momof1
08-17-2008, 04:26 PM
In April 2007, I needed letters from my son's cardiologist to try to stop my husband's deportation. She not only works in clinic and does rounds but she also teaches at the medcial school. She is very busy and I have had to deal with the pediatric cardiology staff and nurses. You need to be very adamant about getting help and basically tell them exactly what you need. I explained what this situation was for, and because my son's life could depend on it they were more than willing to help. His cardiologist was very upset when she heard that my husband was deported.
I wanted an updated letter for my husband's waiver application and this is how i got it. I sent this letter by fax:
July 1, 2008
RE:letter updating condition of patient XXXX
Pediatric Cardiology staff
I spoke with John on Monday(june 30) morning. My son is a patient of Dr.1 and was also seen by Dr. last year. His name is XXXX and his birthdate is XXXX.
My husband, XXXX's father, was deported last year and we are in the process of bringing him back to the US. Dr.1 was extremely helpful last year when she wrote a letter for us. We are in urgent need of an updated letter from his physicians.
If I could give you a bit of direction about what exactly we are in need of that would be wonderful. Please do not feel that you need to use my words exactly, I am merely showing what is needed.
I would appreciate a general letter from Dr.1 about his condition. It can be mentioned that he had a catheterization in October 2007 and will be having an echocardiogram and checkup on September 8, 2008 and a possible CT scan if needed. Mentioning the need for regular cardiovascular checkups by physicians who are familiar with his case and high quality care that he must receive in the United States. Possibly also mentioning the importance of a stable home life with both parents present to achieve optimal health. Anything you feel important about his condition.
Also, a letter from Dr.2 is needed to further discuss the catherization that was performed in October. From what I was told by Dr.2, XXXX would need CT scans instead of echos because he has a unique "wiring" of his heart that cannot be seen with Echocardiogram. XXXX was supposed to undergo ballon angioplasty, but after the catherization it was learned that it was not needed. Any detailed information about the procedure(CT scan, catheterization/balloon angioplasty) and associated risks would be wonderful. Also, the importance of regular cardiovascular checkups to insure proper care and catching any issues before they become too much.
Any associated medical records for the procedure as well. We have released them to our lawyers previously and have no problems doing so again.
I know that this is extremely short notices, but my husband and I greatly appreciate your efforts. I understand that this is a holiday week. If it cannot be done this week, the beginning of next week is the latest we get it.
If you can fax the papers Attn:lawyers name to XXX-XXX-XXXX. I work overnight at XXXX and can stop by to pick up the originals at your earliest convenience. Please don't hesitated to call if you have any questions.
Thank You,
momof1
Edit:
These are the letters we got:
on hospital letterhead
9 July 2008
Re: XXXX
Med Record XXXXX
To whom it may concern:
XXXX is a 4 year old child born with congenital heart disease. This consisterd of severe coarctation of the aorta requiring operative repair at 10 months of age, as well as bicuspid aortic valve and abnormal mitral valve. The entire constellation of anomalities is commonly referred to as Shone's syndrome.
I saw XXXX in May of 2007 and recommended that he undergo heart catheterization due to concerns that his coarctation repair site had narrowed. XXXX underwent heart catheterization in October of 2007. He was found to have only a mild narrowing at the repair site but other important iss beyond the issues were found. XXXX was found to have aneurysmal dilation of the aorta beyond the coarctation repair site and an obstruction, currently mild, was verified across his mitral valve. These conditions will need to be monitored annually by clinical examination by a specialist in pediatric cardiology and by cardiac ultrasound and CT scan. XXXX may require future surgery at both the aortic and mitral sites. Failure to monitory the aortic aneurysm could potentially put XXXX's life in jeopardy from aortic rupture, if it increased in size unbeknownst to the family. This situation is clearly made substantially more difficult by the stress surrounding the separation of the father from his wife and son. I believe that XXXX's life depends upon continued access to high quality medical care and that if he and his mother leave the country to be with the father this will nto occur and XXXX's life will be in jeopardy.
Sincerely,
Dr.1, MD, PhD
Associate Professor, Pediatrics
Edit:
Also on hospital letterhead
Patient: XXXX
DOB:XXXX
MRN: XXXXX
July 9, 2008
To whom it may concern:
As the director of Pediatric Interventional Cardiology at the University Of XXXX Children's Hospital, I have been involved in the care of XXXX, who is a 4 year old child with significant congenital heart disease.
XXXX is a 4 year old who underwent surgical repair of a narrowing of the aortia, the main artery of the body, when he was an infant. His primary cardiologist had concerns about problems with the repair site so I performed a cardiac catheterization on XXXX on October 4, 2007. The cardiac catheterization revealed that there was a significant aneurysm of the aorta, which will require close, long-term follow-up care with a pediatric cardiologist and may lead to the need for subsequent surgical interventions. The nature and location of the dillated portion of the aorta will make evaluation with ultrasound(echocardiograms) insufficient. He will require more high-tech imaging on an ongoing basis with CT angiograms and/or MRA. This type of ongoing care will require follow-up evaluations at a tertiary, highly specialized pediatric cardiology facility, such as the one here at the University of XXXX Childrens Hospital.
Please let me know if there is any other information that I can provide for you in regards to XXXX's care.
Sincerely,
Dr.2, MD
Director, Pediatric Interventional Cardiology
University of XXXX Childrens Hospital
Asst. Professor, Pediatrics
University of XXXX Medical School
Edit:
These two letters also came with associated medical records which included detailed descriptions and diagrams of the procedure. Also included were communications with the two doctors about the case. Overally, I was very satisfied with what I received. I had to be very tough and call and check up on it many times. One of my co-workers said I should have been a bill collector after they heard me dealing with the staff :)
I would say to be nice but firm, and you will get what you need.
