Laurie Todd

The Insurance Intelligencer
11/28/09

Alexander's Belly

In September, I won the case to get little Nicholas to Dr. Fearon in Dallas, who fixed his head. In October, Dr. Fearon sent me the case of Alexander, who had an entirely different condition -- prune belly syndrome.

A child with prune belly syndrome is born with no abdominal wall muscles -- which leads to all manner of suffering as the child grows. The surgery for this is a "dynamic abdominoplasty with muscle transposition."

In other words, the surgeon corrects the cosmetic defects, and also restores function, by transplanting muscles from the thighs to the abdomen.

The only surgeon in the United States who performs this surgery is Dr. Fearon.
With the able help of Alex's mom Tamra, we pulled off a thrilling victory in four days. On November 21, I was invited to speak at the celebratory dinner for Alexander. I met Alexander's great-grandmother, various aunties and siblings and cousins, and friends. And, of course, his mom, who had persevered from the day Alex was born to make the best life for him.

I also met Alexander, who is a very special boy.

******

When it came my time to speak, I introduced myself, and explained how I came to be the Insurance Warrior. Then, I told the story of how the appeal came to be. Here are the words, directly from my speech:

In September -- not so long ago -- Heather in Michigan bought my book.
Her little boy had a malformation of the skull.
They needed to get to Dr. Fearon for the surgery,
But their insurer had been denying it for months.

Heather read my book, and told everyone,
"I want Laurie Todd to help me with my appeal."
Her friends and family said, "She is a famous author. She will never help you."

What they didn't count on was that this was a mother ...
Fighting for her child.

Heather got online, and found my email address.
Within an hour, we were talking on the phone.

It took me six days to win her appeal.
Her son Nicholas had his surgery in October ...
His head is perfect, by the way.

Nicholas with his hero, Dr. Fearon

I contacted Dr. Fearon,
who was impressed with what I had accomplished.

When Dr. Fearon's office got tired of Tamra's insurance denial,
they finally gave her my phone number.

The best thing about winning Alexander's case ...
is that it should have been impossible.

This surgery had only been performed seven times.
There was only one scientific paper ever published about it.

As I was preparing Alexander's appeal,
I found that one paper.
In was a case study of one boy,
Who had had this surgery in 1982.

The boy's name is Frank Walker.
He is now in his thirties.
I found the paper on his website.

Frank helps other people with prune belly syndrome.
I contacted him.
He was thrilled that I was helping Alexander,
and that his article had featured so prominently in the appeal.

Folks, it gets better.

I was in New York last week,
Speaking at a medical conference ...

A few days before I left, I was browsing around on Facebook.
I saw Frank Walker's page,
and noticed that he lives in New York.

I met Frank Walker last Saturday.
He came to the medical conference, and heard me speak.

Tamra and Alexander ... Frank sends his love.
He moves beautifully, and is in fine health, by the way.

Frank Walker and I, meeting at the conference


When the next boy comes along with prune belly syndrome,
and their insurer denies treatment ...
Let us pray that they find Tamra, or Heather in Michigan, or Frank.

Or that they happen to buy my book.

I am given the most amazing stories.
Am I the fortunate one, or what?

******

If this story puts you in a holiday mood ...
do share it with with others.


Happy and peaceful Insurance Warrior-ing,


Laurie Todd

http://www.theinsurancewarrior.com