalling that was going on, was so they could work in the background behind my back, not being honest and upfront with the professionals at HJC so they wouldn’t question why it was taking months and months to finish what was supposed to be a week long task. Instead they were busy trying do down size the therapy and care instructions that the experts at HJC have given them several times as well as a couple of phone calls and to top it off a teleconference with me then a teleconference with the people at HJC back on February 10, 2010
This person from Fraser Health insisted that Dr G had talk to their doctor and told them that the care required was actually lessoning since we had the teleconference. I talked with Dr G at HJC yesterday he was in the dark and asking me if I had heard anything yet from BC as he hadn’t.
I was unable to get a firm commitment from him on the length of time this facility will be given to Chris for his continued rehab. Nor was I able to get a straight answer from him as to what funds were available to provide rehab therapy similar to HJC as the Minister of Heath said we had and would provide for Chris. The Minister Kevin Falcon went on to say they would do what ever the recommendations of the health care professionals that have brought Chris this far over the last13 months. This now seems to have been forgotten by the Health Ministry.
I guess they are all still high on the Olympic dream. Dreaming seems to be a favourite pastime of this and several ministries.
So at the moment we are trying to squeeze Chris’ departure into a two week slot because of a knee jerk reaction. A time frame that all had agreed was not do-able, it has not allowed for planning or thought of process, no therapist’s in place no written commitment to as how long we will have access to this house, no therapists have been contacted or interviewed. Lets throw more money aimlessly out the door when we do not have enough to look after our injured in the first place, not one person agrees with this, not even the facility Chris will go to.
This place supposedly will be used until we are ready to handle all of it on our own. Something ICBC has managed to stop for the last two and a half years.
This facility has said they need 4 weeks to prepare and be ready and to get therapies in place and make all of the arrangements.
I was told by the person from Fraser Health today that everything will be ready, but can not tell what it is that will be ready, no details, no direct answers to my questions as to how long or how much is available for therapy or if therapy is still in their plan, no answers, only that they think they only needed a portion of therapy that was told to them but couldn’t tell me who or where that decision was made from. Now want s confer with their doctor again and further info from HJC Christ it just never ends.
If I ran my business like this I would be broke and have no customers. Instead I have to deal and listen to these people and now I am broke, both financially and in belief in our system of honesty.
The dishonest, misleading, inept, unprofessional way of dealing with the very people you serve as a public employee. Does this all come naturally, I hope not, it must be the system you work for that produces all this chaos?
If so then you choose to be a part and propagate the unfairness and inapprehensible way in which people are treated.
I certainly hope all of you who work for the government, ICBC, Fraser health all remember that one day you will be in this situation, will you be looking for a person that will lie and mislead you or would you like to be treated with respect, honesty and truth. You would think it would be common sense, but once in a public sector job obviously all of that is given up, is that a requirement?
Enough for today, I must rethink our position, as I put my trust and Chris’ future in people that said they cared and I believed them, they have sorely let us down. Chris can not defend or speak for himself I will be his voice and spirit and I will fight every minute of every day to make these people accountable for their inaction.
Bye for now,
Kevin
Friday, April 9, 2010
Thursday afternoon
Hey everyone,
Good day lots of work positive stuff going on each day. Each day that passes I know Chris will be in a different frame of mind once we can set up at home and start involving friends and family in the therapy.
He progress has slowed during his bout with the cold and congestion but is rebounding great. I look forward to being at home with Chris and making the workouts longer and longer with our ability to withstand the rigours of an increasing schedule and tolerance level.
Our big goals are now strengthening his neck and core muscles so we can move forward with more control and tolerance of other muscles.
Every day is a gift with this amazing and wonderful human being. I know there was allot more that Chris was supposed to do with the gifts and talents he was given. I remember the free clinics in St Martin for the poor and the children, for this his name with the other doctors that helped him are now on a plaque hung in the foyer of the main hall at the school. This was just one of the many things that drove him to help those who had nothing, making a difference in peoples lives is why he gave up so much to become a doctor. I only wish I could infuse into the new and especially the older doctors that this zeal is really what it is all about. To the government I wish I could show that there is a better way, but you have to really care. Only people in it for money could take it all in stride and accept this mediocre system we have come to accept as normal!
I am inspired everyday by this man I am proud to call my son and have always been in awe and so amazed by his determination and drive, and all he gave up over the last twelve years. I know all those friends he was missing by being away all those years will still be there for him when he gets home and settled.
Till Later,
Kevin
Good day lots of work positive stuff going on each day. Each day that passes I know Chris will be in a different frame of mind once we can set up at home and start involving friends and family in the therapy.
He progress has slowed during his bout with the cold and congestion but is rebounding great. I look forward to being at home with Chris and making the workouts longer and longer with our ability to withstand the rigours of an increasing schedule and tolerance level.
Our big goals are now strengthening his neck and core muscles so we can move forward with more control and tolerance of other muscles.
Every day is a gift with this amazing and wonderful human being. I know there was allot more that Chris was supposed to do with the gifts and talents he was given. I remember the free clinics in St Martin for the poor and the children, for this his name with the other doctors that helped him are now on a plaque hung in the foyer of the main hall at the school. This was just one of the many things that drove him to help those who had nothing, making a difference in peoples lives is why he gave up so much to become a doctor. I only wish I could infuse into the new and especially the older doctors that this zeal is really what it is all about. To the government I wish I could show that there is a better way, but you have to really care. Only people in it for money could take it all in stride and accept this mediocre system we have come to accept as normal!
I am inspired everyday by this man I am proud to call my son and have always been in awe and so amazed by his determination and drive, and all he gave up over the last twelve years. I know all those friends he was missing by being away all those years will still be there for him when he gets home and settled.
Till Later,
Kevin
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Links to look at
This Link about fraser health and the oh so real story that similarities to Chris' care Our Health Ministry should be ashamed!
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/03/22/bc-bedsoreneglect.html
This Link will let you see ICBC trying to block freedom of information requests so injurd people can not get info to protect themselves. We call third world countries dictatorships!!!!
http://www.cknw.com/Channels/Reg/NewsLocal/Story.aspx?ID=1213962
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/03/22/bc-bedsoreneglect.html
This Link will let you see ICBC trying to block freedom of information requests so injurd people can not get info to protect themselves. We call third world countries dictatorships!!!!
http://www.cknw.com/Channels/Reg/NewsLocal/Story.aspx?ID=1213962
Early April 2010
Chris is still doing well,with his cold long gone and therapy continues each day with out slowing.
His aunt Janice was here over the long weekend to see and take part in his therapy, she stayed until Sunday to visit and go for walks with him. Shelley was here with the kids for a couple days into the weekend as well, so a busy few days for him but wonderful to here all those familiar voices and have family close.
The staff in Ponoka has been just wonderful, they all understand the strain I am under and they have been immense with their help and support through all of this, far above the required treatments.
Still no word from the Ministry of Health or Fraser Health as to what is going on, it now has been two months since our meeting. I have remained fairly quiet regarding all of the unresolved issues in anticipation of a positive outcome from The Ministry of Health. I am expecting them to stop their duplicity when dealing with Chris’ care needs and live up to the promises made by the Minister of Health and his Ministry and Fraser health.
The contact from Fraser Health has assured me, that what I am telling them is needed, is exactly what they want as well, that is to have everything in place so the change in locations will be as seamless as possible, I have put allot of trust in the honesty of this person and will hold them to it.
Houses for Chris without the ICBC help are proving to be quite elusive; ICBC has now decided to not help in any way, or for any reason, but at the same time have refused to say why they will not help, just like other ministries you just don't answer or make comments and the problems disappear.
As far as ICBC goes there is nothing for them to defend, actually they will be in a better position if they joined the action in court, they would probably save the province and all ICBC customers allot of money in this claim. But for some reason they choose to play with someone’s life with total disregard for possible rehabilitation. But that is what you get when it is the only game in town, all the power with no accountability or consequence. The position they are taking will undoubtedly cost them far more in the end, as well as they ruin a few more lives of British Columbians. We all should know by now how expendable life is in this Province, especially if it requires medical attention or ongoing health costs such as care, medication and therapy it is far easier and way cheaper to stick people in extended care homes in front of a TV.
Even though they agree that the insurance money they owe, will be far less than is required for Chris’ future care, they refuse to pay any portion to help with expenses. I have asked for an explanation as to why in most other cases advances are paid to help struggling families, I was told that the lawyer they hired has the power to do what he wants and they will not interfere even though they hired him and only they can fire him or give him direction. You have to ask yourself why you would pay a lawyer allot of money to work on something that really will look after itself with time. And in fact will end up costing all insured drivers in our Province more money to insure their cars, again total control and no accountability.
By giving Chris the advance to improve his quality of life they would have done something very humane, and relieved family members of a great deal of stress and broken lives. It has now been two ands a half year since the accident and not a penny paid by ICBC for its liability, does any one have ant idea what it costs to keep all of this going, the continual scratching and begging for every little thing that is needed to say nothing of the emotional burden. We buy insurance, pay our taxes and expect that the system we buy into to cover us and treat us with respect, not bury us or shove us aside without regard. I really think most of you and most British Columbians think the same way?
By withholding the advance or partial payment the only one who benefits is ICBC by collecting what ever interest will accrue while they hold onto it which is what 2%? Definately worth more than a life and all the destruction it is causing!.
