The best of times, the worst of times.

[james&olya 1,121]

Olya got her visa and flew here Kazan-Frankfurt-Chicago with her children on the 24th. No questions at POE, just opened the envelopes, looked at the passports/visas, and did the fingerprints! Their flight was late due to having to avoid the iceland volcano eruption. It was a good thing we had already decided it was not worth chancing the connection in Chicago which was less than 90 minutes. We had decided I would meet them there and we would make the 7 hour drive north rather than wait 10 hours for an uncertain next flight north.

On the way north the 2 year-old vomited once. No big deal, they all had restless stomachs after the airline food. We arrived home and tried to sleep but she vomited twice more. She was fine Wednesday but vomited again that night. Thursday morning she had a seizure. Olya was terrified! I wasn't doing much better! We spent the day in the hospital where they found dehydration, low blood sugar, and fever. After IV fluids she was discharged at 5pm. At 6pm while happily playing outside she fell and had a second seizure! More sheer panic and back to the ER. She stayed in the hospital this time and began strong meds for epilepsy. All the tests that could be done locally were done and no answer was found. She needs referral to a major children's center soon for specialist evaluation and more testing. For now she is doing well but suffering major side effects (sedation, incoordination) from the meds. At least we hope it is only the meds!

I have a good income but we are talking some major expenses here. Of course I want everything done for her, what could be more important?! But we decided that since we were planning marriage anyway why wait? We got the 3 day waiting period waived and a marriage license Friday. A clergy friend performed the wedding right there in the hospital room. Now the 2 year-old has insurance! But it was not what we had wanted, certainly! Maybe we will still do the ceremony in July.

This has been the most intense and excruciating emotional roller-coaster I could ever imagine! Olya was convinced her daughter was dying. We have both lost children in the past so we share that awful knowledge already that nobody should ever know. Now we face an uncertain future. It remains to be seen whether this stress will bind us more tightly together or threaten to tear us apart.

The point I hope to make here is that the risk so many of us take of having our fiancees going without good health insurance while our marriages are pending may be a very foolish risk. The last thing any of us needs during this is a great deal of added financial stress if the unthinkable should happen. I hope none of you out there have to endure what we have faced the last few days (it seems like years!).

But if you do I hope you have the insurance coverage you need. The risk is not worth taking!

[bainbridge558 0]

Olya got her visa and flew here Kazan-Frankfurt-Chicago with her children on the 24th. No questions at POE, just opened the envelopes, looked at the passports/visas, and did the fingerprints! Their flight was late due to having to avoid the iceland volcano eruption. It was a good thing we had already decided it was not worth chancing the connection in Chicago which was less than 90 minutes. We had decided I would meet them there and we would make the 7 hour drive north rather than wait 10 hours for an uncertain next flight north.

On the way north the 2 year-old vomited once. No big deal, they all had restless stomachs after the airline food. We arrived home and tried to sleep but she vomited twice more. She was fine Wednesday but vomited again that night. Thursday morning she had a seizure. Olya was terrified! I wasn't doing much better! We spent the day in the hospital where they found dehydration, low blood sugar, and fever. After IV fluids she was discharged at 5pm. At 6pm while happily playing outside she fell and had a second seizure! More sheer panic and back to the ER. She stayed in the hospital this time and began strong meds for epilepsy. All the tests that could be done locally were done and no answer was found. She needs referral to a major children's center soon for specialist evaluation and more testing. For now she is doing well but suffering major side effects (sedation, incoordination) from the meds. At least we hope it is only the meds!

I have a good income but we are talking some major expenses here. Of course I want everything done for her, what could be more important?! But we decided that since we were planning marriage anyway why wait? We got the 3 day waiting period waived and a marriage license Friday. A clergy friend performed the wedding right there in the hospital room. Now the 2 year-old has insurance! But it was not what we had wanted, certainly! Maybe we will still do the ceremony in July.

This has been the most intense and excruciating emotional roller-coaster I could ever imagine! Olya was convinced her daughter was dying. We have both lost children in the past so we share that awful knowledge already that nobody should ever know. Now we face an uncertain future. It remains to be seen whether this stress will bind us more tightly together or threaten to tear us apart.

The point I hope to make here is that the risk so many of us take of having our fiancees going without good health insurance while our marriages are pending may be a very foolish risk. The last thing any of us needs during this is a great deal of added financial stress if the unthinkable should happen. I hope none of you out there have to endure what we have faced the last few days (it seems like years!).

But if you do I hope you have the insurance coverage you need. The risk is not worth taking!

Wow!

Best Wishes for You and Yours !!!!!

