Yesterday I had a meeting with Max's new case worker for the pediatric medicaid waiver. This is the special Hospice Waiver he's being put on, because by definition he has a life limiting disease. It was a great meeting, and she said it shouldn't take more than a month to get it all finalized, and Max back on medicaid. Yippee!Once she left, I was looking forward to a dull day of doing nothing. But I got a call from Max's physical therapist asking if I could run up to therapy because there was a vendor with bicycles there for special needs kids. We've wondered for a long time what Max would do on a bike, and how great it would be for him to get to use his legs in that way, so I got Max ready and headed up there. The first thing I saw was a very colorful chair. It looked like a kid's recliner, but was much more substantial, with more support for low tone kids like Max. Here is Max in the Chill-Out chair. He really liked sitting in this chair, and I think it is one thing we will order as soon as we get into a house!Then we got him situated in a bike. He liked it, and we'll contact the people who were there offering funding to see about getting one. Insurance and medicaid will not pay for these because they are not medically necessary. But come on...every kid loves a bike! Which is where the organization Variety USA comes in and gives grants to families to help pay for equipment insurance won't.
(The vendor is pushing the bike, like a stroller, and it makes Max's legs move with the pedals.)After riding on the bike for a few minutes I mentioned to his therapist that his legs looked dark, and she said, yes, that's called blood circulation! Ha! Steve was out of town so I took pictures and the video, and had to show him last night before I could post it here!(Max on the bike, notice his hands are being held up to the bar with the gloves)It was a pretty sweet moment when I looked around and ALL of his therapists were out there cheering him on. His Occupational therapist, and Physical, and Speech. All of them came out to see Max on his first bike ride. I'm glad we're back.