This week marks six months since we discovered my wife had a possibly fatal brain tumor.
To summarize, this narrative ends happily. This week also marks four months since my wife Bre underwent
successful neurosurgery at Rush Medical Center in Chicago. Bre’s recuperation is on pace for a completely healthy
regular life.
In the weeks and months following the surgery, my to-do list did not go beyond “get through today.” Four months
later, life is slowly returning to normal. It’s normal to reflect on what I’ve learned from this life-changing experience.
I was reminded firsthand of the difficulties of navigating our faulty healthcare system. Specific issues include the
inability to efficiently communicate digital image files among health care institutions while avoiding the HIPAA
boogeyman. Navigating insurance coverage for prior authorization or medical necessity comes in second.
Apparently, the follow-up MRIs of my wife’s spine requested by her neurosurgeon did not count.
I was reminded firsthand of the difficulties of navigating our faulty healthcare system. Specific issues include the
inability to efficiently communicate digital image files among health care institutions while avoiding the HIPAA
boogeyman. Navigating insurance coverage for prior authorization or medical necessity comes in second.
Apparently, the follow-up MRIs of my wife’s spine requested by her neurosurgeon did not count.
