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From Our Friends at Mealtime Connections
Selena was born six weeks premature in Sierra Vista, AZ and after spending five days in the NICU, she went home from the hospital eating, growing, and thriving. Selena began losing skills at six months of age such as rolling over and bottle feeding. Selena was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a genetic disease that affects the central and peripheral nervous system. Voluntary movement becomes limited over time as the muscles of the body get smaller as they receive less signal from the nerves to move.
Selena was referred to Mealtime Connections for specialized feeding and swallowing therapy. Selena’s insurance plan would not cover these services, and other therapy service providers in Sierra Vista and Tucson who were contracted with her insurance plan reported to her mother they did not have staff who had the training required to provide the type of feeding / swallowing therapy Selena would benefit from to address her needs, referring her back to Mealtime Connections. This is where Nourish came in!
The family was already absorbing the cost of driving to and from Tucson routinely for specialized Physical and Occupational therapy, as well as a multitude of medical provider appointments. Adding paying for feeding and swallowing therapy was out of reach financially. Nourish stepped in, and provided therapy service coverage for Selena to receive specialized feeding and swallowing therapy focused on increasing the motor control of her mouth and throat muscles to safely manage her saliva, and over time, food flavors while maintaining long term lung health and safety. Selena continues to gain confidence in her ability to participate in feeding opportunities.
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