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Jacob Harm - Journal

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Posted 2014-05-26T22:10:37Z

Monday, May 26, 2014

Memorial Day Greetings,

Our Jacob has been moved to the TBI unit at Bethesda as of Wednesday, May 21 where he will be receiving more intense therapy related to PT, OT Speech and TBI. He has tolerated this transitional move well and we are seeing daily gains in his body movements, speech and communication skills. He has been highly interactive with us as parents through gestures and short responses. The doctors noted the importance of the physical presence of "mom and dad" being their to expedite Jacob's whole body and brain healing process, and to reinforce and to reassure Jacob that he is in a safe place that will heal his body.[...]

Posted 2014-05-19T18:15:31Z

Monday May 19, 2104

Monday Morning Greetings,

It has been a week now that we have been at Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul, MN with our son Jacob. The transition from El Paso, TX to Bethesda Hospital in ST Paul, MN was the best possible move for Jacob's medical care and future needs. He is safe, he is protected, and he is treated by such a compassionate, caring and professional nursing and doctoral staff. WE ARE HAPPY![...]

Posted 2014-05-16T17:36:46Z

May 16, 2014

Posted by Naomi Harm

Today is Friday, May 16th. Jake has been at Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul, MN now for 5 days. During these five days he has had extra special attention and treatment by many specialists to care for his needs. All of the doctors and nurses are very kind, caring and extremely communicative. [...]

Posted 2014-05-13T20:12:49Z

Sending Cards and Visiting Jake in St. Paul, MN

Posted by Naomi Harm

Jeff, Naomi and Heather can not thank you enough for all the virtual support and kind words to help us through these past 38 days. Many of you have contacted Naomi and asked if you could now send cards to Jake in St. Paul, MN and the answer is yes- yes you can. Please see the address below.[...]

Posted 2014-05-13T00:45:31Z

May 12, 2014

Posted by Naomi Harm

Today is the day our 19-year-old son Jacob Harm has arrived at Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul, MN. The schedule today had some delays and some airline changes, which we anticipated would happen.  This has been the norm for us for 37 days - no consistency - but we are now better prepared to deal with it. The most important thing is that Jake is here now. He is safe and he is not leaving Minnesota.  He arrived by a private medical transport "LearJet" through “Air Ambulance Specialists” medical team.  This was the flight change this morning instead of using a US Air Force Medevac transport. His flight time from EL Paso, TX was 2 hours and 34 minutes with additional time needed to transport him via ambulance from the private US Air Force section of the Minneapolis International Airport.[...]

Posted 2014-05-11T14:15:38Z

May 11, 2014

~Posted by Naomi Harm~

We have received a confirmation that Jake will be flown to St. Paul, MN on Monday by the US Air Force.  The waiver process is taking too long, so in the meantime the Army decided to supersede the waiver process with Tricare United Healthcare. What this means is the expense for the flight will be covered by the US Army, but provided by the US Air Force. The US Army will now have to fight with TriCare United Healthcare for their reimbursement.[...]

Posted 2014-05-08T16:22:15Z

May 8, 2014

Posted by Naomi Harm

It is a waiting game. We are very thankful that the US Army Colonel Mike Heimall has taken the next steps to persue and apply a waiver- to try to override the denial of transportation by TriCare United Healthcare, which occured on Tuesday of this week. If the waiver is accepted- it will allow for Jake to be airlifted back to Minnesota to Bethesda Hospital in St. Paul, MN for the needed and deserved TBI and wound care from his motorcycle accident. We are waiting.......[...]

Posted 2014-05-07T18:58:29Z

May 7, 2014

~ Posted by Naomi and Jeff Harm ~

Our grand day to get Jacob airlifted to St Paul, MN from Texas fell through yesterday- May 6th. Once again the huge setback was caused by TriCare United HealthCare insurance, miscommunication between UMC and an affiliation of the US Army.  Jacob has been approved for the facility of choice - Bethesda in St. Paul, MN, but TriCare United HealthCare came back and denied the airplane transport late yesterday afternoon. WTF! Minnesota facility approved - but denial of transport to get him to the approved facility. This "for-profit" health insurance company has found a way to create a "loop-hole" in the system to NOT get Jake back to MN. They would prefer to transport him to an LTAC facility in Texas that provides below standard care and let him sit and rot in a defective long term nursing care facility and not nurture his brain, his speech or body. [...]

Posted 2014-05-03T19:07:51Z

May 3, 2014

Posted by Naomi and Jeff Harm

Jake made it through another femur surgery on Friday. A bolt holding his femur together was already coming apart from his previous surgery, as this was identified on an x-ray. To ensure the femur stays intact, they added an additional steel plate in his leg along with the other parts of the bionic build. Once again heavy medication is not allowing to wake up fully.[...]