Author Archives: David's Father

The Walmart experience

walmartSo today, I was at a Walmart.  Such an engaging customer experience all around.  Contrary to our visits to Walmart in the city closest to our home, I am not lying when I say we had a positive experience.  Took less than 10 minutes to get through check out.  The scooters weren’t all dead or dying.

Today, considering the longer drive home, I decided to make use of the facilities.

While I didn’t spend a ton of time looking, I did notice shoes under the wall of the first stall.  I assume there were feet in said shoes, which was later verified.

Anyway.

I heard a flush while I was busy facing the wall and trying not to whistle any show tunes… Hey, sometimes it takes a long time to go, might as well keep yourself entertained… Music people… get your head out of the toilet…

So any way.  I heard a toilet flush.   A zipper.  The snick of a lock. The creak of long unoiled hinges.

As I finished and turned from my lone perusal of the fine artwork on the wall above the urinal, I saw this guy in the blue vest with the yellow sunburst walk by.

Picking his nose.

He came out of the stall, passed by all of the sinks, the paper towel dispenser, the diaper station, and then turned the corner to leave; with said finger in his mouth.

Not once did I see this man stop to wash his hands…

I wonder if it tasted like chocolate or peanut butter?

 

The magic number – 1259 miles

The Mind EraserWhat is the magic number?  1259 miles.  Virgin, UT.

That is the distance from our community to the facility that a social worker at the hospital said we should consider for David.

Oh, and now, in addition to his other official diagnoses, he also has a mood disorder (not sure what that means) and “Officially”  Reactive Attachment Disorder.

I have known about the Reactive Attachment Disorder for a while.

Now the facility in question, Liahona Academy, may be phenomenal.  And David might benefit from going there.  But…

We want to maintain and enhance family contact.  This would be a little difficult across 1259 miles.  This is one way distance, if we go out there, we have to drive home, so the number, of course, doubles.

Especially with other kids still in school.

Now.  I plan to take issue with the bureaucrats who don’t like to listen to the recommendations of the doctors.    When insurance can over ride medical decisions, there is a problem.

The staff said we could bring him back if he is a danger to himself or others.  So we need to wait until he hurts himself, or someone else, and then we can get another 96 hours of care.

96 hours is enough

10933707_10205820074170553_1599785289395656830_nSo in their infinite wisdom, insurance has decided that 96 hours is enough time in the mental health unit.

So I am going to bring David home today.

They said “if you feel he is a danger to himself or others, you can bring him back.”

Heck, that is why he is there now, plus his complete disregard for any rules.

Just trying to keep him and the rest of the family safe.

The “team” at the unit didn’t even bother asking Medicaid for a couple of days because they “didn’t think that would help.”

So, with a prayer, we will see how things progress from here.