Shaes Chronicles

There has been talk at various times over the last few years on whether or not to leave Arizona…and that conversation has resurfaced. I can say that after leaving Chicago and  living in this state for almost nine years I really do love it here. Don’t care for the 110+ summer days too much, but mainly I can’t really complain. My biggest peeve about this place is my reason for wanting to leave…the lack of care that De`Vion has been able to recieve here. Had it not been for Dr. Notrica and his support since the very first day of De`Vion’s life, I don’t know where we would be. He has been the ONLY doctor who has ever shown that he gives a damn about De`Vion’s quality of life overall. He knows more about De`Vion than anyone and really, when it comes to recommendations or advice…he’s the only one that I am willing to listen to. Seriously, if another doctor were to suggest something, I’m likely to tell Dr. Notrica and get his opinion on it first. I am sure he knows how serious I am when it comes to wanting to make sure that my son is taken care of appropriately and I am not going to just sit back and accept just anything without investigating it or researching it first. The problem now regarding our family and Dr. Notrica is that he has basically done as much as HE can do for De`Vion. His assistance came early with surgeries and saving my baby’s life from the beginning…there is really nothing at this point that he is able to provide my son medically. He has been a support for us while we fight to get everything else done for atleast the past four years. When De`Vion gets an infection or if we need advice for something he has always been there, and my family loves him for that…more than he will ever know. But why should we stay in a place where he is no longer able to get medical care the way he needs?

One huge, dominating thing that causes me to not want to leave Arizona is the fact that I do not want to make him or his brothers start all over in a new enviornment. Everything that they know is here. They have family here…some blood but most through friendships that we have acquired throughout the years. De`Vion is in a school where he is comfortable and I really do not want to take that from him. He has friends that he is growing up with and the faculty knows him very well…I don’t feel like I have to worry about him being accepted and liked there. How do I know it will be the same somewhere else?

His father and I decided at the moment to try and live here and travel out of state for help, but man is that expensive! When we were going through Shriners we had to save up a bit. Just to give you an example of the price for the five days we were there for a minor hand surgery it cost us a little over $1000.00 for travel, hotel, and food. Now, think of what it would cost for a more serious surgery that may take longer out of state before he’d get discharged from the hospital, minus work wages to travel…plus add on the hospital bills that I will be paying AFTER the surgeries in addition to the cost of traveling. Back then a few things were different. 1. We were staying with family to help offset costs, 2. Donovan was just born so expenses were less. Now, I am a single mother with 3 kids with all my own costs and expenses. It wasn’t easy back then and its even harder now.

So the desire to leave is there and is very strong, but the desire to stay is equally as strong. Hopefully we can get this taken care of while we live here but if we have to leave then we just have to go. The bottom line is that I have to do whatever it takes to make sure ALL of my kids needs are met, especially the medical needs.

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