Empower Odessa's Future Mobility

Hello friends family’s & neighbors. I am Catherine Arthur for those who don’t know. Our daughter Odessa was diagnosed with cerebral palsy in March of this year. She was born with on cyst on her brain. The pregnancy was considered high risk with a lot of open ended questions as to what would happen when she was born. Thankfully she came out as healthy as she could be with a scheduled brain surgery at one month old to drain the cyst. Our little warrior did great and currently it did what it was supposed to. No one could have prepared us for what was to come. I was doing my own research as of having a baby before knowing that things weren’t right. She always had her fists closed and her arms were very tight. What they call in the medical field high tone. We went on our own to schedule an appointment in Rochester to get some answers. After that heart crushing apt she was deemed high risk for cerebral palsy. Normally they don’t diagnose until two but it was more than apparent she had it. We were told she may never walk. Which at the time was not anything close to what we were thinking. Despite it all we had/have hope. We did all the necessary things, first scheduled her with an outpatient physical therapist. Whom have been amazing and an extreme advocate for Odessa. We still see them twice a week. Contacted early intervention which is a whirlwind. I give any other parents going through it props because you have to advocate on the highest level to get your child what they need. Fast forward to now. She has four sessions of physical therapy, two in the home through early intervention & our outpatient program. To say we are busy is an understatement, Due to how much time these programs take up I took a job as a server, nights because it is the only thing that works with our busy schedule. Normally doing okay but summer months are iffy in the business. Right before her diagnosis My fiancé Jeff was laid off, his job of close to ten years unfortunately him being the bread winner we took a tremendous loss in funds for bills. We have made it through and are still trying our best. This past week we saw Odessa’s Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation doctor, who prescribed her AFO’s (Ankle Foot Orthotics. This is something we have been waiting for. Odessa has high tone in all her extremities but her legs seem to have more movement. With these orthotics I think her chances of walking will be significantly higher. The company who makes and fits them for her called to set up an appointment and stated that our insurance as of July 1st does not cover them for patients with cerebral palsy. Her doctors have been talking about her getting them for awhile & a month after they changed the requirements now we would have to pay out of pocket. They are 500 dollars. Now with us receiving this information we are confused, upset and unsure what other things will not be covered. As she grows she will have to get new AFOS and at this point we are not sure what else. I am in the process of going back and forth with insurance to see if there is a way we can get them covered. If you know how the medical industry is these days it will not be easy. We will never give up. Right now our goal is to be able to provide what we can for Odessa in these upcoming years of her body changing. If by two we can get her sitting up independently we will have a better idea of what her life will look like. This is a loose goal for raising money for her as we are not financially in a spot to provide what we wish we could. Most things are covered by insurance but now with requirements changing. It makes me terrified of what’s to come. Our daughter means the world to us and no matter what happens she is the light of ours and her brothers world. We just want what’s best for her. We understand times are extremely hard for every one right now and any bit helps or just sharing our story to a friend. Thank you.

Catherine, Jeffrey, Liam & our little warrior princess Odessa ❤️