[Used to be broken 147]

Olya got her visa and flew here Kazan-Frankfurt-Chicago with her children on the 24th. No questions at POE, just opened the envelopes, looked at the passports/visas, and did the fingerprints! Their flight was late due to having to avoid the iceland volcano eruption. It was a good thing we had already decided it was not worth chancing the connection in Chicago which was less than 90 minutes. We had decided I would meet them there and we would make the 7 hour drive north rather than wait 10 hours for an uncertain next flight north.

On the way north the 2 year-old vomited once. No big deal, they all had restless stomachs after the airline food. We arrived home and tried to sleep but she vomited twice more. She was fine Wednesday but vomited again that night. Thursday morning she had a seizure. Olya was terrified! I wasn't doing much better! We spent the day in the hospital where they found dehydration, low blood sugar, and fever. After IV fluids she was discharged at 5pm. At 6pm while happily playing outside she fell and had a second seizure! More sheer panic and back to the ER. She stayed in the hospital this time and began strong meds for epilepsy. All the tests that could be done locally were done and no answer was found. She needs referral to a major children's center soon for specialist evaluation and more testing. For now she is doing well but suffering major side effects (sedation, incoordination) from the meds. At least we hope it is only the meds!

I have a good income but we are talking some major expenses here. Of course I want everything done for her, what could be more important?! But we decided that since we were planning marriage anyway why wait? We got the 3 day waiting period waived and a marriage license Friday. A clergy friend performed the wedding right there in the hospital room. Now the 2 year-old has insurance! But it was not what we had wanted, certainly! Maybe we will still do the ceremony in July.

This has been the most intense and excruciating emotional roller-coaster I could ever imagine! Olya was convinced her daughter was dying. We have both lost children in the past so we share that awful knowledge already that nobody should ever know. Now we face an uncertain future. It remains to be seen whether this stress will bind us more tightly together or threaten to tear us apart.

The point I hope to make here is that the risk so many of us take of having our fiancees going without good health insurance while our marriages are pending may be a very foolish risk. The last thing any of us needs during this is a great deal of added financial stress if the unthinkable should happen. I hope none of you out there have to endure what we have faced the last few days (it seems like years!).

But if you do I hope you have the insurance coverage you need. The risk is not worth taking!

Well I hope the child is getting better and this is just a reaction to the travel and being overwhelmed.

I do share your concern over the insurance issue. It crossed my mind to pick up travel insurance until our company plan is in force.

[eekee 182]

Sending good thoughts toward your family.

[Lena and Igor 5]

My prayers are with you.

[Robert&Liliya 31]

I wish you and your family all the best. Best wishes for a Very speedy recovery.

[1HappyGuy 45]

This is a subject we all struggle with. Let's hope your quick thinking will payoff in the long run. Our best wishes for your little one to make a full recovery. Congratulations on your marriage!

[baron555 934]

Wow, our prayers are with all of you.

I took out immigrants medical coverage for the two months they were here but not eligible for coverage on my insurance.

Stay strong all of you!

[canon 0]

OP I'm sorry to hear this about the baby.

When my oldest daughter was about 3 we more or less had the same thing happen to her. The doctors told us that most likely she would grow out of it since it was a mild form of epilepsy.

As she got older her seizures became less and less.

She's 32 now and has not had a seizure nor any other problems related since she was about 7 years old.

Good Luck and keep us updated please.

[SuperDuper! 230]

OP, glad things turned out for you ok. Great tip to others here: You cannot afford NOT to have health insurance.

I personally think that insurance is the biggest scam ever invented: You are paying for something that you hope you never use! But it is a necessary evil.

People who go without and just hope for the best are asking for trouble and flouting fate.

Getting some good Traveler's Insurance for a reasonable premium is easy to do.

I hated paying for it and not using it, but it bought me something valuable: Peace of mind, and sleep-filled nights.

Pay up now, or pay up later is the bottom line.

God Bless!

[NigeriaorBust 4,087]

My son when he was an adult and working in a cheap resturant had a ruptured appendix. 100,000 was just the hospital part

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Olya got her visa and flew here Kazan-Frankfurt-Chicago with her children on the 24th. No questions at POE, just opened the envelopes, looked at the passports/visas, and did the fingerprints! Their flight was late due to having to avoid the iceland volcano eruption. It was a good thing we had already decided it was not worth chancing the connection in Chicago which was less than 90 minutes. We had decided I would meet them there and we would make the 7 hour drive north rather than wait 10 hours for an uncertain next flight north.

