Post Thanksgiving

I survived Thanksgiving, actually it was one of the best Thanksgivings in years. I guess I have more to be thankful for this year. Actually, I probably only realize that I have more to be thankful for then usual.

Work Comp
I thankful that I didn’t do any teaching while I’ve been off. I got another salary verification from the insurance company/city. Usually I do a fair amount of teaching for the IAFF during the year, but since I’ve been off since May with a shoulder injury I’ve done none. I do miss the time in the classroom, it’s fun and being an instructor doesn’t mean that you don’t learn.

Family
The family has been a little healthier than last year. My youngest is doing better than she was last year. It’s amazing what a visit to the Mayo Clinic can do. The doctors in Kansas City had no idea what was wrong and just wanted to treat her with psych meds. They assumed it was behavioral since they personally didn’t make the diagnosis. One doctor even put in the records that he thought my wife wanted my daughter to be sick. Until you are, or have a family member that is a patient a Mayo you don’t realize how broken our medical system is.

In Kansas City, the doctors worked as individuals. This doctor would see her for this issues and another doctor would see her for that issue. There wasn’t strong coordination between the doctors. I think each of them wanted the glory of making the diagnosis rather than the knowledge that they helped make the sick healthier. There didn’t seem, and I doubt there was a lot of coordination between the doctors. At Mayo there is a lot more team work. The admitting doctor acts like the team leader even though the final diagnosis may not even be in their speciality. After a couple of months of testing they had a good working diagnosis and she has gotten better since. They were not afraid to make the diagnosis even though they couldn’t prescribe a magic pill, something that the docs in KC didn’t want to do.

Horse Therapy
Our medical system is about prescribing pills. If a doctor make a diagnosis then there is probably a pill or magical elixir that goes along with it. In the case of my youngest there is no medication. Her problem requires a lot of therapy and that is something that modern medicine doesn’t want to prescribe. Our insurance company doesn’t even cover this type of therapy and the stuff they do cover they limit to sixty visits. per year total. Horse therapy has contributed more to her well being than all the physical and occupational therapy put together. She needs to straighten her muscles and horse therapy does it together.

General
There are a lot of things that have happened in my life that I’m thankful for. There is even a lot of things that I’m unaware of that I’m also thankful for. God takes good care of my family. I believe this is so because all of our needs are met and I’m unable to do that myself. That is proof enough to me that God is watching over me and my family. My testimonial may not be very compelling since the seas didn’t part or a major catastrophe was preempted at the last second, but God is still there answering prayers and that is what I’m most grateful for.