Jan Faust's Emergency Medical Needs

THIS IS WHAT JAN FAUST LOOKED LIKE
WHEN SHE MOVED TO OREGON IN 2000


            THIS IS WHAT JAN LOOKS LIKE TODAY
Jan was an active, employed woman when she moved to the seacoast of Oregon a decade ago. 

in 2000, she wrote of that time, "I always wanted to live by the ocean but knew I would never get to do that. And now I am living in a condo from which I can see the ocean and walk there in two minutes. Who could ask for more?" 
(for more on Jan's hopes and dreams and her beautiful writing, click on http://www.jan.searover.com)

But the dream turned into a nightmare. 

Through a series of illnesses, misdiagnoses, and childhood problems come back to life, Jan is now without proper medical care, abused by doctors, and almost penniless. 

Here is Jan's story in her own words. 

Medical Background: I have an acquired brain injury, a history of polio at age 2, and a movement disorder. Due to a stroke at age 3, I have not had full use of the muscles of my left-hand and spasms in my Piriformis muscle that have now spread to my whole body. In 2003, I fell several times, rupturing my left rotator cuff, breaking my wrist, and fracturing my sternum. I have had a broken implanted denture for many years (it is still broken) and the posts were sticking up into my upper gum (Oregon Healthcare Plan (Medicaid) has refused to pay for a repair.) In 1994, a therapist prescribed Dexedrine for depression and in 2003, I went to the Amen Clinic to confirm that I was not bi-polar (which they confirmed) and they diagnosed me as suffering from depression and anxiety and, once again, they prescribed Dexedrine.

Financial Background: On my mother’s death in 2002, I inherited a trust valued at $750,000. In 2003, when I moved to Oregon, the trust stood at $550,000. In addition, I earned $100,000 by selling a condo in 2006. From 2002 to 2004, due to my naïveté, I was the victim of fiduciary abuse by the co-trustee (my brother) and by the original trust attorney. I sued in 2003 and had my brother removed and the attorney replaced by 2004. These actions were necessary as even requests for dental and health issues were being denied by the fund trustees. By 2011, all the funds in the trust were gone, I had no savings, and I reverse mortgaged my house for $100,000 in order to have secure savings to pay for future basic living costs.

Mayo Clinic: In 2004, the new trustee eased access to my money and I went to The Mayo Clinic because I suspected I had a neurological problem. I returned from Mayo with a list of physician’s suggestions which I began to follow immediately. I spent $40,000 on a dental restoration. I connected to the Movement Disorder Clinic at Oregon State University Hospital in Portland.

Refusal of Care: One of the suggestions from Mayo was that I should taper off Dexedrine. However, other doctors said that I had to stop taking Dexedrine immediately or they would not help me. However, every time I would suddenly stop the medication, all I was able to do was lay in bed. I was essentially bed-ridden by this from 2006 to 2007. I wanted to stop taking Dexedrine but every doctor I went to simply said, “You’re a drug addict” and kicked me out instead of helping me taper off. I was not and am not a drug addict; according to the Mayo Institute, I needed to be treated by a neurologist. Not one of the doctors chose to look at the information from Mayo and once an emergency room even called the police on me. Clatsop County Mental Health refused to treat me for four years (2004 to 2008.) To them, I was just a drug addict and they have still to admit that they were in error. I attempted to get into a clinic run by Dr. Richard Bruno, a post-polio specialist, but was rejected because Dr. Vander Wal (a General Practioner who had refused to treat me for Dexedrine) told him that that I was a drug addict. I now have a stable doctor-patient relationship with Dr. Brian Cox, who, when he read one of Dr. Bruno’s papers, said, “You should go see him.”

State Response: Repeatedly, I have gone to Adult Protective Services and said that I was being abused by the system. None of my requests for protection from this abuse have been honored. Oregon Senior and Disabled Services initially refused to provide assistance to deal with my rotator cuff injury but later changed their ruling. Before 2004, I never had a problem with the police, mental health providers, physicians, and held a steady job in the social service system.

Medicaid Eligibility: I decided to purchase gold with the money from the reverse mortgage for its long-term security, and I informed Jim Randall, my case manager at Oregon Senior and Disabled Services of this. I asked him specifically if this would affect my Medicaid eligibility. He assured me I would not.
After the financial transactions were complete, he said, “Did you buy the gold?”
I said “Yes.”
He told me “You sure are honest.”
I said, “Maybe I have been telling the truth the whole time.” 

Even though I had consulted with Senior and Disabled Services when I bought the gold, it is now seen as an asset and Medicaid has ruled that I am no longer eligible for medical insurance. 

(Since Jan wrote this a few months ago, she has received Medicaid, however she has further depleted her meager finances on medical costs while waiting for the bureaucrats to approve her.)