They are stalling and it starts to look more and more that they are working with the ministry of health to cut off any support, or access to money that will enable us to keep Chris out of extended care and in rehab. If we have no money and are desperate we would have to give in and take what ever the ministry is offering. Quite a system we have to protect us, you won't know it does not exist unless you have to use it.
This whole mixed up, screwed up system has got to be corrected. When by no fault of your own, you are injured and there are responsible parties who will have to pay, but they are allowed to delay, delay, and delay further so your health will deteriorate to a point where you can not go on.
At this point these guilty people are allowed to walk away and never answer to their wrong doing.
Our ICBC relies on this concept to avoid paying all that they owe in most of it's claims adjudications, if you can delay and refuse money for medical procedures or for rehab and out wait the claimant and they die waiting, so does the action and all future care costs???
This is why I am telling you, any action you have regarding ICBC get a lawyer and push it to the limit, because even with the lawyer you will end up short, but without you will end up, up the creek without a paddle.
Still hoping there are people that care.
Good Bye for now,
Kevin
His aunt Janice was here over the long weekend to see and take part in his therapy, she stayed until Sunday to visit and go for walks with him. Shelley was here with the kids for a couple days into the weekend as well, so a busy few days for him but wonderful to here all those familiar voices and have family close.
The staff in Ponoka has been just wonderful, they all understand the strain I am under and they have been immense with their help and support through all of this, far above the required treatments.
Still no word from the Ministry of Health or Fraser Health as to what is going on, it now has been two months since our meeting. I have remained fairly quiet regarding all of the unresolved issues in anticipation of a positive outcome from The Ministry of Health. I am expecting them to stop their duplicity when dealing with Chris’ care needs and live up to the promises made by the Minister of Health and his Ministry and Fraser health.
The contact from Fraser Health has assured me, that what I am telling them is needed, is exactly what they want as well, that is to have everything in place so the change in locations will be as seamless as possible, I have put allot of trust in the honesty of this person and will hold them to it.
Houses for Chris without the ICBC help are proving to be quite elusive; ICBC has now decided to not help in any way, or for any reason, but at the same time have refused to say why they will not help, just like other ministries you just don't answer or make comments and the problems disappear.
As far as ICBC goes there is nothing for them to defend, actually they will be in a better position if they joined the action in court, they would probably save the province and all ICBC customers allot of money in this claim. But for some reason they choose to play with someone’s life with total disregard for possible rehabilitation. But that is what you get when it is the only game in town, all the power with no accountability or consequence. The position they are taking will undoubtedly cost them far more in the end, as well as they ruin a few more lives of British Columbians. We all should know by now how expendable life is in this Province, especially if it requires medical attention or ongoing health costs such as care, medication and therapy it is far easier and way cheaper to stick people in extended care homes in front of a TV.
Even though they agree that the insurance money they owe, will be far less than is required for Chris’ future care, they refuse to pay any portion to help with expenses. I have asked for an explanation as to why in most other cases advances are paid to help struggling families, I was told that the lawyer they hired has the power to do what he wants and they will not interfere even though they hired him and only they can fire him or give him direction. You have to ask yourself why you would pay a lawyer allot of money to work on something that really will look after itself with time. And in fact will end up costing all insured drivers in our Province more money to insure their cars, again total control and no accountability.
By giving Chris the advance to improve his quality of life they would have done something very humane, and relieved family members of a great deal of stress and broken lives. It has now been two ands a half year since the accident and not a penny paid by ICBC for its liability, does any one have ant idea what it costs to keep all of this going, the continual scratching and begging for every little thing that is needed to say nothing of the emotional burden. We buy insurance, pay our taxes and expect that the system we buy into to cover us and treat us with respect, not bury us or shove us aside without regard. I really think most of you and most British Columbians think the same way?
By withholding the advance or partial payment the only one who benefits is ICBC by collecting what ever interest will accrue while they hold onto it which is what 2%? Definately worth more than a life and all the destruction it is causing!.
They are stalling and it starts to look more and more that they are working with the ministry of health to cut off any support, or access to money that will enable us to keep Chris out of extended care and in rehab. If we have no money and are desperate we would have to give in and take what ever the ministry is offering. Quite a system we have to protect us, you won't know it does not exist unless you have to use it.
This whole mixed up, screwed up system has got to be corrected. When by no fault of your own, you are injured and there are responsible parties who will have to pay, but they are allowed to delay, delay, and delay further so your health will deteriorate to a point where you can not go on.
At this point these guilty people are allowed to walk away and never answer to their wrong doing.
Our ICBC relies on this concept to avoid paying all that they owe in most of it's claims adjudications, if you can delay and refuse money for medical procedures or for rehab and out wait the claimant and they die waiting, so does the action and all future care costs???
This is why I am telling you, any action you have regarding ICBC get a lawyer and push it to the limit, because even with the lawyer you will end up short, but without you will end up, up the creek without a paddle.
Still hoping there are people that care.
Good Bye for now,
Kevin
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Sunday March 28, 2010
Hello everyone,
Chris has been making good progress through the week. Staying strong and eerily focused, sends a tingle up my back. I am still working hard at getting all the crap and red tape together to get him home in the near future. Really hope we can do this by summer and have all of it in place.
We are still waiting word or confirmation on the plan, which will bring Chris home to a place that will provide rehab and care equal to that of the Halvar Jonson Center, or an extension for the same at the Halvar Jonson Center. The Ministry of Health seems to be able to temporize very well and practises it to its utmost ability. The Health Minister himself has been very cozening in regards the accolades he receives in his dealing with issues that affect us all.
Looks as if the government and all the seemingly useless managers and directors of our medical system, do not feel he deserves a chance at life or that it is important that he be able to get home, the place he spent ten years away from gaining the knowledge he couldn’t get here so he could return and help this god-for-saken medical system.
Chris did not ask for this plight and those responsible for this happening as well as those who should be stepping up and helping at all costs (ICBC has been able to vitiate the insurance system just like the health ministry has to health care and our government to government services we all are entitled to), they seem to be able to walk away and not give it a second thought, funny these paper pushing puppets also are not able to complete a simple task at hand in a reasonable time frame.
When things get tough they hire a slimy lawyer from yesteryear to block all help? This still is grinding at me every day as they have nothing to gain by being so asinine, they gain some interest on money they owe, but at a cost of someone not having a chance at life.
Does this sound right to you, if not remember you bought insurance from these same people and you haven’t had the good fortune to deal with then yet.
To this day I have never received a request from any agency, government rep, or medical professional as to what our plans are for Chris and his rehab. The exception is the people and professionals at Halvar Jonson Center, they show this care and understanding on a daily basis, they share our worries daily and of course included in this group is the one doctor in BC, Dr. D, and the social worker who helped me with all the paper work to get Chris into HJC, they provided the aid and attention to the details when no one else would listen.
To these people I will be eternally grateful for the love, the understanding, the thoughtful gestures, the inspiring conversations and most of all the willingness to listen, thank you for the chances we have been given, although the fight is nowhere near ending they have been the vehicle and guidance to move forward. All of that combined with the never ending love and friendship I share with my son will drive me, to vivify not only his life but all those affected with brain injury and will continue to my last breath, with an inexorable attitude and determination.
The people I have met on this journey have inspired me and filled me with emotion.
Thinking on how fragile life is, and the unbearable, that is endured by not only Christopher and I, but by the families of the injured and the injured themselves as they struggle to make sense of all that has happened and hopefully never wonder if someone is carrying their hopes and their dreams forward as they try to heal.
The last thing anyone needs is more government interference and red tape if it is the one thing I accomplish through all of this, it will be to change the way the medical profession and health agencies and most of all, how our egregious Ministry of Health in its duplicity, refuses to acknowledge and deal with these victims in a caring and educated manner. Correcting this has become my job too, I refuse to look the other way, after delving into the fray of outdated and archaic health practises that are so top heavy with managers, of managers, of managers, of people who really do not have a clue what is going on around them.
Our society has accepted being lead down the path by doing what it is told by the so called professionals, we just didn’t know they are not as professional as we think at what they do, nor at how they do it. We the people need to make these so called professionals accountable for their decisions, actions and lack thereof as well as the outcomes that arise from such decisions.
Time has come to put a stop to it, to bring those who work with brain injury twenty steps into the future, by getting a more educated and open system that has health professionals with experience and not ego’s, as the job is, to heal and find solutions to the problem and not look over the shoulder as to who is finding it. The attention should always remain on the person and how to move forward with their care and solutions.
We so dearly need in British Columbia a Center similar in caring and understanding to that of which the Halvar Jonson Center emits and practises day in and day out. One that bridges the gap between acute care and the start of rehab, one that counsels and provides leadership in training families and friends as well as the health workers who would listen. Families are going to provide so much care in the future, care that the system cannot; it will remove a colossal burden on our already taxed system.
The government should be joining in with guns ablazing to provide help and get on board with educating families and professionals, as this initial investment in training and being human will pay dividends in the not too distant future, as well, it will give families and friends a purpose and ease of mind in the caring of those injured and in need of constant care.
Understanding this is not difficult it can be done by a ten year old; I know this for a fact, so why is it so hard to get the government and highly trained professionals on board and seeing past the end of their nose or elected life.
We have started a Society to look into research, programs and aid in helping those with Brain injury.
The Society is: Dr. Christopher Adam Bigelow Society for Brain Injury
We will be accepting donations to the society with the goal of opening a counselling and rehab center for those who cannot get help through regular channels.
Its main goal is education and training for those with Brain Injury and their family and friends.