I wanted an updated letter for my husband's waiver application and this is how i got it. I sent this letter by fax:
July 1, 2008
RE:letter updating condition of patient XXXX
Pediatric Cardiology staff
I spoke with John on Monday(june 30) morning. My son is a patient of Dr.1 and was also seen by Dr. last year. His name is XXXX and his birthdate is XXXX.
My husband, XXXX's father, was deported last year and we are in the process of bringing him back to the US. Dr.1 was extremely helpful last year when she wrote a letter for us. We are in urgent need of an updated letter from his physicians.
If I could give you a bit of direction about what exactly we are in need of that would be wonderful. Please do not feel that you need to use my words exactly, I am merely showing what is needed.
I would appreciate a general letter from Dr.1 about his condition. It can be mentioned that he had a catheterization in October 2007 and will be having an echocardiogram and checkup on September 8, 2008 and a possible CT scan if needed. Mentioning the need for regular cardiovascular checkups by physicians who are familiar with his case and high quality care that he must receive in the United States. Possibly also mentioning the importance of a stable home life with both parents present to achieve optimal health. Anything you feel important about his condition.
Also, a letter from Dr.2 is needed to further discuss the catherization that was performed in October. From what I was told by Dr.2, XXXX would need CT scans instead of echos because he has a unique "wiring" of his heart that cannot be seen with Echocardiogram. XXXX was supposed to undergo ballon angioplasty, but after the catherization it was learned that it was not needed. Any detailed information about the procedure(CT scan, catheterization/balloon angioplasty) and associated risks would be wonderful. Also, the importance of regular cardiovascular checkups to insure proper care and catching any issues before they become too much.
Any associated medical records for the procedure as well. We have released them to our lawyers previously and have no problems doing so again.
I know that this is extremely short notices, but my husband and I greatly appreciate your efforts. I understand that this is a holiday week. If it cannot be done this week, the beginning of next week is the latest we get it.
If you can fax the papers Attn:lawyers name to XXX-XXX-XXXX. I work overnight at XXXX and can stop by to pick up the originals at your earliest convenience. Please don't hesitated to call if you have any questions.
Thank You,
momof1
Edit:
These are the letters we got:
on hospital letterhead
9 July 2008
Re: XXXX
Med Record XXXXX
To whom it may concern:
XXXX is a 4 year old child born with congenital heart disease. This consisterd of severe coarctation of the aorta requiring operative repair at 10 months of age, as well as bicuspid aortic valve and abnormal mitral valve. The entire constellation of anomalities is commonly referred to as Shone's syndrome.
I saw XXXX in May of 2007 and recommended that he undergo heart catheterization due to concerns that his coarctation repair site had narrowed. XXXX underwent heart catheterization in October of 2007. He was found to have only a mild narrowing at the repair site but other important iss beyond the issues were found. XXXX was found to have aneurysmal dilation of the aorta beyond the coarctation repair site and an obstruction, currently mild, was verified across his mitral valve. These conditions will need to be monitored annually by clinical examination by a specialist in pediatric cardiology and by cardiac ultrasound and CT scan. XXXX may require future surgery at both the aortic and mitral sites. Failure to monitory the aortic aneurysm could potentially put XXXX's life in jeopardy from aortic rupture, if it increased in size unbeknownst to the family. This situation is clearly made substantially more difficult by the stress surrounding the separation of the father from his wife and son. I believe that XXXX's life depends upon continued access to high quality medical care and that if he and his mother leave the country to be with the father this will nto occur and XXXX's life will be in jeopardy.
Sincerely,
Dr.1, MD, PhD
Associate Professor, Pediatrics
Edit:
Also on hospital letterhead
Patient: XXXX
DOB:XXXX
MRN: XXXXX
July 9, 2008
To whom it may concern:
As the director of Pediatric Interventional Cardiology at the University Of XXXX Children's Hospital, I have been involved in the care of XXXX, who is a 4 year old child with significant congenital heart disease.
XXXX is a 4 year old who underwent surgical repair of a narrowing of the aortia, the main artery of the body, when he was an infant. His primary cardiologist had concerns about problems with the repair site so I performed a cardiac catheterization on XXXX on October 4, 2007. The cardiac catheterization revealed that there was a significant aneurysm of the aorta, which will require close, long-term follow-up care with a pediatric cardiologist and may lead to the need for subsequent surgical interventions. The nature and location of the dillated portion of the aorta will make evaluation with ultrasound(echocardiograms) insufficient. He will require more high-tech imaging on an ongoing basis with CT angiograms and/or MRA. This type of ongoing care will require follow-up evaluations at a tertiary, highly specialized pediatric cardiology facility, such as the one here at the University of XXXX Childrens Hospital.
Please let me know if there is any other information that I can provide for you in regards to XXXX's care.
Sincerely,
Dr.2, MD
Director, Pediatric Interventional Cardiology
University of XXXX Childrens Hospital
Asst. Professor, Pediatrics
University of XXXX Medical School
Edit:
These two letters also came with associated medical records which included detailed descriptions and diagrams of the procedure. Also included were communications with the two doctors about the case. Overally, I was very satisfied with what I received. I had to be very tough and call and check up on it many times. One of my co-workers said I should have been a bill collector after they heard me dealing with the staff :)
I would say to be nice but firm, and you will get what you need.