Medical Issues

I wanted to talk about this not because it's a particularly interesting part of the foster care process, but because so far (at least for us) it's been a bit of a frustrating one.  H tends to be clumsy, often getting odd scrapes or cuts or other various injuries.  In fact, when she came to us, she ended up with what we think was a full-blown sinus infection after the first week, and then a second one about a week ago.  She's also rolled her ankle once to the point of being on crutches (twice now) and jammed a fingernail hard enough to the point of infection.

 

Plus, as with most foster kids, she came to us already on medication. 

 

Now, we didn't have prescriptions for her, nor do we live anywhere near where she used to, so even if we had previous doctor's names (which we don't) there's not much we can do. 

 

The government provides Medicaid for kids in foster care (and I believe they'll continue if you adopt a foster child as well - though I might be wrong on this) so, all we have to do is find someone that will provide care paid for by Medicaid.  That sounds easier than it is.  H wanted specifically to see a pediatrician when we needed to take her in to the doctor.  We emailed our worker, and hers, to help find someone that would take her in.

 

It wasn't an easy process- nor are the workers particularly responsive or helpful when it came to getting this information.  Thankfully, our worker came through with the name of a local pediatrician who would be willing to see H. 

 

All of this feels very strange when you're not a child's parent or legal guardian. I have felt a little on edge each time she hurts herself, because we're taught, as foster parents to watch for repetitive behaviors, maniulative behaviors or things that might seem out of character.  Do I trust each time that these are accidents?  Because they feel like they are.  So, we trust our instincts, care for her as best we can and hope that's enough.  Still, I can't help but feel sometimes as though I'm watching too carefully for things that aren't there - or that I'm missing things that are.  THIS is pretty much fostering in a nutshell.  I have to trust what I see on the surface, but always be waiting to deal with what's underneath it.

 

The medical needs of a typical 15 year old aren't particularly strenuous, but so far, it's been perhaps more than I expected... both in frequency and diffculty.  It's also been an interesting experience as far as having to interact with workers on both sides to get information- or help.  And I imagine that like most things, each child and each worker is going to be a different experience.  H's worker specifically is very detached, very hard to get a hold of or a response from.  Which is something we're learning to deal with and defer to our social worker whenever possible.