Cheques should be made out to: Dr. Christopher Adam Bigelow Society for Brain Injury
Till next entry,
Kevin
Chris has been making good progress through the week. Staying strong and eerily focused, sends a tingle up my back. I am still working hard at getting all the crap and red tape together to get him home in the near future. Really hope we can do this by summer and have all of it in place.
We are still waiting word or confirmation on the plan, which will bring Chris home to a place that will provide rehab and care equal to that of the Halvar Jonson Center, or an extension for the same at the Halvar Jonson Center. The Ministry of Health seems to be able to temporize very well and practises it to its utmost ability. The Health Minister himself has been very cozening in regards the accolades he receives in his dealing with issues that affect us all.
Looks as if the government and all the seemingly useless managers and directors of our medical system, do not feel he deserves a chance at life or that it is important that he be able to get home, the place he spent ten years away from gaining the knowledge he couldn’t get here so he could return and help this god-for-saken medical system.
Chris did not ask for this plight and those responsible for this happening as well as those who should be stepping up and helping at all costs (ICBC has been able to vitiate the insurance system just like the health ministry has to health care and our government to government services we all are entitled to), they seem to be able to walk away and not give it a second thought, funny these paper pushing puppets also are not able to complete a simple task at hand in a reasonable time frame.
When things get tough they hire a slimy lawyer from yesteryear to block all help? This still is grinding at me every day as they have nothing to gain by being so asinine, they gain some interest on money they owe, but at a cost of someone not having a chance at life.
Does this sound right to you, if not remember you bought insurance from these same people and you haven’t had the good fortune to deal with then yet.
To this day I have never received a request from any agency, government rep, or medical professional as to what our plans are for Chris and his rehab. The exception is the people and professionals at Halvar Jonson Center, they show this care and understanding on a daily basis, they share our worries daily and of course included in this group is the one doctor in BC, Dr. D, and the social worker who helped me with all the paper work to get Chris into HJC, they provided the aid and attention to the details when no one else would listen.
To these people I will be eternally grateful for the love, the understanding, the thoughtful gestures, the inspiring conversations and most of all the willingness to listen, thank you for the chances we have been given, although the fight is nowhere near ending they have been the vehicle and guidance to move forward. All of that combined with the never ending love and friendship I share with my son will drive me, to vivify not only his life but all those affected with brain injury and will continue to my last breath, with an inexorable attitude and determination.
The people I have met on this journey have inspired me and filled me with emotion.
Thinking on how fragile life is, and the unbearable, that is endured by not only Christopher and I, but by the families of the injured and the injured themselves as they struggle to make sense of all that has happened and hopefully never wonder if someone is carrying their hopes and their dreams forward as they try to heal.
The last thing anyone needs is more government interference and red tape if it is the one thing I accomplish through all of this, it will be to change the way the medical profession and health agencies and most of all, how our egregious Ministry of Health in its duplicity, refuses to acknowledge and deal with these victims in a caring and educated manner. Correcting this has become my job too, I refuse to look the other way, after delving into the fray of outdated and archaic health practises that are so top heavy with managers, of managers, of managers, of people who really do not have a clue what is going on around them.
Our society has accepted being lead down the path by doing what it is told by the so called professionals, we just didn’t know they are not as professional as we think at what they do, nor at how they do it. We the people need to make these so called professionals accountable for their decisions, actions and lack thereof as well as the outcomes that arise from such decisions.
Time has come to put a stop to it, to bring those who work with brain injury twenty steps into the future, by getting a more educated and open system that has health professionals with experience and not ego’s, as the job is, to heal and find solutions to the problem and not look over the shoulder as to who is finding it. The attention should always remain on the person and how to move forward with their care and solutions.
We so dearly need in British Columbia a Center similar in caring and understanding to that of which the Halvar Jonson Center emits and practises day in and day out. One that bridges the gap between acute care and the start of rehab, one that counsels and provides leadership in training families and friends as well as the health workers who would listen. Families are going to provide so much care in the future, care that the system cannot; it will remove a colossal burden on our already taxed system.
The government should be joining in with guns ablazing to provide help and get on board with educating families and professionals, as this initial investment in training and being human will pay dividends in the not too distant future, as well, it will give families and friends a purpose and ease of mind in the caring of those injured and in need of constant care.
Understanding this is not difficult it can be done by a ten year old; I know this for a fact, so why is it so hard to get the government and highly trained professionals on board and seeing past the end of their nose or elected life.
We have started a Society to look into research, programs and aid in helping those with Brain injury.
The Society is: Dr. Christopher Adam Bigelow Society for Brain Injury
We will be accepting donations to the society with the goal of opening a counselling and rehab center for those who cannot get help through regular channels.
Its main goal is education and training for those with Brain Injury and their family and friends.
Cheques should be made out to: Dr. Christopher Adam Bigelow Society for Brain Injury
Till next entry,
Kevin
Thursday, March 25, 2010
End of March Update
Hello again,
Chris is doing great, his cold has passed and we are back to full blown exercise and he responds wonderfully to it. The pool was sorrowfully missed over the last week and half, but taking full advantage now. Table and standing time as well as bike time has increased when I am here. He really came out of the cold with flying colors looking healthier and stronger than before.
Sorry for the big breaks between updates, but there is not a whole lot to report. Still no word from the ministry, Fraser Health or anyone in BC Health system, the administration in Ponoka has been left high and dry without the courteousy of a call or updating them as to how things are progressing, kind of strange seeing as how they are the ones looking after his daily well being.
BC government with their fractious behaviour and lacklustre depth of concern must be in awe at the promises they have made, now that they know they do not have facilities like this at home. Trying to come close to imitate the level of expertise in Ponoka is probably making their heads spin, welcome to my world.
I must say that Health Minister Falcon has managed to vitiate this Province’s health system with no leadership or foresight. My inexorable zest for Chris’ well being will not be deterred by any of this fumbling or stalling. Will update as needed......
Till tomorrow,
Kevin
Chris is doing great, his cold has passed and we are back to full blown exercise and he responds wonderfully to it. The pool was sorrowfully missed over the last week and half, but taking full advantage now. Table and standing time as well as bike time has increased when I am here. He really came out of the cold with flying colors looking healthier and stronger than before.
Sorry for the big breaks between updates, but there is not a whole lot to report. Still no word from the ministry, Fraser Health or anyone in BC Health system, the administration in Ponoka has been left high and dry without the courteousy of a call or updating them as to how things are progressing, kind of strange seeing as how they are the ones looking after his daily well being.
BC government with their fractious behaviour and lacklustre depth of concern must be in awe at the promises they have made, now that they know they do not have facilities like this at home. Trying to come close to imitate the level of expertise in Ponoka is probably making their heads spin, welcome to my world.
I must say that Health Minister Falcon has managed to vitiate this Province’s health system with no leadership or foresight. My inexorable zest for Chris’ well being will not be deterred by any of this fumbling or stalling. Will update as needed......
Till tomorrow,
Kevin
Friday, March 19, 2010
Long week mid March
Hello,
Chris has had a cold for the last week and a half and was very tough on him. We have skipped the pool through this but have picked up more Physio and bike sessions with stretching to keep him mobile and moving and it has proven to be very good as he is responding well to all the extra work and is just dealing with the trailing effects of the cold.
Update has nothing new happening, no word yet, in fact HJC in Ponoka still has no formal info or request from the BC health ministry on an extension while Chris is there.
It is starting to look like the Health minister speaking up about something he has no idea about has placed his staff in a tight situation.
Putting down the great facility in Ponoka Alberta, by telling everyone we have places like that here in our hospitals while still shipping BC Patients there for treatment.
All the staff at Fraser Health and probably every citizen that has ever had to access Rehab services in this Province knows that no place like this exists in our Province.
It is not a case of not having enough smart and trained people in our Province it is a Health ministry that refuses to bring them together under one roof for a more productive and less stressful rehab experience by the injured.
With great rehab we save money in medical costs and hospital costs as well as lost work time the numbers are over whelming, but let’s follow our Health Minister who is so off the wall in his focus, who in his words “would bring in rich Americans to pay four times the cost for an operation” and that will solve all our problems??? What a clumsy, unintelligent comment to make with no plan or explanation. He will probably spend more money to figure out if what he said was true or will even work than it would take to reduce waiting times and access to programs that are needed now! Let’s quit fooling ourselves as long as we have puppets running social services and an idiot at the helm of our health care nothing is going to change.
The promise to bring Chris back to a mutually agreeable place with all the therapy he is getting in Ponoka is fading fast. The comments from the Health Minister was we have these places in BC and we will follow the recommendations given by Chris; doctors in Alberta and BC.
The Ministry of Health have had the letters and information for over four months now, continually threatening the cancellation of his therapy, we have had two teleconferences with umpteen professionals present (I use that term loosely) and still they are asking for more information and fence sitting.
While all the high priced help in Fraser Health realize how much it will cost and have now taken six weeks to look over all the info from the last Teleconference that was to produce an answer in a week? Still they have not made a decision, it is looking like the plan was to talk the talk promise whatever it took to keep things quiet over the Olympics and now that things have slowed down and all those we pay to work in this Province are back at work and not watching or rubbing shoulders at the events. A simple plan to sit with me and talk over what is needed would save tax payers a fortune but as we know it only matters that we spend our budgets and then bitch about what we don’t have. With all the doubled up management, social workers, a health ministry out of touch with reality and bosses who have bosses who have bosses to answer to, how the hell can a regular citizen of this Province and country get the help they need.
