United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I have a couple of questions as I'm starting to plan my trip to TCH.

* I am looking into the free air flights from Northwest. It says you either need a referring physician or non-profit organization. Did anyone have their pediatrician or family doctor make the application? Would that work?

* If Andrew is going to be discharged on Thursday, what is the earliest we could plan on catching a flight. We live in Montana. The latest flight we could get home is 1:20, which means we would have to be at the airport at noon or before. Is that too early? Would it be easier to just fly home on Friday?

* What are our options for hotel stays? We'll need a hotel for the days before the surgery and on Thursday night if we have to stay until Friday, right? I thought I read somewhere that you could just stay with your child while he is in the hospital.

Thanks so much for your information and support. Andrew's surgery is April 30, so we have a little bit of time to make all of these plans, but I know it's going to go really fast.

Connie

Connie, go to www.txchildrens.org,you'll find all the info you'll need in the parent's info or resource section. I printed all the lists out I could and made a notebook to take with me. There's a list of all the hotels. We stayed at the Econo-Lodge on Main street for the medical rate of $41.95 a night. When making your arrangements with any of the hotels make sure you tell them you want the medical rate. We rented a car but if you want to be within walking distance there are others closer. Econolodge was nice and we had a refrigerator. Some people we met stayed closer at the Homestead village for 55.95 a night and the had a kitchenette complete with Microwave. Yes, you AND your significant other can stay with your child in the hospital room which except for the daybed was nicer than a hotel. There's a common area for the patients with a microwave and refrigerator to store a few things. Instead of eating out or hospital cafeteria food we saved money by going to the nearby Albertson's and SuperTarget and buying Stouffers dinners. That way only one of us left the hospital once a day and we ate in the common area together when they brought Michaela's meals. Just make yourself at home.

There's lists for the cafeteria's, and food courts. Lists for the parking garages, maps of houston and Medical center campus, etc.

Get your application in now for the free flight. We missed out on this because I found out about it to late. If you can't use your doctor for a sponsor, try Make a wish, or Starelight foundation or Shriners. These programs are great. They use donated frequent flyer miles from people who don't use them to fly the child and 1 parent FREE! If I ever go back to Texas I'm going to start on this at least 6 to 8 weeks in advance. They usually say 2-3 but as usual the app could get lost or something so prepare ahead.

If your going to rent a car, Advantage is cheapest at 129.99 per week if you reserve online. They have a shuttle to there office which is about 2-3 blocks around the corner where you'll pick up and return your car.

My husband says I'm the Master of cheap. I try to find the cheapest way to do everything, even free if I can. God knows I have to! If I can help with anymore info just holler! LeeAnne

Oh, I forgot, you might as well plan on staying till Friday with the times you described. They'll tell you you'll be discharged by noon but we didn't get out of there till 2:30. Our flight was at 7:30 and by the time we returned the rental car and went through security we had 1 hour to eat dinner before flight. Also our surgery was scheduled for tuesday and they had so many emergencies over the weekend Dr. Nath couldn't get an operating room and we were informed Monday at our consult of this and that our surgery had been rescheduled for Wednesday so we were lucky we hadn't arranged our flight back till Friday. Not saying this wiill happen but it could. LeeAnne, Been there, done that, recently!!

hi Connie...check this out

http://www.injurednewborn.com/maia/travel.html

We paid $69/night at the Marriott for the Entertainment Card rate. Also the Best Western at that time was $59/ night. Now all these rates may have changed - they change frequently. People always seem to do well with Crowne and HOliday Inn too and all of these are essentially across the street (Crowne being the absolute closest) Always ask for Medical rate - you can also try asking for Brachial Plexus Clinic rate because Lisa D has made some deals with some places I remember hearing. And if you get a really good Entertainment Card rate and you don't have the card, I can send you mine. (They have never asked me for my card yet actually)

Marriott room came with a refrigerator and microwave (upon request - free). Holiday Inn was the same. Don't know about Crowne. I don't think Best Western did. Best Western has a free continental breakfast. Best Western and Mariott have heated indoor pools. Mariott and Holiday Inn have shuttles that will take you in a 2 mile radius. I think that Best Western's shuttle just take you to the hospitals and am not sure about Crowne. But there is also a public shuttle bus that I heard goes around too.

Maia stayed in the hospital two nights (should have been one night) and then we were discharged the next day and had no problem getting to our 1:00 pm flight. That next day she was supposed to see the doctor and also get her splint checked. We told the nurse the night before of our discharge plans and she got all the meds and appointments that night so that in the morning we were all set. We had plenty of time to spare.

Maia does better at home than in a hospital or hotel so we felt much better just jumping on the plane and going home. She was really happy knowing she was going home too. The first time she had surgery we stayed 2 extra days and it was excruciating for all of us. We all wanted to get home really.

As far as a non-profit organization - well UBPN is a non profit org. Why don't you email Cathy Kanter and see what she can do for you? cathy@ubpn.org

Connie - check out the page I have on What To Expect on the Day Of Surgery. It will be helpful. And in the TCH section there are many pictures.

http://www.injurednewborn.com/maia/homepage.html

It's good that you are doing this now...you'll have it all worked out early - less stressful that way - if there is such a thing when your child is going for surgery!

Ask away.....

-francine

I never thought about UBPN being a non-profit. Wouldn't it be great if they could be used as a sponsor. Alot of us could get to Texas for free!! Would love to know if it works. Seems several airlines have similar programs. Northwest calls theirs KID Cares and American airlines calls theirs Miles for Kids. You can find applications at their websites. I got them, but too late. I'd like to meet you someday Francine, seems we think alike,but you seem to have more experience and knowledge. I like to learn from others. I've found these message boards to be stimulating. LeeAnne

ps - we rented a car the first time and it just sat there - we never rented one again. The shuttle system is really good there. And many restaurants deliver and there is also Takeout Taxi - a company that will deliver your food for a whole bunch of restaurants - their booklets are usually found in the lobbies of the hotels...just know that it takes 2 hours to get your meal so you have to plan early.

People say that the cafeteria at Methodist Hospital (next door to TCH) is better then the one at TCH. FYI

I agree with you, about the car rental. We never had taken a vacation and we didn't want Michaela's only memories of Texas to be surgery, so we went a day early and went to the Houston City Zoo and the Children's Museum. Otherwise, except for the daily trip to the grocery the car sat in the parking garage. The taxi prices to and from the airport though are so high and this gave us some freedom if we needed it. If your only going for the surgery and leaving upon discharge, I wouldn't rent one either.

Thanks for all of the great information. Francine, I have visited your website and gotten tons of information. Thanks so much for the great resource. I'm sure I'll be visiting many more times before this is all over.

LeeAnn, thanks for all of your info. It will be a great help. I too am a bargain shopper. I don't like to spend money on anything unless it's a good deal, so thanks for giving me the resources to start my search.

I'm sure I'll have more questions as time goes on. Thanks, everyone, for being there.

Connie

I put more information under the heading Free flight to Texas. I put it under a separate post so others interested would read the info. LeeAnne Also if you think of anymore ??'s I'll be glad to help if I can.