Life for the Vaccaro family changed permanently in June of 2016. Then-12-year-old Paige Vaccaro started experiencing severe gastrointestinal symptoms, but her doctors did not know what was causing Paige’s suffering. After many tests and appointments, Paige was diagnosed with a parasite called cryptosporidium.
The new battle was trying to figure out how this could be treated. Paige tried countless medicines and procedures that were ultimately unsuccessful and only caused her more pain. After all the trial and error, the next best option was to start using an ostomy bag. At first, this was also not working due to skin irritations from the adhesives.
Paige was able to find adhesives that worked for her, and finally, she was able to use an ostomy bag without any complications. Her mother, Cristy Vaccarro, had been supporting her since the very first appointment. She was determined to get help for her daughter.
While trying to get Paige the help she desperately needed, Cristy and her husband, Leon, were also fighting for financial assistance. The Vaccaro’s applied for Medicaid knowing that due to their income they would not qualify. They then applied for the Aid to the Aged, Blind, or Disabled Medicare waiver but were denied. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) determined that Paige would not be sick long enough to qualify for the assistance. Cristy knew her daughter was struggling and knew she needed help. This was when she turned to Legal Aid of Nebraska for help.
“It’s hard to think about financial things when you are worried about your child. Parents are pulled in a million different directions,” said Cristy.
Legal Aid’s assistance helped to carry some of the weight that was on this family’s shoulders.
The Vaccaro’s worked with Legal Aid’s Health Education and Law Project (HELP). This project aims to address legal problems that have an overall impact on health by providing legal education and services in partnership with hospitals, health centers, and medical providers.
Ann Mangiameli, Managing Attorney for HELP, assisted the Vaccaro’s in asking for the district court to review the DHHS’ decision. The court determined that Paige did meet the requirements and would be awarded the AABD Medicare waiver and the family be reimbursed for medical expenses that should have been covered. The Nebraska Supreme Court then affirmed this decision.
This win was monumental for the Vaccaro’s. They had been forced to use their retirement funds for medical expenses and those savings were beginning to run out. Without this win, they would not have been able to afford Paige’s continued care.
Cristy is also thankful that this ruling will help keep families from having to fight as hard as the Vaccaro’s did. “When I found out we won, a weight was lifted off my shoulders. It was wonderful to know that our struggles could help other families.”
The assistance means that Vaccaro family gets to have financial freedom and means to survive. Cristy is now focused on giving Paige as normal of a life as possible. She is able to go back to school and even plays volleyball. There are good and bad days, but Paige is now able to look forward to the future instead of dreading it.
Stock image used to protect the client's privacy.