Less bullshit, less people with titles who really don’t understand their jobs let alone what people need. It is amazing that in a system that really is dysfunctional that we need that many dysfunctional workers to man it. There is so little spent and done on behalf of the sick and injured they should only need a couple of people with a NO stamp to emboss all letters of hope or help.
Get rid of the extra baggage, put people who understand health care in place to manage and work in it. In most cases it would seem that we hire by how much a person makes not by how much he knows, in our governments case that would mean the more we can pay you the more you will tow the line and do what we tell you. Screw the people, maybe when they manage ignore the needs of enough of us we will stand together and force the change.
Remember as we all age our bones will not heal as fast or as well, in the system we now have if you don’t get better quickly you to will end up in extended care in front of a TV, and if someone is not watching their every move your health will deteriorate and soon you will no longer be a problem to the system!!!
I have more to say on ICBC but another day, just keep in mind the insurance you think you have, will prove to be useless when you need it the most.
Enjoy paying the highest premiums in the country for something that does not work? You will be lucky if you can collect even 50% of what you think you can. Not to mention the medical help you may require.
Kevin
Chris has had a cold for the last week and a half and was very tough on him. We have skipped the pool through this but have picked up more Physio and bike sessions with stretching to keep him mobile and moving and it has proven to be very good as he is responding well to all the extra work and is just dealing with the trailing effects of the cold.
Update has nothing new happening, no word yet, in fact HJC in Ponoka still has no formal info or request from the BC health ministry on an extension while Chris is there.
It is starting to look like the Health minister speaking up about something he has no idea about has placed his staff in a tight situation.
Putting down the great facility in Ponoka Alberta, by telling everyone we have places like that here in our hospitals while still shipping BC Patients there for treatment.
All the staff at Fraser Health and probably every citizen that has ever had to access Rehab services in this Province knows that no place like this exists in our Province.
It is not a case of not having enough smart and trained people in our Province it is a Health ministry that refuses to bring them together under one roof for a more productive and less stressful rehab experience by the injured.
With great rehab we save money in medical costs and hospital costs as well as lost work time the numbers are over whelming, but let’s follow our Health Minister who is so off the wall in his focus, who in his words “would bring in rich Americans to pay four times the cost for an operation” and that will solve all our problems??? What a clumsy, unintelligent comment to make with no plan or explanation. He will probably spend more money to figure out if what he said was true or will even work than it would take to reduce waiting times and access to programs that are needed now! Let’s quit fooling ourselves as long as we have puppets running social services and an idiot at the helm of our health care nothing is going to change.
The promise to bring Chris back to a mutually agreeable place with all the therapy he is getting in Ponoka is fading fast. The comments from the Health Minister was we have these places in BC and we will follow the recommendations given by Chris; doctors in Alberta and BC.
The Ministry of Health have had the letters and information for over four months now, continually threatening the cancellation of his therapy, we have had two teleconferences with umpteen professionals present (I use that term loosely) and still they are asking for more information and fence sitting.
While all the high priced help in Fraser Health realize how much it will cost and have now taken six weeks to look over all the info from the last Teleconference that was to produce an answer in a week? Still they have not made a decision, it is looking like the plan was to talk the talk promise whatever it took to keep things quiet over the Olympics and now that things have slowed down and all those we pay to work in this Province are back at work and not watching or rubbing shoulders at the events. A simple plan to sit with me and talk over what is needed would save tax payers a fortune but as we know it only matters that we spend our budgets and then bitch about what we don’t have. With all the doubled up management, social workers, a health ministry out of touch with reality and bosses who have bosses who have bosses to answer to, how the hell can a regular citizen of this Province and country get the help they need.
Less bullshit, less people with titles who really don’t understand their jobs let alone what people need. It is amazing that in a system that really is dysfunctional that we need that many dysfunctional workers to man it. There is so little spent and done on behalf of the sick and injured they should only need a couple of people with a NO stamp to emboss all letters of hope or help.
Get rid of the extra baggage, put people who understand health care in place to manage and work in it. In most cases it would seem that we hire by how much a person makes not by how much he knows, in our governments case that would mean the more we can pay you the more you will tow the line and do what we tell you. Screw the people, maybe when they manage ignore the needs of enough of us we will stand together and force the change.
Remember as we all age our bones will not heal as fast or as well, in the system we now have if you don’t get better quickly you to will end up in extended care in front of a TV, and if someone is not watching their every move your health will deteriorate and soon you will no longer be a problem to the system!!!
I have more to say on ICBC but another day, just keep in mind the insurance you think you have, will prove to be useless when you need it the most.
Enjoy paying the highest premiums in the country for something that does not work? You will be lucky if you can collect even 50% of what you think you can. Not to mention the medical help you may require.
Kevin
Friday, March 12, 2010
Friday, 12th March
Hello,
Not much to tell as of today, still no word on Fraser Health's and the Health Ministry's commitment to changing things and making this rehab work at home hmmmmm!
We will wait and wait some more because that's all we can do at the moment.
Chris has caught a cold as of Sunday and had a pretty rough few days early in the week. X-ray shows nothing conclusive but he is on antibiotics just because all things pointed there. He is doing better this morning rough coughs and pretty wiped out, we have skipped the pool Thursday and Friday. We are doing standing and light movements and will do chest therapy this afternoon and each day until it clears up.
Wish we could be home and dealing with all this stuff.
Fingers crossed and moving forward we will update as things transpire,
Bye for now,
Kevin
Not much to tell as of today, still no word on Fraser Health's and the Health Ministry's commitment to changing things and making this rehab work at home hmmmmm!
We will wait and wait some more because that's all we can do at the moment.
Chris has caught a cold as of Sunday and had a pretty rough few days early in the week. X-ray shows nothing conclusive but he is on antibiotics just because all things pointed there. He is doing better this morning rough coughs and pretty wiped out, we have skipped the pool Thursday and Friday. We are doing standing and light movements and will do chest therapy this afternoon and each day until it clears up.
Wish we could be home and dealing with all this stuff.
Fingers crossed and moving forward we will update as things transpire,
Bye for now,
Kevin
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Uncle Robert and Aunt Helen's Visit
This posting is a copy of the note Chris' Aunt sent and asked if it could be posted.
So Here it is:
Mar 9 2010
Our weekend with Christopher…Rob & I went to Ponoka on Friday morning to spend the weekend with Chris. We didn’t arrive until late morning so we missed his pool session but hear it was a good one. We did arrive in time to witness him on the tilt table and going through a work out. I helped Kevin and the therapist assistant with his squats…it was amazing to witness. He was on the table at an angle and they let him slide down into a squat position and then Chris used his legs to push himself up into a stretched out position. I could not believe the strength he had and how he responded so readily to the verbal commands…it was awesome.
After his squats they gave him different tasks to do with verbal commands. When Rob and I were there before we had done a few things with Chris to get responses from him and he cooperated but it did take a bit of time for him to complete a request. Both Rob & I were amazed at how quickly he responded this time; it is such an improvement… I took some video of him on the table and will see if we can get it posted on the blog.
It was great to see Kevin work with Chris...he could do this for a profession and be better than a lot of trained therapists.
Kevin then put Chris on the bike to exercise his legs but I think he was worn out from the swim and squats because he did not work as hard as he normally does.
Kevin, Shelley, Kylan & Gwen left for home Friday evening and we went back to visit with Chris for the evening. He watched a bit of hockey (Rob brought the Junior games from last year – Can vs USA and Can vs Sweden). Chris was a bit tired but did show interest in the game when he was awake.
Saturday was a beautiful day…the sun was shining and when it warmed up a bit we took Chris outside for a walk in the sun. We spent a lazy day visiting, reading and snoozing (even me). Chris went for a rest around 3 and we went for a bite to eat. We came back later and put the game on for Chris – someone wanted to watch a movie in the main area so we watched the game in Chris’s room. We only had a short visit with Chris on Sunday morning as we had to head back to get ready for the workweek.
All in all it was a great visit and it was super to see 1st hand the improvements in Chris. Seeing them on the TV or videos is not the same overwhelming feeling as being there.
So Here it is:
Mar 9 2010
Our weekend with Christopher…Rob & I went to Ponoka on Friday morning to spend the weekend with Chris. We didn’t arrive until late morning so we missed his pool session but hear it was a good one. We did arrive in time to witness him on the tilt table and going through a work out. I helped Kevin and the therapist assistant with his squats…it was amazing to witness. He was on the table at an angle and they let him slide down into a squat position and then Chris used his legs to push himself up into a stretched out position. I could not believe the strength he had and how he responded so readily to the verbal commands…it was awesome.
After his squats they gave him different tasks to do with verbal commands. When Rob and I were there before we had done a few things with Chris to get responses from him and he cooperated but it did take a bit of time for him to complete a request. Both Rob & I were amazed at how quickly he responded this time; it is such an improvement… I took some video of him on the table and will see if we can get it posted on the blog.
It was great to see Kevin work with Chris...he could do this for a profession and be better than a lot of trained therapists.
Kevin then put Chris on the bike to exercise his legs but I think he was worn out from the swim and squats because he did not work as hard as he normally does.
Kevin, Shelley, Kylan & Gwen left for home Friday evening and we went back to visit with Chris for the evening. He watched a bit of hockey (Rob brought the Junior games from last year – Can vs USA and Can vs Sweden). Chris was a bit tired but did show interest in the game when he was awake.
