To Mikey's February

February 3rd, 2002... More awards! Mikey's school held their mid-year awards ceremony Friday and Mikey picked up a couple of more awards. In today's picture, you can see him holding up his Student Of The Month award and his award for all Os on his report card (O is for outstanding). Mikey is doing well right now. He went to the movies with his buddy Patrick and Mister Ed saturday night and then out to the basketball game with Bubba and Tammy. UAFS, University of Arkansas Fort Smith, built a beautiful new stadium, and we've been going to all the home games. And sometime between morning and evening church services, we need to get a present for Mikey's big Sissy. Her birthday is Monday (Feb 4th)
Happy Birthday, Rhonda!

Our family needs your prayers: The Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility (TEFRA) program is the only way Mikey has to receive medical treatment now. He is being scheduled for a heart catheterization this spring, with life-saving open-heart surgery to follow. TEFRA is for critically ill, or terminally ill children, who cannot get insurance because of their pre-existing conditions. Arkansas has decided to CANCEL the TEFRA program at the end of June.

We know that Arkansas will not just allow these children to die. We believe they will be moved to other programs. You have to liquidate your assests to qualify for Medicaid. You are only allowed to have $2,000 in assets.. They look at your vehicle and say sell it if it's worth 2,000. You sell your home and your car, quit your job and go on the government dole to get medical treatment for one child.. Lose your home and be completely paupered. Then the government will have us "in the system" where they can support our whole family... H.U.D housing, food stamps and Medicaid for the whole family.. not just Mikey. Is this how the state SAVES money?!?!

We want to keep working and paying our own bills, buying our home and paying for our own private insurance for my own health care and my wife's health care. But they want to put us in "the system". State worker's have TOLD us "You have to get in the system".

It's foolish. It's a lose/lose situation. They destroy us, so they can support our whole family, instead of just covering Mikey's heart surgery under TEFRA. I met with State Senator Gunner Delay Friday morning, and he agreed with me that it was "counter-productive"... that it is not going to save the state money... and it's probably going to COST the state money. If our governor will listen to the parents and our state legislators, TEFRA can be saved. They all say they will try, if the governor will just call the state legislature into session.

Mikey and other critically or terminally ill children need your prayers. Nothing can be done unless the special session is called. Tell Arkansas to call that session and not to cancel Mikey's TEFRA insurance... it's all that Mikey and other critically ill children have to rely on. If you'd like to help by emailing our governor, CLICK HERE. You can really help by writing ALL of our legislators with just ONE click, just CLICK HERE!

Thanks so much. God has so mightily blessed our family!
He ALWAYS rewards our faithfullness.

Peg's note: A special TEFRA Work Group was appointed by the DHS Director in January of 2002 to advise the department on the wording of a federal Medicaid waiver that will help define the shape of the TEFRA program in Arkansas after July 1, 2002. The group is chaired by Medicaid Director Ray Hanley. Members and addys are:

Ray Hanley
Arkansas Medicaid Director
Arkansas Department of Human Services
PO Box 1437
Little Rock, Arkansas 72203-1437
Phone 682-8292
E-Mail address: ray.hanley@medicaid.state.ar.us
ray.hanley@medicaid.state.ar.us

Brenda Stinebuck
Executive Director
Spa Area Independent Living Services
101 Archwood
Hot Springs, AR 71901
Phone: 501-624-7710 or 1-800-255-7549
E-mail address: bstinebuck_sails@hotsprings.net
bstinebuck_sails@hotsprings.net

Harry Ward, M.D.
Chancellor Emeritus
4301 West Markham, Mail Slot 541
Little Rock, AR 72205
Phone: 526-6144 or contact Tootie, secretary @ 686-5672
E-mail address: hpward1@msn.com
hpward1@msn.com

Sharon Moone-Jochums
President & CEO
Easter Seals Arkansas
3920 Woodland Heights Road
Little Rock, AR 72212
Phone: 227-3650 (Lana, secretary)
E-mail address: smoonejochums@ar.easter-seals.org
smoonejochums@ar.easter-seals.org

While you are here, please sign Mikey's Guestbook!
THANK YOU!