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Walking In Miracles

17 Nov

I have wanted to write a post with the above title previous to our trek up north because we truly have the privilege of walking in miracles while also walking in adversity.  You might ask, “so when you say, ‘miracles’, what does that mean?”  Well it is my pleasure to explain myself…(not so surprising, I know! :))

Miracles abound in our life.  When I say ‘miracle’ I reference occurrences that are difficult to explain by way of the natural and the physical; or at least our knowledge of the two.  For example, Piper, the dog, came to our life to be a companion to Cole.  We, of course, can put our finger on the inter-human connections that led to Pipers arrival (even though the hand of G-d was most definitely upon that labyrinth).  But just for argument sake, let us say that Piper’s route to our home is completely explainable in the physical world, but her actions…that is another story.

Piper is deathly afraid of EVERY male that comes into her presence, including Brian.  Brian feeds her.  Brian walks her.  Brian gives her treats.  She, however, will not warm up to him whatsoever.  She will only take the treats from his hand when I am near him, assuring her of her safety.  Yet Piper is 100% attached to Cole.  She sits at his feet.  Walks beside him.  Knows where he is and checks on him when he is in the house.  When Cole is gone to therapy, she pulls his clothes out of his hamper and keeps them on her bed.  She plays with him, wakes him in the morning, and protects him when other males come to visit.  She is his!  Piper’s breeder, Susan, is confounded regarding her shunning of men.  Susan assured us Piper’s training, as a show dog, ensured she had no problem being with and around different people.  In fact, her handler for the past 5 years was a man, and Piper is 6.  Well I think you now have the idea.  Piper is perplexing, but her love and commitment toward Cole is nothing short of a Miracle.  And even though Brian longs so sincerely for Piper to like him, he is sustained because he is witness to this phenomenal act.

So here we are in northern Cal partaking in this new treatment for Cole, acupuncture.  Scalp acupuncture to be more precise.  In fact, I am writing this update right here in the chair next to Cole.  Cole is lying down, and his face is doing double duty as a pin cushion.  Today is a hard day for him.  On the way here, this morning, he said (in dry Cole fashion), “I’m irritated because this method is having an impact and I wish it didn’t, ’cause it hurts.”  To let you know, the very first day of treatment Cole could feel his face.  Then at dinner that night, the dog (Tucker), sat on Cole’s left foot and he exclaimed, “I can feel my foot!”  In case you didn’t know, Cole’s left foot has been numb post surgery; as has been his face.  He also deals with constant GI issues such as, nausea and overproduction of stomach acid.  That first evening after treatment, no nausea.  No nausea yesterday.  Additionally, yesterday (his second treatment), Cole’s left eye moved laterally.

Now as often happens with me, I am already tired of seeing and hearing the word, “miracle”.  For long before I actually hit the button to publish this post, I have thought the thoughts, read and re-read my words, and discussed the sentiments a few times with family and friends.  So I truly hesitate to call this experience miraculous, but only because the word itself has been over played in my head.  And perhaps because G-d has been so faithful to allow our family to walk in miracle after miracle, that to me the phenomenal has become the common place.  And to that I say, with loud enthusiasm and deep sincerity, “THANK YOU”!!!

I am attaching photos.  Don’t look if you don’t have the stomach for it.  Also, please know Dr. Zhu and Dr. Moyee are 100% committed to the healing of the individuals who cross their path.  They have a comprehensive approach to acupuncture, their facility looks just like the physical therapy facilities Cole has worked in over the past several months.  And while we are paying for only an hour of service each day, they are working with Cole about 4-6 hours, free of charge!   They know we are here for only a week, and they are investing much effort to give Cole every advantage of their expertise.  They have a foundation where donations can be made for a tax deduction.  Should you choose to contribute, please notate, ‘Cole Bent’,  so they know the source of the referral.  Please check out their website.

Foundation

I just finished helping Cole with eye exercises…both eyes are moving!  And right now, he is working on balance–between balance bars–walking forward and backward with needles in the front and back of his head.  He is struggling with being angry today.  Yet even in his anger, he is working…and so is his body!!!

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Heading North

9 Nov

A big “THANK YOU” to those of you who helped set me on the path toward finding an acupuncture doctor, and “thank you” to Karen (Flaca), for putting us in touch with Dr. Jing Li.  Cole and I both met with Dr. Li yesterday at her Irvine clinic, and she is an Anthem Blue Cross provider–YAY!  It was an extensive 3 hour visit!  Our scheduled appointment was for 10:30a.m. and we left the office at 1:00p.m.  Thankfully, I packed a lunch ‘just in case’, and as we were devouring our goods in the car Cole stated, “we sure have been eating a lot of lunches in parking lots since seeing so many doctors.”  It is true, and in many different cities!  Which brings me to my title…

Dr. Li thoroughly evaluated Cole.  She listened, asked questions, took notes, and nodded her head.  She excused herself for a moment, returned and sat down on her stool then took a deep breath.  She spoke with confidence and purpose, choosing her words carefully and methodically.  She addressed Cole directly as well as engaged me into the dialogue when appropriate (I love it when a doctor recognizes Cole’s intellectuality by addressing him directly–that wins points with me right away!).  She spoke to us with an authoritative knowledge and experience, yet she eagerly drew upon our resources of Cole’s condition as well.  We both immediately respected this woman and felt confident with her recommendations.  The following is our first step, at her suggestion, as paraphrased by me:  “I first have to tell you that acupuncture, in a case such as yours, is most effective within the first six months.  That being said, it is in your best interest to get started as soon as possible.  However, since you are so young, I believe you should have access to the best in the industry for your condition.  There is a world renowned doctor who has devoted his life toward studying and treating people with neurological conditions.  I know many cases who have flown him in for treatment.  I am not saying you should go to him, I could treat you here myself…I have learned from him.  However, I want to not withhold any opportunity from you, because you are so young and if it were me or my child, I would want to be seen by him.  Honestly, I can probably do a better job treating your other conditions (Cole’s GI issues for example) because Dr. Zhu is so specialized.  But for the neurological conditions, he is the best.”