Saturday was a beautiful day…the sun was shining and when it warmed up a bit we took Chris outside for a walk in the sun. We spent a lazy day visiting, reading and snoozing (even me). Chris went for a rest around 3 and we went for a bite to eat. We came back later and put the game on for Chris – someone wanted to watch a movie in the main area so we watched the game in Chris’s room. We only had a short visit with Chris on Sunday morning as we had to head back to get ready for the workweek.
All in all it was a great visit and it was super to see 1st hand the improvements in Chris. Seeing them on the TV or videos is not the same overwhelming feeling as being there.
Quick update
Hi Again,
Yes it has been awhile, although I think there was a problem with the blog late last week I could not post for the last couple of days.
First Chris is doing well and still moving forward with therapy, more specific things being addressed by OT and Physio to design some useable formats for the equipment they use, so we can do the same when we get home. Pool is still great and the weather has been surprisingly good warm days and cool nights.
Other things.... Still no word from the ministry or Fraser Health on what is going on???
It has been a month since our last meeting, I do not know what the holdup is but I can assure you there are probably twelve people trying make the decisions that only a couple should make.
I still con not believe they would not call with an update or to let us know what is going on, as we hang in there every day waiting for a word, gets to be a little much.
Still looking for that elusive house, after not being able to get ICBC to step up and help out.
Really makes you wonder why you have to pay one of the highest rates in the country for some of the worst coverage and arrogant people.
I will have more to say on this topic very shortly in fact it may be part of the next news story. Hopefully it will help to enlighten people on what they can start doing now to fight back and get what they are entitled to. We have to keep in mind that there are two different sides too ICBC or so it looks on paper.
They are the Part 7 no fault medical coverage that every person in the Province is entitled to if involved in a motor vehicle accident, even if it doesn’t happen in your province or country.
Then there is the tort side that involves lots of lawyers and experts it is they who really profit from someone’s pain and yes every now and then there is a good outcome. I am thinking more are on the bad side than good. So many people do not get proper information or counselling as to how to access this coverage, maybe the insurance company should be informing and educating people on this early on whenever there is a bodily injury, after all we pay for it.
Kevin
Yes it has been awhile, although I think there was a problem with the blog late last week I could not post for the last couple of days.
First Chris is doing well and still moving forward with therapy, more specific things being addressed by OT and Physio to design some useable formats for the equipment they use, so we can do the same when we get home. Pool is still great and the weather has been surprisingly good warm days and cool nights.
Other things.... Still no word from the ministry or Fraser Health on what is going on???
It has been a month since our last meeting, I do not know what the holdup is but I can assure you there are probably twelve people trying make the decisions that only a couple should make.
I still con not believe they would not call with an update or to let us know what is going on, as we hang in there every day waiting for a word, gets to be a little much.
Still looking for that elusive house, after not being able to get ICBC to step up and help out.
Really makes you wonder why you have to pay one of the highest rates in the country for some of the worst coverage and arrogant people.
I will have more to say on this topic very shortly in fact it may be part of the next news story. Hopefully it will help to enlighten people on what they can start doing now to fight back and get what they are entitled to. We have to keep in mind that there are two different sides too ICBC or so it looks on paper.
They are the Part 7 no fault medical coverage that every person in the Province is entitled to if involved in a motor vehicle accident, even if it doesn’t happen in your province or country.
Then there is the tort side that involves lots of lawyers and experts it is they who really profit from someone’s pain and yes every now and then there is a good outcome. I am thinking more are on the bad side than good. So many people do not get proper information or counselling as to how to access this coverage, maybe the insurance company should be informing and educating people on this early on whenever there is a bodily injury, after all we pay for it.
Kevin
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Thursday 25, 2010
Hey everyone,
Chris is doing great in his physio worked really hard Monday and Tuesday yesterday morning started slow but came alive for the physio session. The therapist and Chris are on the same wave length he loves those physio times. Pool was slow and relaxing in the afternoon, made for a relaxed and tired evening, as he was sleeping on and off during the hockey game. Today we start with morning stretching and then head right to the pool, then out and on to the tilt table for an hour long session of interactive moving and working on head control for the neck muscles. Before this session ends we will do some chest therapy and trunk control.
Lunch time and relaxing then up on the cycle for a cardio workout and then a shave. Better get going or I will be late, by the way still no word on any of the promises made by the government and Fraser Health. I will let you know as soon as I find out any news.
Kevin
Chris is doing great in his physio worked really hard Monday and Tuesday yesterday morning started slow but came alive for the physio session. The therapist and Chris are on the same wave length he loves those physio times. Pool was slow and relaxing in the afternoon, made for a relaxed and tired evening, as he was sleeping on and off during the hockey game. Today we start with morning stretching and then head right to the pool, then out and on to the tilt table for an hour long session of interactive moving and working on head control for the neck muscles. Before this session ends we will do some chest therapy and trunk control.
Lunch time and relaxing then up on the cycle for a cardio workout and then a shave. Better get going or I will be late, by the way still no word on any of the promises made by the government and Fraser Health. I will let you know as soon as I find out any news.
Kevin
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Link to Paper & ICBC Still not willing
Below is the link to a story done by the Red Deer Advocate, click and have a read?
http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradvocate/news/provincial/Families_fear_patients_may_be_sent_out_of_brain_injury_clinic_84771787.html
Also just a quick update regarding the house we tried to complete on. We have come up short for a third time ICBC and their egregious behaviour, would seem to most level headed citizens that they are in fact not wanting to help in any way, and have now cost us a third attempt at finalizing a home that would provide everything we would have needed to bring Chris home.
I guess when it comes right down to it, they just don't care, and it is not their family member lying in a facility bed, waiting to be railroaded into an extended care bed.
ICBC insured the car that caused this epic disaster and now want to find any avenue to walk away with the money that is so missing from Christopher's moving forward.
I would give anything to have Christopher back the way he was, to say good morning, to say good night, to ask how my day was or I his, but that's not possible, we will never again be able to share those simple conversations we all take for granted.
I would guess that not a tear flows for what we have lost, not from the health ministry, not from the Health Minister, nor the Premier and especially not from the adjusters or management at ICBC, or the high priced lawyer hired by them, "the insurance company of the people". (What a joke)
Money now is the only thing that will give him a chance, at somewhat of a life, which they have taken from him. Now they keep grinding and stalling and would almost seem to work hand in hand with the health ministry to force their will and bullshit down our throats.
When people, when will we stand up and say enough, we are not sheep, or animals to be herded or forced to pasture, we are all equal and stand as humans to be counted. Who then decides who will live and who will die?
Will it be a communications person turned political who you would think with the tragedies he has had in his life would have some understanding of compassion and what is right, or I suppose you could bend the opposite direction and take out your anger with the system that failed you by denying that right to all others.
Keeping in mind this is only an advance we have tried to secure for over a year now, they know the devastation and just do not care, remember this when you have a sore neck or are bruised up. If they can look the other way while a life lies in the balance, how are they going to honestly treat someone with a minor injury?
Take care my friends the very insurance company we paid to start and run and still fund hold our futures in their hands.
It’s hard to hold and help someone in your hands if you are always wringing them. If anyone can shed some light on as to why they would have to hire a lawyer to defend an action, where the damage grossly exceeds the liability amount. Why refuse to help or aid in any way so as to minimize the damage that has already taken place. I truly hope that these adjusters and lawyers can go home at night and relax with their families knowing they are ripping the hearts out of the victims and their families. I give up trying to make sense of this there has got to one person out there who sees the damage that is being propagated here and will eventually step forward.
Thanks for letting me vent, I sometimes grow weary and need to find strenght in all the mess.
Kevin
http://www.albertalocalnews.com/reddeeradvocate/news/provincial/Families_fear_patients_may_be_sent_out_of_brain_injury_clinic_84771787.html
Also just a quick update regarding the house we tried to complete on. We have come up short for a third time ICBC and their egregious behaviour, would seem to most level headed citizens that they are in fact not wanting to help in any way, and have now cost us a third attempt at finalizing a home that would provide everything we would have needed to bring Chris home.
I guess when it comes right down to it, they just don't care, and it is not their family member lying in a facility bed, waiting to be railroaded into an extended care bed.
ICBC insured the car that caused this epic disaster and now want to find any avenue to walk away with the money that is so missing from Christopher's moving forward.
I would give anything to have Christopher back the way he was, to say good morning, to say good night, to ask how my day was or I his, but that's not possible, we will never again be able to share those simple conversations we all take for granted.
I would guess that not a tear flows for what we have lost, not from the health ministry, not from the Health Minister, nor the Premier and especially not from the adjusters or management at ICBC, or the high priced lawyer hired by them, "the insurance company of the people". (What a joke)
Money now is the only thing that will give him a chance, at somewhat of a life, which they have taken from him. Now they keep grinding and stalling and would almost seem to work hand in hand with the health ministry to force their will and bullshit down our throats.
When people, when will we stand up and say enough, we are not sheep, or animals to be herded or forced to pasture, we are all equal and stand as humans to be counted. Who then decides who will live and who will die?
Will it be a communications person turned political who you would think with the tragedies he has had in his life would have some understanding of compassion and what is right, or I suppose you could bend the opposite direction and take out your anger with the system that failed you by denying that right to all others.
Keeping in mind this is only an advance we have tried to secure for over a year now, they know the devastation and just do not care, remember this when you have a sore neck or are bruised up. If they can look the other way while a life lies in the balance, how are they going to honestly treat someone with a minor injury?
Take care my friends the very insurance company we paid to start and run and still fund hold our futures in their hands.
