Pam Steele's emails about her husband Randy's journey
Randy Steele, 64, of Oak Harbor, suffers from Hepatitis C, which he contracted from a tainted blood transfusion. Last fall, he was referred to Cleveland Clinic for a second-opinion on a double-organ transplant. It took weeks for Mr. Steele to learn whether his insurer would cover his consultation at Cleveland Clinic. During the past few years, Mr. Steele and his wife, Pam, have emailed updates to his family and friends about his journey through the health care system.
Here are some excerpts:
Date: July 27, 2007 8:08:36 AM EDT
Subject: Latest Update
Randy a fighter was told he would never leave the hospital let alone an acute care nursing facility. He with God's help proved the professionals wrong and two weeks ago today he walked out of the hospital with the add of an walker and his wheelchair to enjoy four days at home. Due to the insurance company pressing to release him though doctors and nurses were hesitant
...
Three days later I again brought him to the ER... they sent Randy back home only to return the next day from our Family physician. Randy's kidneys failed and thus now we struggle not only with Liver failure but Kidney failure. He has gotten hemodialysis or dialysis every day this week in hope to remove the toxins from his body...
...
Love and prayers, Pam
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Date: September 22, 2007 7:12:28 PM EDT
Subject: Hello Gang from Pam
Thanks everyone for your prayers and support. Randy and I are doing okay although a little numb. We are glad to be back home and enjoying the sounds of laughter as the children play, study, and just grab hold of life.
I have been quiet and contemplative thankful for this precious time with my husband without nurses or doctors. Friends have come forward to help with homeschooling during dialysis. We have chosen not to call in Hospice at this time turning to our family and friends for support until we find out more for those who have questioned. We are choosing to take time to regroup and become a family without additional strangers being added to the mix.
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Yesterday afternoon the transplant team called us from Case Western Reserve and notified us that although Randy's case was too complicating for them that Cleveland Clinic has agreed to evaluate and consider. This morning at 8:30 the Clinic called and we have an appointment on Wednesday at 8:00 am. We are not getting our hopes up but what we were told was that they were considering a liver/kidney transplant with a new tricuspid valve replacement.
...
Love and prayers, Pam
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Date: September 30, 2007 9:50:11 PM EDT
Subject: Steele Household Update
Hello family and friends,
We still have not been able to go to Cleveland Clinic although they wanted to see us last week we continue to pray that God opens a door. Our transplant team from Case Western Reserve has challenged the medical insurance company and only time will tell. Medical Mutual continues to deny services since Cleveland Clinic is not a provider upon our plan.
...
Love and prayers, Pam
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Date: October 8, 2007 12:35:42 PM EDT
Subject: Fwd: URGENT: Life or death issue for one of your constituants
Hello gang,
The Steele family needs some help from their fellow Ohioans thus I am reaching out to friends and family in hopes that as a whole we can make a difference.
Our insurance company is in the process of being challenged about the visit to Cleveland Clinic. To those who do not know we came quite close to being accepted for a liver/kidney transplant but because of Randy's heart the transplant team wanted Randy to be evaluated by Cleveland Clinic. Cleveland Clinic contacted us and scheduled an emergency appointment and was stopped because the Clinic is not a participant of our Medical Mutual HMO insurance.
Our transplant team at Case Western Reserve has faxed over materials for appeal and thus we are in a waiting period.
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A friend has written up a basic letter to be sent out to our state representatives and I wondered if you all could take a moment from I know busy schedules and just change one or two words around so you do not plagiarize and send off to our local representatives your own letters. The more the better.
Thanks, Pam
[the letter]
An HMO is dragging its feet on a double transplant for one of your constituants in Oak Harbor, Ohio
He is Randy Steele in Oak Harbor, OH, who has been battling health problems for several years. Randy is being considered for a double transplant (liver/kidney). But now, with their hopes finally lifted, the family is suffering a dangerous waiting game because of the bureaucracy of their HMO (Medical Mutual HMO, Health Ohio). This seems to be a case of bureaucrats (not his medical team) making a decision on whether to operate on a man when he has no time for games. This is not only a heart breaking human interest story but one in which some attention from the right people might literally save this man's life and keep his family together.
Obviously, in cases like this one, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!!
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Date: October 14, 2007 12:21:00 PM EDT
Subject: Cleveland Clinic
Hello family and friends from the Steele household,
This week we have had some interesting phone calls, one from the insurance company, one from Cleveland Clinic, one from a state representative, and one from the organ procurer here in Ohio. The week of October 22 - 26 we will be in Cleveland being evaluated for the possible liver/kidney transplant and a possible artificial tricuspid valve. The Clinic will be working to get dialysis set up in Cleveland as well.
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God bless and keep you all, Pam
Please email your questions and comments to Steve Eder at seder@theblade.com.