Dr. Li went on to tell us that Dr. Zhu has one clinic in California, in northern California.  San Jose to be exact.  Cole told her he was interested so she got on the phone and called Dr. Zhu on the spot.  She first had to check if he was presently in the country and then second wanted to discuss Cole’s case with him.  Turns out he is in the country until the end of next week, thus I will be driving Cole up north to the bay area on Monday the 14th (I would leave sooner but it is Esther’s 16th birthday on Saturday and my sister Leah and brother Aaron will both be in town for the occasion).  Unfortunately, Dr. Zhu does not bill insurance so this will be an out-of-pocket expense, though his rates are more in line with what I consider reasonable and acceptable (unlike that of Dr. Connealy’s $425- fee for the consultation).  All in all–with our travel expenses and 5 already set appointments, I am expecting the costs to fall under one thousand; in fact more in the range of $800…not too bad, all things considered.  Wait, wasn’t “all things considered” a radio program on NPR? 🙂

Anyway, we are heading North.  Not to Alaska, but to San Jose…do you know the way?

 

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Have Flu, Will Travel

1 Nov

Well it didn’t happen as my title suggests.  I traveled, then returned home and awoke the next day with the flu.  That was yesterday.

Once a year my girlfriend and I take a weekend respite on the island of Santa Catalina.  Our weekend is typically planned one year in advance of our departure, so when the time comes rolling into view, our internal engines get revving for take off.  Or in this case, being it’s an island we are traveling to, our engines get ready to set sail.  Of course there have been a few years when circumstances on the home-front threaten to call off the voyage.  Such as when Brian’s mom was in the hospital in 2007, and such as this year when our family is still undergoing the recuperation of Cole Bent.  But alas, I needed this break so very much that I practically ran to the boat, luggage in hand, with the threatening promise to keep my phone off for the next three days (as well as the derogatory commentary which accidentally slipped through my lips that went something like this; “They’ll be lucky if I ever return!”).  And come Sunday, the last day of our Isla del Sol, I was seriously, though not wholeheartedly, considering taking myself up on the threat in parentheses.  Which is probably why I was punished the following morning with “Moctezuma’s Revenge” and had to spend most of the day connected to the latrine and when not in the bathroom, in the prone position.  Cole took over the candy duty for our neighborhood trick-or-treators last night as Brian had a gig, and Esther had other plans.  I remained on the couch, where I’m sure all the parents’ of excited children, were grateful to have me.

Today am feeling better, though a bit sluggish.

A strange occurrence happened to me while on the island this past weekend…I was plagued by hay-fever type allergies.  So much so that I actually bought allergy medicine for an exorbitant fee from the local store.  But the medicine did help stop the incessant sneezing.  It was strange for me to be in the shoes of an allergy sufferer because I have not been one in the past.  That was always my brother, Greg’s, familial position.  I was always the vocal bystander, the one who would point out to my brother how irritating his continuous sneezing was for all of us in his presence.  Anyway, I’m thinking my body chemistry is changing–which is something that has been “winking” at me for some time now.  An irritating reality!

Now the past two weeks or so, Cole has been asking me to find him an acupuncture doctor because he is interested in looking into the effects of acupuncture for his cranial nerve damage, more specifically, his face.  So while on Catalina, and because of my own personal health revelation, I mentioned the scenario to my friend.  She spoke of a doctor who came highly recommended in the arena of natural medicine, though she didn’t know much detail about her practice.  So today I followed up with the lead and learned this doctor is an MD who embraced holistic medicine because its benefits, she found, are more helpful to the patient on the long term.  Yet she still supports the influence of Western Medicine for acute scenarios, such as that of a brain tumor.  Anyway, her name is Dr. Connealy and her practice is in Irvine.  Turns out she has a broad range medical facility, with many medical partners and disciplines, including but not limited to, acupuncture.  I called and learned they do take many insurance plans, but not that of ours.  Dr. Connealy is not an Anthem Blue Cross provider which means we would have to cover the fee at time of consultation and then submit it to our insurance for “hopeful” reimbursement.  The fee?  A mere $425.00 per person.  Yes, I had hoped to go as well for my new found allergy issues as well as imbalanced hormone issues, but at $425- a pop, it’s not going to happen!

Here is where you come in…

Do any of you have a lead for Cole’s request specifically and firstly, as well as mine secondly.  I am hoping to find a naturalist doctor who is also an MD, who is in the Anthem Blue Cross network of providers.  I hope and pray you or someone you know will point us in the right direction; a direction we can afford preferably.  I look forward to your feedback.

Now back to my happy place I go, “Twenty six miles across the sea, Santa Catalina is a waiting for me…”

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