It’s hard to hold and help someone in your hands if you are always wringing them. If anyone can shed some light on as to why they would have to hire a lawyer to defend an action, where the damage grossly exceeds the liability amount. Why refuse to help or aid in any way so as to minimize the damage that has already taken place. I truly hope that these adjusters and lawyers can go home at night and relax with their families knowing they are ripping the hearts out of the victims and their families. I give up trying to make sense of this there has got to one person out there who sees the damage that is being propagated here and will eventually step forward.
Thanks for letting me vent, I sometimes grow weary and need to find strenght in all the mess.
Kevin
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Another long wait with no answers
Hi,
Good Thursday afternoon, Chris has had a wonderful day started out in bed with full stretching routine this morning, then an hour later into the pool for an excellent stretch and sitting session, followed by 30 minute relaxation session in the pool. It was great today we had the pool all to ourselves and the music soothed the whole time.
Out of the water quick change and onto the tilt table for some squats, with Chris really applying himself this morning using some great muscle to move in his squats, then a standing session with some great motor work from the arm and neck, followed with trunk stretches then chest physio.
Chris even helped the unit try out a new pool chair they are buying to make trips for all easier to use, guess it was fitting as he is the one who uses the pool the most.
Still no word on any extension or from
Fraser Health regarding funding to make their demands come true. We will wait patiently as we always do, expecting all is well and they are just crossing t's and dotting i's.
Will let you know as soon as it happens.
Thanks all for the support and wishes,
Kevin & Christopher
Good Thursday afternoon, Chris has had a wonderful day started out in bed with full stretching routine this morning, then an hour later into the pool for an excellent stretch and sitting session, followed by 30 minute relaxation session in the pool. It was great today we had the pool all to ourselves and the music soothed the whole time.
Out of the water quick change and onto the tilt table for some squats, with Chris really applying himself this morning using some great muscle to move in his squats, then a standing session with some great motor work from the arm and neck, followed with trunk stretches then chest physio.
Chris even helped the unit try out a new pool chair they are buying to make trips for all easier to use, guess it was fitting as he is the one who uses the pool the most.
Still no word on any extension or from
Fraser Health regarding funding to make their demands come true. We will wait patiently as we always do, expecting all is well and they are just crossing t's and dotting i's.
Will let you know as soon as it happens.
Thanks all for the support and wishes,
Kevin & Christopher
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
February 17, 2010
Hello,
It's been a while from the last update, just wanting to pass on some of the days happenings that are currently going on in the background, for Christopher's return home.
We are still waiting for, The Fraser Health Authority to give us approval that guarantees all of the funding to be in place prior to his return home. Once funding is in place, with a written agreement, we will have to find appropriate therapists and set up times for this new system to start properly, as well arrange with the pool at home for times so as not to miss any sessions. I have talk to the therapists there and they are looking forward to working with Chris again and with a more aggressive schedule.
I expect to hear from Fraser Health again at the end of this week as to the status of the plan, I am sure they are all in a state of confusion and scrambling to make it all work. This all so the Minister himself doesn’t look like a fellow who does not know the first thing about health care and to cover up the off the cuff comments he makes. Because someone will always be there to bail him out or to put a spin on it, to make it sound like he knows what it is he is talking about.
The Health Minister’s office and Ministry has caused all of this grief and unrest, mostly due to uneducated people making important decisions on other people’s lives.
We were successful in finding a house that looks like it will suit our needs in providing a rehab area and the living arrangements I have searched for, for so long. The only hold back is the ICBC lawyer who is determined to not forward any funds owing, so Christopher can receive the basics of what he deserves, a place to live and proper set up to do rehab to make his life easier and just plain liveable. Even though we will have to do that rehab and make our own way through this.
It is amazing that we buy insurance to protect ourselves from these horrific accidents from happening. But when we go to collect or expect the insurance company to pay, they put a fight up like everyone is stealing from them, do they just forget that is what insurance is for and we all pay for it, or are we all too complacent and accept the unacceptable. Maybe the government shouldn’t be in the insurance business if that is the case...
Let us not forget that we let these imbeciles make these rules and we let them pay enormous amounts of money to companies and corporations with the excuse that we have to get proper people to run these corporations for our own good. So not only are we being robbed blind by the government and the crown corporations, we get to pay indecent salaries and bonuses to these people to do it to us.
When the going gets tough the government closes the door and refuses to talk, or they hire high priced lawyers to cover their asses. As well let us not forget the spin doctors hired and paid for with our dollars to change or deflect attention from the stories that show the truth. When was the last time you could buy a Mercedes Benz at a discount price, oh wait we all didn’t get that chance because we did not work at the training center. These people who would deny funds to someone who by no fault of their own has had their lives taken from them and is in dire need of funds to ensure that life can go on. But somehow found it to be acceptable that they buy at a deep discount, cars that were written off wrongfully and paid for by the people of this Province who have no choice but to purchase insurance from this clown corporation. The purchase of Olympic tickets used by the same people who deny the basics to those in need. The question keeps coming to mind “what were they thinking” but a close look reveals just that, they don’t think they just waste.
To continue, rehab is the question and there is no negotiating anything that limits it. This is an absolute necessity for Christopher's ability to move forward and his enjoyment of life.
Mr Michael Ragona from the law firm of Alexander Holburn Beudin and Lang Barristers and Solicitors, who have been hired by ICBC to defend the driver in the court case, he has made a demand for terms in order to allow an advance of the money they already owe Christopher. Terms which we can never meet, or have the ability to do so. While all the while he is telling everyone that he's put the advance out for Christopher and he hasn’t taken it. I wonder if the driver was ever asked if he would be ok with Chris being given an advance with no strings attached if it were to help make his life better, I think not.
The point here is the money from the insurance policy is not enough to cover the costs of caring for Chris for more than a couple of years into the future. I think ICBC knows the policy limit will be paid out in full and is owed to Christopher.
But they seem to be led astray (or maybe this was the plan) by a lawyer who has no compassion or feelings for a human life in limbo Christopher in particular. There is no question about the policy and that it is owed, so I don’t know if by ruining not only Chris’ life and mine, he is shutting down a whole family and breaking emotional bonds that are pushed to the limit.
So we may end up with allot of people on stress leave or disability insurance or maybe forced into welfare coverage. Where does the cost to society end, and why does the ICBC management require and pay for services to someone who will end up costing the Province a ton of money in the end. We pay for insurance, we have no choice, we have no choice of the insurer so when this happens they should be front and center doing whatever is required to make things better being honest and settling up front like every British Columbian expects
This refusing to advance a small portion of what is owed from the policy provides nothing positive for any one unless ICBC collecting interest on unpaid money is more important than people’s lives.
Remember that we put the people in charge of ICBC into office and we can take it away. We can change the way the injured get the help they need. If we can stop the dishonesty and big money payouts to lawyers that ruin lives, then we can make life better for all those who are injured in our province. Maybe we could afford to build our own Brain Injury Rehab Center so we don’t have to ship our loved ones out of province for the help we cannot give them here in their own.
The Province has showed its inability to look after its own people, it has showed the health care system run by bureaucrats is dysfunctional and does not provide what the people need. Maybe they should get out of the insurance business completely and then let some of the medical professionals become a part of running a health system they work in and understand!
Talking to ICBC is really like talking to a wall. Cases like this are not rocket science and should be dealt with in a fair, quick and equitable manner taking into consideration the victim, and family and the damage that has been caused as well as all of the other people that this will affect.
Part 7 section has been another ball game, there does seem to be rules for both sides and they do talk and negotiate on issues, more so they have real down to earth people to talk to.
Based on the dealings I have had with ICBC over the last two years I would definitely say if you're in an accident of any kind and must deal with the insurance company get a lawyer. It will not cost you any more to have a lawyer, but you cannot afford to deal straight with them because they are so out of touch with reality.
The lawyer will collect more than you would on your own, his fees in general will be paid by ICBC by way of a bigger award. Maybe when everyone hires a lawyer, for even for the smallest of claims they will get the drift that being honest and trust worthy pays big savings.
ICBC and their management team could step in and take action to make things right, they choose not to.
I would tell anybody in this province if you have ICBC insurance claim, be prepared to fight them tooth and nail every step of the way I don't care if you got a fender bender or small scratch on your car, make sure that you get advice and protection, hire a lawyer to take action on your behalf, it is unbelievable and a daunting task to argue or fight with them and the government every step of the way it almost seems as if they're working hand-in-hand with the health ministry to cut off any kind of funding that we possibly can attain to carry on with Chris's rehab.
ICBC’s lawyer has made some ridiculous comments regarding Christopher and his therapy, the very therapy they are stopping from moving ahead. Here is a quote from him:
“That a Committee be appointed on behalf of Dr. Christopher Bigelow. Such a suggestion is not in any way to be understood as a criticism of the Guardian ad litem, Kevin Bigelow, but our client requires an assurance that the advance will be spent on medical assistance which will be of some benefit to Dr. Bigelow. Again, not meaning to be critical of Kevin Bigelow, from the materials we have at hand, it would appear that the medical assistance so far rendered to Dr. Bigelow has been a little or no assistance in his rehabilitation.” These are the same people who for over two years have refused to give an advance of the money owed to Christopher so we may take advantage of every rehab opportunity.
This is exactly what I talk about with the spin on things, here we have an Insurance company’s lawyer refusing to pay or provide help for over two years. Yet their lawyer can stand up and tell us “from the materials we have at hand, it would appear that the medical assistance so far rendered to Dr. Bigelow has been a little or no assistance in his rehabilitation.” Forgetting that they control the funds and availability of what therapy we can access. That is like telling a homeless person to quit sleeping outside or wondering why a person with no money isn’t eating at the finest restaurants. Like I said earlier so out of touch with reality it isn’t even funny, just scary!
