There are several facets of life that are in transition right now, but the one I long to share with you about is in regards to career.
About 9 years ago we took in a sweet child from the foster care system. She was 4.5 years when she came to live with us. She was a therapeutic foster care placement which meant she had higher needs. She was basically non verbal, not potty trained, very thin- labeled failure to thrive. She had experienced intense abuse her whole life. She was a challenge. But she also changed us. She had this adorable laugh and this huge smile and a love to play. She'd run around the yard with our 2 big dogs laughing and playing. She didn't make friends well- she usually tried to stab them with a fork or bite them with her mouth- but she was working on that. She was in a special needs school which I promptly removed her from and placed her with her peers- inclusion wasn't on my radar- except that it was already planted in my soul. At the end of our year with her David was accepted in medical school at Wayne State in Detroit so we bought a condo in Ann Arbor where she'd be in a good school district and worked on adopting her- but the case worker changed her mind- mostly because it would be too much work to coordinate with another state- it was a huge heartbreak- one that took years to heal from.
During David's first year of medical school there was the genetics panel. He came home telling me about all these adorable kids with Down syndrome and how they were so cute- he just fell in love with them. I was pregnant with Bentley- we didn't know he had Down syndrome... I said, "We should adopt one!" He laughed and said, "Well you can't-- there's a waiting list..."
Enter Bentley. I write about this kid all the time- cause he is changing us all the time. Life is all about change. Kids change you- it's true- but a kid with a developmental disability bring his own life changing paths. He has opened my eyes to the injustices, the segregation, and the struggles families with kids with disabilities face.
David choose to do his residency in the internal medicine and pediatric program at Detroit Medical Center. He wanted to be challenged with complex medical cases- be able to work in or out patient, and be able to treat the whole family. He has had the most amazing experience in residency. The hours are terribly long, but he loves what he does.
In October David signed a contract to work with a local Tucson clinic called El Rio. El Rio is a federally qualified health center- so that basically means this: federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) include all organizations receiving grants under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act (PHS). FQHCs qualify for enhanced reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid, as well as other benefits. FQHCs must serve an underserved area or population, offer a sliding fee scale, provide comprehensive services, have an ongoing quality assurance program, and have a governing board of directors. Certain tribal organizations and FQHC Look-Alikes (an organization that meets PHS Section 330 eligibility requirements, but does not receive grant funding) also may receive special Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement.
He was so excited to work in this environment.
A couple weeks ago he received an email from a woman in Tucson who works for a place called Childrens Clinics at Tucson Medical Center (click to see you link :). The facility is looking for a med/peds doc who can take care of kids with medically complex cases and special needs. They currently have a few part time pediatricians, and are looking to hire a physician trained as an internist, but also with pediatrics to fully care for these kids and their families. The challenge with kids as they age out of pediatrics is that their medical care has proven to go down and things that were once controlled are not now. Also physicians who deal with adults don't always do well serving the people with disabilities population because they're not used to dealing with parents and caregivers in addition to patients. I probably will write more on this and use research to explain more thoroughly, but you get the idea.
So David went through a few interviews and visited the facility and received a contract to sign. :) But he had one major obstacle- he had already signed with El Rio- who works closely with Childrens Clinics.... well he called yesterday and with grace and a blessing they released him from his contract and hope to collaborate in the future.
So now David is going to be working less than 2 miles from the house we just bought. He's going to be caring for people with disabilities. He's walking the journey that makes total sense for our family.
A physician who cares for families caring for children with disabilities while simultaneously raising a son with a disability makes total sense. It's exactly what our family needs to be doing and it's exactly what he needs to be doing.
God is opening up doors that I didn't even know existed. I never imagined being part of the community of special needs. Ever. But I am fully embracing this path and I am so excited to see the journey unfold.
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