Wow.

This morning I packed Dakin up and took him to vent clinic, entirely certain I would be spending tonight in the hospital with him. That snot has not cleared up, and I was thinking pneumonia, etc., etc.

We got there at 10, signed in (we were first again! Ha!), and went to lunch at a Mediterranean restaurant, where Dakin enjoyed some thyme pie and told me the salt shakers were buoys.

Then back to clinic for our appointment at noon. The RTs came in and ran all sorts of tests: nose swabs, RSV tests, blood gases, etc. Our amazing nurse prac and awesome pulmonologist popped in and said they thought it might be pneumonia (oh goody). A few minutes later, and they were back. Contrary to the pneumonia declaration, they said he just has some atalectasis (lung collapse) in his upper right lobe. They sent us home (YAY!) with some Tobramycin, some Pulmozyme and directions to continue aggressive CPT on that lobe. No problem there: I am the CPT queen.

So thank goodness. I even had the hospital bag packed and ready in the car. They also said his weight gain was good, which was a surprise.

In a spirit of celebration, we went to Whole Foods. We're big partyers.

Now, to the wow. When I got home there was a letter in my mailbox from Dakin's insurance company. (Background: earlier this year we had asked, and had been rejected for, Synagis shots to protect Dakin against RSV--a very very bad virus. We appealed the decision and were waiting to hear a response). ANYWAY. So the letter said that they had forwarded our request for Synagis shots to their medical specialist. The specialist evidently told them that with Dakin's disorder, yes, he needs Synagis, and not just for this RSV season, but for every RSV season for the rest. of. his. life.

Wow.

I am absolutely flabbergasted. I can not believe that this has happened for us: I never have to worry about those shots ever again.

We have been very lucky with Dakin's insurance company: they have always treated us with integrity, but this is absolutely above and beyond. I am shocked and grateful.

And I really hope that wherever their specialist is tonight, that she is having an amazing week.