Good bye till tomorrow,
Kevin
It's been a while from the last update, just wanting to pass on some of the days happenings that are currently going on in the background, for Christopher's return home.
We are still waiting for, The Fraser Health Authority to give us approval that guarantees all of the funding to be in place prior to his return home. Once funding is in place, with a written agreement, we will have to find appropriate therapists and set up times for this new system to start properly, as well arrange with the pool at home for times so as not to miss any sessions. I have talk to the therapists there and they are looking forward to working with Chris again and with a more aggressive schedule.
I expect to hear from Fraser Health again at the end of this week as to the status of the plan, I am sure they are all in a state of confusion and scrambling to make it all work. This all so the Minister himself doesn’t look like a fellow who does not know the first thing about health care and to cover up the off the cuff comments he makes. Because someone will always be there to bail him out or to put a spin on it, to make it sound like he knows what it is he is talking about.
The Health Minister’s office and Ministry has caused all of this grief and unrest, mostly due to uneducated people making important decisions on other people’s lives.
We were successful in finding a house that looks like it will suit our needs in providing a rehab area and the living arrangements I have searched for, for so long. The only hold back is the ICBC lawyer who is determined to not forward any funds owing, so Christopher can receive the basics of what he deserves, a place to live and proper set up to do rehab to make his life easier and just plain liveable. Even though we will have to do that rehab and make our own way through this.
It is amazing that we buy insurance to protect ourselves from these horrific accidents from happening. But when we go to collect or expect the insurance company to pay, they put a fight up like everyone is stealing from them, do they just forget that is what insurance is for and we all pay for it, or are we all too complacent and accept the unacceptable. Maybe the government shouldn’t be in the insurance business if that is the case...
Let us not forget that we let these imbeciles make these rules and we let them pay enormous amounts of money to companies and corporations with the excuse that we have to get proper people to run these corporations for our own good. So not only are we being robbed blind by the government and the crown corporations, we get to pay indecent salaries and bonuses to these people to do it to us.
When the going gets tough the government closes the door and refuses to talk, or they hire high priced lawyers to cover their asses. As well let us not forget the spin doctors hired and paid for with our dollars to change or deflect attention from the stories that show the truth. When was the last time you could buy a Mercedes Benz at a discount price, oh wait we all didn’t get that chance because we did not work at the training center. These people who would deny funds to someone who by no fault of their own has had their lives taken from them and is in dire need of funds to ensure that life can go on. But somehow found it to be acceptable that they buy at a deep discount, cars that were written off wrongfully and paid for by the people of this Province who have no choice but to purchase insurance from this clown corporation. The purchase of Olympic tickets used by the same people who deny the basics to those in need. The question keeps coming to mind “what were they thinking” but a close look reveals just that, they don’t think they just waste.
To continue, rehab is the question and there is no negotiating anything that limits it. This is an absolute necessity for Christopher's ability to move forward and his enjoyment of life.
Mr Michael Ragona from the law firm of Alexander Holburn Beudin and Lang Barristers and Solicitors, who have been hired by ICBC to defend the driver in the court case, he has made a demand for terms in order to allow an advance of the money they already owe Christopher. Terms which we can never meet, or have the ability to do so. While all the while he is telling everyone that he's put the advance out for Christopher and he hasn’t taken it. I wonder if the driver was ever asked if he would be ok with Chris being given an advance with no strings attached if it were to help make his life better, I think not.
The point here is the money from the insurance policy is not enough to cover the costs of caring for Chris for more than a couple of years into the future. I think ICBC knows the policy limit will be paid out in full and is owed to Christopher.
But they seem to be led astray (or maybe this was the plan) by a lawyer who has no compassion or feelings for a human life in limbo Christopher in particular. There is no question about the policy and that it is owed, so I don’t know if by ruining not only Chris’ life and mine, he is shutting down a whole family and breaking emotional bonds that are pushed to the limit.
So we may end up with allot of people on stress leave or disability insurance or maybe forced into welfare coverage. Where does the cost to society end, and why does the ICBC management require and pay for services to someone who will end up costing the Province a ton of money in the end. We pay for insurance, we have no choice, we have no choice of the insurer so when this happens they should be front and center doing whatever is required to make things better being honest and settling up front like every British Columbian expects
This refusing to advance a small portion of what is owed from the policy provides nothing positive for any one unless ICBC collecting interest on unpaid money is more important than people’s lives.
Remember that we put the people in charge of ICBC into office and we can take it away. We can change the way the injured get the help they need. If we can stop the dishonesty and big money payouts to lawyers that ruin lives, then we can make life better for all those who are injured in our province. Maybe we could afford to build our own Brain Injury Rehab Center so we don’t have to ship our loved ones out of province for the help we cannot give them here in their own.
The Province has showed its inability to look after its own people, it has showed the health care system run by bureaucrats is dysfunctional and does not provide what the people need. Maybe they should get out of the insurance business completely and then let some of the medical professionals become a part of running a health system they work in and understand!
Talking to ICBC is really like talking to a wall. Cases like this are not rocket science and should be dealt with in a fair, quick and equitable manner taking into consideration the victim, and family and the damage that has been caused as well as all of the other people that this will affect.
Part 7 section has been another ball game, there does seem to be rules for both sides and they do talk and negotiate on issues, more so they have real down to earth people to talk to.
Based on the dealings I have had with ICBC over the last two years I would definitely say if you're in an accident of any kind and must deal with the insurance company get a lawyer. It will not cost you any more to have a lawyer, but you cannot afford to deal straight with them because they are so out of touch with reality.
The lawyer will collect more than you would on your own, his fees in general will be paid by ICBC by way of a bigger award. Maybe when everyone hires a lawyer, for even for the smallest of claims they will get the drift that being honest and trust worthy pays big savings.
ICBC and their management team could step in and take action to make things right, they choose not to.
I would tell anybody in this province if you have ICBC insurance claim, be prepared to fight them tooth and nail every step of the way I don't care if you got a fender bender or small scratch on your car, make sure that you get advice and protection, hire a lawyer to take action on your behalf, it is unbelievable and a daunting task to argue or fight with them and the government every step of the way it almost seems as if they're working hand-in-hand with the health ministry to cut off any kind of funding that we possibly can attain to carry on with Chris's rehab.
ICBC’s lawyer has made some ridiculous comments regarding Christopher and his therapy, the very therapy they are stopping from moving ahead. Here is a quote from him:
“That a Committee be appointed on behalf of Dr. Christopher Bigelow. Such a suggestion is not in any way to be understood as a criticism of the Guardian ad litem, Kevin Bigelow, but our client requires an assurance that the advance will be spent on medical assistance which will be of some benefit to Dr. Bigelow. Again, not meaning to be critical of Kevin Bigelow, from the materials we have at hand, it would appear that the medical assistance so far rendered to Dr. Bigelow has been a little or no assistance in his rehabilitation.” These are the same people who for over two years have refused to give an advance of the money owed to Christopher so we may take advantage of every rehab opportunity.
This is exactly what I talk about with the spin on things, here we have an Insurance company’s lawyer refusing to pay or provide help for over two years. Yet their lawyer can stand up and tell us “from the materials we have at hand, it would appear that the medical assistance so far rendered to Dr. Bigelow has been a little or no assistance in his rehabilitation.” Forgetting that they control the funds and availability of what therapy we can access. That is like telling a homeless person to quit sleeping outside or wondering why a person with no money isn’t eating at the finest restaurants. Like I said earlier so out of touch with reality it isn’t even funny, just scary!
Good bye till tomorrow,
Kevin
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Thursday February 11, 2010
Hey all,
Good day today no tension, no interference just workouts and relaxing pool sessions.
Chris had a good day and a very active physio time. He seems stronger and stonger week by week, let’s hope all the government bungling and haphazard ways of dealing with all this, doesn't cut into or affect his therapy any more than it already has.
We probably won't know anything more about how this is unfolding until next week as long as they keep their word. Lots more to tell on this but I will wait and give them a chance to do what they are saying they will do. All too often it is just lip service and more wasted time. Let’s wait, hope and see.
Ponoka news will do an update next week as well as local papers hopefully we will have good news to print rather than more pleading.
I will weigh in on the ICBC saga in the next update, still trying to digest the latest unbelievable, in fact ridiculous comments coming from the ICBC lawyer. He basically has set a condition that is unattainable and he knows that this will block Chris' chance at any access to funds to help with rehab and house alterations.
If I wasn't so overwhelmed with an abundance of crap to look after every day, I could write about the wrongs all day. I truly hope by the time we are finished there will be an open pathway for others to use and not have to fight every step of the way.
Goodnight,
Kevin
Good day today no tension, no interference just workouts and relaxing pool sessions.
Chris had a good day and a very active physio time. He seems stronger and stonger week by week, let’s hope all the government bungling and haphazard ways of dealing with all this, doesn't cut into or affect his therapy any more than it already has.
We probably won't know anything more about how this is unfolding until next week as long as they keep their word. Lots more to tell on this but I will wait and give them a chance to do what they are saying they will do. All too often it is just lip service and more wasted time. Let’s wait, hope and see.
Ponoka news will do an update next week as well as local papers hopefully we will have good news to print rather than more pleading.
