For those who don't know me or my family, my name is Misty Wegman (Starrett) and my mom is Diane McFarland (Starrett). On July 3, 2025, my mom, Diane, was taken to the emergency room by my sister Lona, due to what we had originally thought was a horrible migraine. Mom hadn't eaten or drunk much, if anything, for the three days leading up to her ER visit, and had also been unable to keep anything down when she was able to eat. My mom's Parkinson's had also become exacerbated during this time, and mom developed severe weakness in her extremities and was unable to stand or walk. Mom was diagnosed with having Shingles, which affected the Trigeminal nerves around her right eye, cheek, and forehead region, and bronchial pneumonia. Unfortunately, prior to getting Shingles, she had already been fighting a horrible bacterial infection she contracted after having a biopsy performed on her bladder in April. In someone like my mom, who is a woman of a certain age, it is a perfect storm which can affect multiple facets of an elder person's health and well-being.

While in the hospital, it was determined Mom would not be able to return home. Within the 10 days she was stuck in bed, her muscles had atrophied to a state in which she was unable to hold herself up so that she could transfer from her wheelchair to recliner, bed, etc. My mom lives with my sister Lona, who is also disabled, and is unable to lift my mom or provide 100% assistance if needed. With the help of the social worker at the hospital, we were able to find placement for Mom at Midlands Living Center for rehabilitation. However, sadly, dear readers, this is where the story goes sideways.

On July 9, 2025, mom was transferred to MLC rehab, but Mom would have to be in quarantine due to her Shingles. On July 11, 2025, she was taken out of quarantine, and over that following weekend, they were finally able to do a physical therapy/occupational therapy assessment. On July 16, 2025, United Healthcare, who happens to be who my mom's Medicare is through, wanted to perform a review of mom's progress, and by that evening had decided my mother no longer required rehabilitative services and could go home. As a family, we were shocked. How could they possibly say she no longer needed rehab when she was still reliant on staff and needed to use a Maxi lift for all transfers? How is this even feasible? Administrative staff at MLC intervened and convinced UHC to hold off until July 21st to make a decision. Monday the 21st came, and the social worker at MLC came to tell us that UHC denied her. With her help, we filed an appeal, sent loads of paperwork for them to review, and then we waited.

Generally, these appeal decisions come fairly quickly. It was not so in this case, and we had hoped that no news was good news. This afternoon, we got their decision on the appeal—again she was denied and they said to discharge her for home tomorrow. The social worker said we can try one more time to get them to try and reconsider their decision; however, we were warned they can drag their feet on these decisions. If we can get them to let her stay, it is very well likely we will have to pay for her care out of pocket. My sister does not have that kind of money, and neither do I. In order to cover 14 days worth of care at $295 per diem, we need to raise just over $4,000 so she can get the care she needs. I think it's a shame that a person who spent her entire life in the service of others when she worked at Hillside Manor, or for Nishna Productions, or even when she was working in the Department of Human Services for many, many years for the state of Iowa, is now being cast aside by an insurance company that doesn't obviously see its customers as real people.

If you are able to help, that's wonderful, and if not, we will take prayers, well wishes, good vibes, advice, and sharing the hell out of her story. Your support means the world to us, and from the bottom of my heart, and my family THANK YOU!!

Proceeds from this fundraiser will go towards paying for mom's rehab stay.