Over the past several months, our eight-month-old son has faced weight gain challenges and is now on an NG (nasogastric) tube feed. This has BH really helped him, and he is now gaining very well. With the new school year beginning and my wife starting a new job, we’ve been searching for a Morah or daycare that could take him. Unfortunately, nearly every Morah and daycare we’ve approached has turned us away, not out of unwillingness to care for our child, but out of fear and misunderstanding of what the NG tube really involves.
In reality, his situation is not at all as complicated as it may seem. The NG tube allows him to get his nutrition, and aside from that he is just like any other baby. If the tube ever comes out, the Morah can simply stop the feed and call us. We would just replace the tube ourselves when he is next due for a feeding. Beyond his weight gain issues prior to the NG tube, he is completely normal and not medical challenged, posing no real risk or excessive difficulty. It is just the lack of familiarity often makes people nervous.
The only program that has shown openness so far is the Special Children’s Center, but the cost is beyond what we can manage on a kollel family budget. I am sure there are many other families in Lakewood dealing with similar situations, i.e. children who have non-complex medical needs but simply require an NG tube to be fed. We also believe there are Morahs and daycare providers who would be open to caring for such children, if only they had a bit more information and reassurance.
We would love to connect with other families in this situation and with Morahs or daycares willing to consider taking children like ours. Together, we could help build an option for our community that would make a real difference for many.
So, if you have a baby in a similar situation or are a Morah or daycare who is willing to take such children, please respond through the Scoop.
Sincerely,
A Lakewood father
TLS welcomes your letters by submitting them to [email protected]
Reach out to yahalom. They can ask around. There are definitely parents with children on feeding tunes who have sent to places other than center. Center daycare is amazing too
Lot’s of Hatzlocho on this search.
although I have no resource to offer you you, my brocha is that your son grow up to be א גרויסע תלמיד חכם.
Not sure if he would qualify for private duty nursing while at school / on feeds
If you live in lakewood The Center is free.
Maybe try Schi?
I have a baby on a feeding tube and have him home with me and would be willing to start a small group with kids on feeding tubes/and without (I have done babysitting in the past) if youre interested in hearing more details and talking about starting this group pls email me at [email protected]
Would it be beneficial if he was home until this saga passes. Eight month old babies are probably best at home without unnecessary exposure to germs. Often such babies get approved through insurance for a few hours of nursing care.
Did you read the letter?!
Are you offering to replace their income?
The letter is quite clear that his wife is starting a new job.
Whether she is starting a new job because she stayed away from work while dealing with the medical situation or she was “laid off”, they clearly cannot afford to continue living without an income.
So please look at the rest of the comments which are either supportive or providing resources, and take a valuable lesson.
I know how hard that can be.
So that you know, Manchester Medical Paediatrics Daycare (near the shop right in Manchester) takes medically complex children ages newborn to 5. It is fully covered by Medicaid and offers transportation to and from daycare. It’s run by two nurse practitioners, Jeene and Peri, both of whom practice on their “off hours” with Peri at Dr Fenster.
Worth checking out. Peri can be reached at [email protected].
There is a place called “cedar row” (it used to be there) on rockerfeller road in ocean point who are morahs for more medical babies..they would forsure take your baby if they had room
A typically eight month baby that’s struggling with nutrition is probably best off at home. They don’t need the socialization that playgroup has to offer. Exposure to more germs is likely to further hinder appetite development. Sometimes a nurse through insurance can help.
You felt the need to write the same thing twice?
And you are literally making stuff up.
Aside from which, I don’t know if you care but apparently the family can’t afford to continue on zero income.
My grandmother had this sort of problem.
You describe a situation and explain how you are trying to resolve it and she’ll come at you with a wacky guilt trip to try to get you to consider not resolving the situation at all.
Totally ignores reality, but she’s well intentioned.
I think that she’s going to join a paving crew soon.
Oy that’s not an easy position to be in.
Getting into a Morah this late in the game is difficult, but when you need a Morah who understands your needs (it’s more than just running a pump at a preset speed, she needs to protect him from the bigger kids yanking it out), it’s much harder.
I don’t have a clear suggestion for you, but I do have some resources (i.e. contact information for another family who had a similar experience and the name of a Morah who maybe willing to take such a child if she has space, etc.) but I won’t put any of that publicly on the comments section.
Please let us know how we can share this kind of information with you in a manner that doesn’t put your regular contact information on blast.
Hatzlacha Rabbah
If you have Medicaid then there is a program called PPP, public partnership program. Can’t hurt to look into. Good luck 😘
A nurse trying to start a medical daycare 6467494803
Since you, yourself admits that there is nothing really with your kid and you have a place that would accept her/him.
So all you really need is More money.
I don’t have any, but I think that is what you should be focus on.
Not whether there are similar cases like yours.
Focus on this and your life will be much easier!
Shmeel,
The father is looking for a solution that fits both his baby’s needs, and his budget. Is that difficult to grasp?
It makes perfect sense to ask others in similar circumstances!
Regarding your comment about life being much easier–well, yes, more money does make life easier. But it could be a lot more doable to find a solution within budget than to quickly raise one’s income, or raise funds.