I will weigh in on the ICBC saga in the next update, still trying to digest the latest unbelievable, in fact ridiculous comments coming from the ICBC lawyer. He basically has set a condition that is unattainable and he knows that this will block Chris' chance at any access to funds to help with rehab and house alterations.
If I wasn't so overwhelmed with an abundance of crap to look after every day, I could write about the wrongs all day. I truly hope by the time we are finished there will be an open pathway for others to use and not have to fight every step of the way.
Goodnight,
Kevin
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
February 10, 2010 second part
On a separate topic, the help and aid that we have been waiting for two years, from ICBC is now even further away. The lawyer for ICBC has put conditions on that are beyond our control, they will never be able to be met. This makes quite a statement, that ICBC is not prepared to help with rehab or help Chris to move forward, even though he was a passenger in a car insured by this insurance monopoly.
I still believe that ICBC has been working behind the scenes with health ministry and possibly the other defendants lawyers. The amazing thing through all of this is the inability of ICBC and the ministry of health to actually sit down and talk about what is needed and how we can work around all of these things to keep Chris moving forward.
They just don't care.
Once I get the papers together I will post the quotes from this lawyer and you will see what we're dealing with.
Kevin
I still believe that ICBC has been working behind the scenes with health ministry and possibly the other defendants lawyers. The amazing thing through all of this is the inability of ICBC and the ministry of health to actually sit down and talk about what is needed and how we can work around all of these things to keep Chris moving forward.
They just don't care.
Once I get the papers together I will post the quotes from this lawyer and you will see what we're dealing with.
Kevin
February 10, 2010
Hello again,
Just a quick update on the teleconference between Fraser health and the facility in Ponoka.
Not a whole lot decided, I think they got all of their questions answered and are waiting for word on a temporary extension, so they can finish getting all of the parts together that they're going to need to accomplish the goal of building Christopher a rehab regimen similar to that in Ponoka.
I will have to wait and see if it really is possible. From the conversations it's easy to understand it is very few people in BC who can treat brain injury effectively or properly. They just don't seem to be able to comprehend how BIG the little things are and what a change they can make up. The funny thing is, is that they do not really realize exactly what is being done in Ponoka, they are trying to reproduce something they don't really understand.
During the meeting they did agree that there is no facility in BC that can provide Chris with the care that he needs and hence the trial and error process of piecing it together. February 15 was the discharge date pretty carelessly given out by the ministry of health, I guess they didn't quite realize all the work that goes in to brain injury therapy, well they're learning now.
Upon inquiry the ministry of health has stated that Fraser health has the authority to extend Chris's stay while this gets sorted out, Fraser health says they don't have the authority, and they need another letter asking the ministry to extend his stay.
They now say they will need a letter from another doctor in BC asking for an extension, they propose to ask a new Dr. for this letter even though this Dr. has never met Christopher or have any idea of his treatment. I have asked them to resubmit the letter from Dr. Diggles again which was a very direct and concise letter.
Did I mention the left-hand right-hand confusion previously?
This is such a tedious and drawn out process, with no thinking, no planning and no looking to the future. It really is scary to think that our provincial health authorities are left to look after us(to the best of their abilities).
I did have a look at a facility that they're proposing to take Chris to, the staff and the lady in charge that I met with seemed to know what they are doing and run a safe and productive facility for Chris to stay at temporarily, while we tried to figure out all of the stumbling blocks with the house.
As long as I can pick out and hire the therapists, and the funding comes through for all the missing pieces this all should come together and work.
It's going to be a waiting process again hopefully the decisions will be made sometime late next week. I will keep you informed as things progress. I really do not see how this can all be put together in less than 4 to 6 weeks, we will see.
Bye for now,
Kevin
Just a quick update on the teleconference between Fraser health and the facility in Ponoka.
Not a whole lot decided, I think they got all of their questions answered and are waiting for word on a temporary extension, so they can finish getting all of the parts together that they're going to need to accomplish the goal of building Christopher a rehab regimen similar to that in Ponoka.
I will have to wait and see if it really is possible. From the conversations it's easy to understand it is very few people in BC who can treat brain injury effectively or properly. They just don't seem to be able to comprehend how BIG the little things are and what a change they can make up. The funny thing is, is that they do not really realize exactly what is being done in Ponoka, they are trying to reproduce something they don't really understand.
During the meeting they did agree that there is no facility in BC that can provide Chris with the care that he needs and hence the trial and error process of piecing it together. February 15 was the discharge date pretty carelessly given out by the ministry of health, I guess they didn't quite realize all the work that goes in to brain injury therapy, well they're learning now.
Upon inquiry the ministry of health has stated that Fraser health has the authority to extend Chris's stay while this gets sorted out, Fraser health says they don't have the authority, and they need another letter asking the ministry to extend his stay.
They now say they will need a letter from another doctor in BC asking for an extension, they propose to ask a new Dr. for this letter even though this Dr. has never met Christopher or have any idea of his treatment. I have asked them to resubmit the letter from Dr. Diggles again which was a very direct and concise letter.
Did I mention the left-hand right-hand confusion previously?
This is such a tedious and drawn out process, with no thinking, no planning and no looking to the future. It really is scary to think that our provincial health authorities are left to look after us(to the best of their abilities).
I did have a look at a facility that they're proposing to take Chris to, the staff and the lady in charge that I met with seemed to know what they are doing and run a safe and productive facility for Chris to stay at temporarily, while we tried to figure out all of the stumbling blocks with the house.
As long as I can pick out and hire the therapists, and the funding comes through for all the missing pieces this all should come together and work.
It's going to be a waiting process again hopefully the decisions will be made sometime late next week. I will keep you informed as things progress. I really do not see how this can all be put together in less than 4 to 6 weeks, we will see.
Bye for now,
Kevin
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Thursday, February 4, 2010 Afternoon Report
Good afternoon,
All this talk and worry has lessened the amount of information regarding Christopher and his therapy. I would like to say that every day is still exceptional here. When frustration sets in we can go to the pool and relax, when activity is high we can get on the tilt table and do the unbelievable, when we are tired we kick back in the chair and watch the sports. The changes that I see working every day with Chris are remarkable, the abilities that he tries so hard to show, I know with his effort he will get stronger and stronger with every day's work. This has been an exceptional week for physio, Chris is showing lots more strength in neck and back control.
I am looking forward to getting Chris home, to getting our house set up sooner than later, hopefully getting past the stalling tactics of the lawyer from ICBC. And finally getting the gym and the equipment in place so that therapy can happen when it needs to happen and not restricted by time constraints. I know with the improvements that Chris has come to know, that they will grow and will continue to get stronger when around family and all the friends that I know he misses dearly.
I only hope that after cancelling all of our progress and program here, that the offerings of Mr Falcon's ministry to put together a rehab plan that matches this one in Ponoka materialize and come through. This is the one time in my life where I have to say, "I'll believe it when I see it" just because of the empty promises. My beliefs have always been "you will see it when you believe it", this holds true more than ever when it comes to Chris and what he can do and what we will be able to do .
It will be a very exciting time to be able to be around friends and family once again and provide a productive and positive environment to grow in.
We are going to leave you today with a link to the Edmonton Journal to some research being done I believe in Belgium and England with an functional MRI scanner that picks up brain waves that enables people to communicate through their thoughts showing that just because you lose your motor skills does not mean you should be forgotten and left in a corner.
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/health/Brain+dead+patient+speaks+through+scanner/2520711/story.html
In this world all things are possible have faith in never say never. There is one anecdotal note, if you are going to have a belief system like this, you have to walk the walk not just talk the talk and I believe there's a lot of families out there prepared to take that journey if given the chance.
Goodbye until tomorrow,
Kevin and Christopher
All this talk and worry has lessened the amount of information regarding Christopher and his therapy. I would like to say that every day is still exceptional here. When frustration sets in we can go to the pool and relax, when activity is high we can get on the tilt table and do the unbelievable, when we are tired we kick back in the chair and watch the sports. The changes that I see working every day with Chris are remarkable, the abilities that he tries so hard to show, I know with his effort he will get stronger and stronger with every day's work. This has been an exceptional week for physio, Chris is showing lots more strength in neck and back control.
I am looking forward to getting Chris home, to getting our house set up sooner than later, hopefully getting past the stalling tactics of the lawyer from ICBC. And finally getting the gym and the equipment in place so that therapy can happen when it needs to happen and not restricted by time constraints. I know with the improvements that Chris has come to know, that they will grow and will continue to get stronger when around family and all the friends that I know he misses dearly.
I only hope that after cancelling all of our progress and program here, that the offerings of Mr Falcon's ministry to put together a rehab plan that matches this one in Ponoka materialize and come through. This is the one time in my life where I have to say, "I'll believe it when I see it" just because of the empty promises. My beliefs have always been "you will see it when you believe it", this holds true more than ever when it comes to Chris and what he can do and what we will be able to do .
It will be a very exciting time to be able to be around friends and family once again and provide a productive and positive environment to grow in.
We are going to leave you today with a link to the Edmonton Journal to some research being done I believe in Belgium and England with an functional MRI scanner that picks up brain waves that enables people to communicate through their thoughts showing that just because you lose your motor skills does not mean you should be forgotten and left in a corner.
http://www.edmontonjournal.com/health/Brain+dead+patient+speaks+through+scanner/2520711/story.html
In this world all things are possible have faith in never say never. There is one anecdotal note, if you are going to have a belief system like this, you have to walk the walk not just talk the talk and I believe there's a lot of families out there prepared to take that journey if given the chance.
Goodbye until tomorrow,
Kevin and Christopher
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)