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About sunny2879

Yvonne c/o Jeremy started this conversation
Mar 30, 2009

Hello. I am writing on behalf of a friend, Jeremy Blush. He is a 29 year old who when he was 13 went into a deep depression that to date no available medication or treatment option could improve. He has been fighting severe suicidal feelings for a very long time and there is no way to know how long someone suffering so severely can hold on to life. Recently the FDA approved a procedure that implants a device which sends stimulation to the particular regions of the brain that cause his depression. He has been denied every level of appeal by his insurance company. The company who makes the device will provide a free device if we can raise enough money for the surgery itself. The total will be $29,000. I am asking people make a check payable to straight to the hospital so everyone knows this is a valid appeal. Please help me save this one life by sending anything you can. We can provide any form of documentation you might like to verify Jeremy's health status, the surgeon who will be performing it or the billing department at the hospital. Thank you so very much for your consideration and please feel free to send this out to others you know might be able to help. Please email me for more details. Thanks, Yvonne Keeffe 2879@sbcglobal.net

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jamieinenglewood
Apr 23, 2009

Your a good friend and I hope you can find help for him,and wish you and him the best.

reply to jamieinenglewood
Anonymous
Mar 31, 2009

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has some very promising outcomes, however it is still very risky, still considered experimental, and as a result has not been approved for the treatment of depression in the US. Therefore the insurances companies will not cover the cost.

However there are medical trials that may help - http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?term=deep+brain+stimulation&recr=Open


There are many factors that could possible be at work here - was an MRI done to rule out any brain/organ abnormalities that could be causing the depression?  With the onset of symptoms @ 13y/o...I would have to wonder if puberty doesn't play a part in his depression. While I know most pediatricians will do some blood work - has he been seen by a specialist (endocrinologist)? 

While DBS is risky, a less riskier option may be ECT (shock therapy)? While I know some people may find it archaic and horrific, it does have an ability to alleviate severe depression and save lives. It did for me. 

I understand your quest for an immediate solution to jeremy's problem. 16 years ago, children with depression were treated as "moody" and parent's were told "they'll grow out of it"... unfortunately a LOT of people suffered and died because the medical community was too stupid to realize how terrible life was for these kids. Don't get me wrong, I do not advocate drugging kids simply because they won't behave, but if there is a serious problem that goes beyond the normal behaviors I am all for finding the true cause of the problem and solving it. I hope this helps... I wish you the best...

one last thing I found 

http://healthnewsdigest.com/news/FDA_Approval_240/FDA_Approves_Humanitarian_Device_Exemption_for_Deep_Brain_Stimulator_for_Severe_Obsessive-Compulsive_Disorder_printer.shtml

reply to Anonymous