On the way north the 2 year-old vomited once. No big deal, they all had restless stomachs after the airline food. We arrived home and tried to sleep but she vomited twice more. She was fine Wednesday but vomited again that night. Thursday morning she had a seizure. Olya was terrified! I wasn't doing much better! We spent the day in the hospital where they found dehydration, low blood sugar, and fever. After IV fluids she was discharged at 5pm. At 6pm while happily playing outside she fell and had a second seizure! More sheer panic and back to the ER. She stayed in the hospital this time and began strong meds for epilepsy. All the tests that could be done locally were done and no answer was found. She needs referral to a major children's center soon for specialist evaluation and more testing. For now she is doing well but suffering major side effects (sedation, incoordination) from the meds. At least we hope it is only the meds!

I have a good income but we are talking some major expenses here. Of course I want everything done for her, what could be more important?! But we decided that since we were planning marriage anyway why wait? We got the 3 day waiting period waived and a marriage license Friday. A clergy friend performed the wedding right there in the hospital room. Now the 2 year-old has insurance! But it was not what we had wanted, certainly! Maybe we will still do the ceremony in July.

This has been the most intense and excruciating emotional roller-coaster I could ever imagine! Olya was convinced her daughter was dying. We have both lost children in the past so we share that awful knowledge already that nobody should ever know. Now we face an uncertain future. It remains to be seen whether this stress will bind us more tightly together or threaten to tear us apart.

The point I hope to make here is that the risk so many of us take of having our fiancees going without good health insurance while our marriages are pending may be a very foolish risk. The last thing any of us needs during this is a great deal of added financial stress if the unthinkable should happen. I hope none of you out there have to endure what we have faced the last few days (it seems like years!).

But if you do I hope you have the insurance coverage you need. The risk is not worth taking!

Best of luck to you all. Children are about #1 to me so I know what you mean, and the benefits that accrue with marriage and AOS are very important which is why we did not wait and got married right away. Fortunately the "change of life" status should exempt you from pre-existing conditions for the little girl. You did the right thing for your wife and children.

There was a member a while back who had a fiancee with a young daughter. When she arrived they spent nearly the entire 3 months doing important stuff like going to Disney World. Then they discovered the young girl had diabetes and he sent them back to Ukraine without getting married. Stand up guy. Way to man up and do your duty for your family. You have done the polar opposite and are a good guy for it, your wife and children are in good hands and I am sure you will beat back anything you have to.

[james&olya 1,121]

Thank you all for the kind words! She is doing much better now, almost back to normal. Olya and I are finally able to start doing 'normal' things together as a couple. This has been a real roller-coaster this week but I think everything is going to be OK.

Gary, I didn't see the thread you refer to but I have to agree with you that such behavior is despicable! Being a parent is the most challenging but rewarding thing one can ever do in life. It is not when things go well that your skills as a parent are measured. It is when things are hard, when illness or disability strikes that you are tested. And while you never, ever want to see one you love face serious illness, it is then that you can give the most as a parent and in doing so, find the greatest rewards. How this 'man' could turn his back on his fiancee and her child when they most needed him is unbelievable! He sounds like a real loser and they are probably better off without him!

[eekee 182]

Gary, that is awful. That woman and her kid lucked out by not marrying a jerk like that.

James, I am glad to hear that your daughter is doing better.

[Gary and Alla 3,694]

Thank you all for the kind words! She is doing much better now, almost back to normal. Olya and I are finally able to start doing 'normal' things together as a couple. This has been a real roller-coaster this week but I think everything is going to be OK.

Gary, I didn't see the thread you refer to but I have to agree with you that such behavior is despicable! Being a parent is the most challenging but rewarding thing one can ever do in life. It is not when things go well that your skills as a parent are measured. It is when things are hard, when illness or disability strikes that you are tested. And while you never, ever want to see one you love face serious illness, it is then that you can give the most as a parent and in doing so, find the greatest rewards. How this 'man' could turn his back on his fiancee and her child when they most needed him is unbelievable! He sounds like a real loser and they are probably better off without him!

I was surprised I didn't get suspended for life and killed by lethal injection for my response to that guy. Katherine41 must also love children.

One of the joys of children, for me, is the emotional thrill they are. I suppose a lot of people have faced dangerous situations and we need not list them here, but I can tell you that nothing in my life ever scared me like when my oldest son was gravely ill as a small boy.

My best wishes for your new daughter, I think she will be OK and she is in a good place to be cared for, with good people. Your wife, fortunately, made a good decision and I think that she will look back and say that there was no better place she could have been. It gives gray hair and character, and makes you not to worry about the small BS in life.