A 12-year-old Texas girl who gained more than 140 pounds after a rare complication following brain surgery will have a weight-loss operation covered by U.S. military health insurance, her mother said Friday.
Alexis Shapiro could be scheduled for gastric bypass surgery within eight weeks, after TRICARE, the military insurer, reversed an earlier decision to deny the surgery because the girl was too young.
"I couldn't ask for anything more," said Jenny Shapiro, 34, of Cibolo, Texas. "I'm just so happy."
NBC News couldn't immediately reach TRICARE representatives, but Jenny Shapiro said that a case manager called her with the news late Friday. The reversal came less than a week after NBC News first reported the story.
In the meantime, well-wishers donated more than $78,000 to an online fund to help the girl, who suffers from a rare disorder that makes her gain massive amounts weight even as her body thinks it's starving.
The problem started in 2011 after Alexis, then a normal 9-year-old, had surgery to remove a rare benign brain tumor, which wound up damaging her hypothalamus and pituitary gland, two organs that regulate weight and appetite.
Since then, she's gained at least two pounds a week, climbing to nearly 200 pounds on 4-foot-7 frame, despite strict diet and exercise. At times, her parents have had to padlock kitchen cupboards because of her severe food cravings caused by the disorder.
Dr. Thomas Inge, a pediatric obesity expert at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, says that gastric bypass surgery will stop the weight gain, help Alexis lose her extra weight and curb the food cravings.
Jenny Shapiro emphasized her gratitude for the donations and said the money would pay for medical expenses not covered by insurance and for travel from Texas to Ohio. Any remaining will be used to help other children with similar problems, she said.
"I just want to do what's right for everybody," she added.
Source: NBC News
Source: NBC News
11 comments:
Good thing she's going to get the surgery. Health is more important than anything - if you're healthy, you can do anything.
I have Tricare through my husband being a 100% disabled Vet. Sometimes you DO have to fight them to get them to do the right thing carewise.
Glad this girl is getting the surgery she needs!
Glad the insurance company changed their tune here. Also neat that the general public opened their hearts and wallets to aid this child.
Great news that the girl can finally have that important surgery and live a normal life again.
That's great news for this little girl and her parents!
I am so happy to hear this sweet little girl is getting the surgery she so greatly needs.
I am so glad they are going to pay for the surgery.
Such an important surgery for someone so young...glad the insurance company is going to pay for it.
It's great this girl is going to get the surgery she needs. After surgery, she will finally have a normal, happy life.
This little girl needs the surgery. I'm glad the insurer decided to change their mind.
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