Dr. Ponseti's Response about Livi

[Guest guest]

In case anyone is interested....

May 6, 2005

The pictures show Olivia's feet are short and chubby but they are

probably not atypical. She does have limitation of dorsiflexion on the

left and that is probably why she does not stay in the shoes. These

feet should be braced with the brace. Dr. Mosca is

acquainted with this brace and he can make arrangements to obtain one

for Olivia. In my opinion she should wear the brace at least 16 hours

a day and wait before anything more is done to her feet. They tend to

improve in time. However, if Dr. Mosca uses physical therapy to

increase dorsiflexion, it might help.

I.V. Ponseti, M.D.

[Guest guest]

Darby,

I am about close to getting Shriners here in Portland to get me a P/M brace

for Darbi. In fact, I'm pretty sure they're going to do it. It's all set

up, I just need to figure out if they are sending the impression kits or if

I am. I've talked to the orthotists, the care coordinator and Dr.

Sussman. I am sure it'll go through. Here's my thought, if you can't get

insurance to cover the brace you may want to have Dr. Mosca refer you to

Shriners here and come on down to see Dr. Sussman and ask for this brace

too. I know it's a long drive, and right now I'm the only one who is

pushing it here but I know when they see it that they'll love it. They

have to. And maybe you can get Shriners to provide the brace for you. I

know you're frustrated, I would be too. But if Dr. Mosca contacts Dr.

Sussman and explains the situation, perhaps they'll help you out? They do

just *accept* clubfoot patients here, it took a whole 5 min on the phone to

get Darbi in to be seen. I know it'll seem weird but maybe if you don't

tell them it was me who suggested it, and if Dr. Mosca calls Dr. Sussman

personally asking if Livi can be seen here and get the brace through them

it'll further push that this brace is needed for many patients and they

really need to look into using it more. You are in need, and Shriners here

has patients all over the NW, including Alaska. In fact, the orthotists

are up there in Anchorage right now doing a clinic. So you're not out of

the coverage area and they should accept you just fine. LMK if you want

the contact info, but I think Dr. Mosca would make the best case for Livi

and the P/M brace if he called himself. Keep me out of

it! lol! (kidding, I don't care a bit if you mention me, I'm their thorn

in the rear and I like it that way!)

Can't wait to hear about ! Keep your chin up, it'll all work out in

the end.

Big hugs!

Kori

At 09:42 AM 5/6/2005, you wrote:

>In case anyone is interested....

>

>May 6, 2005

>

>The pictures show Olivia's feet are short and chubby but they are

>probably not atypical. She does have limitation of dorsiflexion on the

>left and that is probably why she does not stay in the shoes. These

>feet should be braced with the brace. Dr. Mosca is

>acquainted with this brace and he can make arrangements to obtain one

>for Olivia. In my opinion she should wear the brace at least 16 hours

>a day and wait before anything more is done to her feet. They tend to

>improve in time. However, if Dr. Mosca uses physical therapy to

>increase dorsiflexion, it might help.

>

>I.V. Ponseti, M.D.

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Darby.

That is good news. I would also print Dr. P's reply and turn it in to

insurance. How can they turn it down when Dr. Ponseti himself recommended

them?

Shook

Retail Operations Manager/Baking Instructor

Vie de France Yamazaki, Inc.

2070 Chain Bridge Rd. Suite 500

Vienna, VA 22182

x374

x374

fax

[Guest guest]

Thanks Kori!

I have so many ideas right now about getting these shoes paid for -

one way or another, you are right, it will all work out.

I spoke to the nurse at Children's this am and passed on some ideas

people here gave about getting insurance to pay for these... I know

one of the parents here mentioned submitting them using the AFO code,

which the nurse thought was a great idea, and I also suggested having

their orthotics dept order them for me so it would be a preferred

orthotics provider w/ aetna. We get full financial aid from

Children's hospital, so if I can get these through them, my insurance

will pay their share and the financial aid will take up the rest. I

won't need to pay anything. I'm VERY encouraged and super excited -

this may just work out perfectly after all - we'll see. I'm about to

call the orthotics people and convince them to do this...

If that doesn't work I may take your suggestion and go to Shriners -

and then maybe I can help out your case and all the other patients

there as well. Get everyone on the bandwagon. But I would like to

avoid the Portland drive if possible... with a new baby that would be

a test of patience to say the least!

I think I'm becoming the thorn in the side of Dr. Schmale, too. I

don't really care. I am blessed with having Olivia - she has taught

me so much about asserting myself and being persistant!

Darby

> >In case anyone is interested....

> >

> >May 6, 2005

> >

> >The pictures show Olivia's feet are short and chubby but they are

> >probably not atypical. She does have limitation of dorsiflexion

on the

> >left and that is probably why she does not stay in the shoes.

These

> >feet should be braced with the brace. Dr. Mosca is

> >acquainted with this brace and he can make arrangements to obtain

one

> >for Olivia. In my opinion she should wear the brace at least 16

hours

> >a day and wait before anything more is done to her feet. They

tend to

> >improve in time. However, if Dr. Mosca uses physical therapy to

> >increase dorsiflexion, it might help.

> >

> >I.V. Ponseti, M.D.

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

told me that he actually did something to the shoes that qualifies

them as AFO's. I wonder if it's not the insole? So there's some kind of

change from the first models, or something special about them making them

qualify as AFO's now. I may be wrong, but that's what I got from what he

said to me.

At 12:10 PM 5/6/2005, you wrote:

>Thanks Kori!

>

>I have so many ideas right now about getting these shoes paid for -

>one way or another, you are right, it will all work out.

>

>I spoke to the nurse at Children's this am and passed on some ideas

>people here gave about getting insurance to pay for these... I know

>one of the parents here mentioned submitting them using the AFO code,

>which the nurse thought was a great idea, and I also suggested having

>their orthotics dept order them for me so it would be a preferred

>orthotics provider w/ aetna. We get full financial aid from

>Children's hospital, so if I can get these through them, my insurance

>will pay their share and the financial aid will take up the rest. I

>won't need to pay anything. I'm VERY encouraged and super excited -

>this may just work out perfectly after all - we'll see. I'm about to

>call the orthotics people and convince them to do this...

>

>If that doesn't work I may take your suggestion and go to Shriners -

>and then maybe I can help out your case and all the other patients

>there as well. Get everyone on the bandwagon. But I would like to

>avoid the Portland drive if possible... with a new baby that would be

>a test of patience to say the least!

>

>I think I'm becoming the thorn in the side of Dr. Schmale, too. I

>don't really care. I am blessed with having Olivia - she has taught

>me so much about asserting myself and being persistant!

>

>Darby

>

>

>

> > >In case anyone is interested....

> > >

> > >May 6, 2005

> > >

> > >The pictures show Olivia's feet are short and chubby but they are

> > >probably not atypical. She does have limitation of dorsiflexion

>on the

> > >left and that is probably why she does not stay in the shoes.

>These

> > >feet should be braced with the brace. Dr. Mosca is

> > >acquainted with this brace and he can make arrangements to obtain

>one

> > >for Olivia. In my opinion she should wear the brace at least 16

>hours

> > >a day and wait before anything more is done to her feet. They

>tend to

> > >improve in time. However, if Dr. Mosca uses physical therapy to

> > >increase dorsiflexion, it might help.

> > >

> > >I.V. Ponseti, M.D.

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >