THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, June 28, 1994 TAG: 9406280343
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY IDA KAY JORDAN, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: 940628 LENGTH: PORTSMOUTH
The 5-week-old infant will never be able to use her left arm without the surgery her dad's medical insurance won't cover.
{REST} During birth, Brittany suffered nerve damage to her shoulder and arm. Her perfectly formed left hand and wrist function normally, but she can't bend her elbow or turn her arm.
Brittany is the daughter of Carey and Kimberly Saunders Ricks. Carey Ricks works for the Portsmouth Traffic Engineering Department. He is insured under the city's Blue Cross-Blue Shield Major Medical policy.
But the insurance company won't pay for the 18 hours of microsurgery by Norfolk's Dr. Julia Terzis, who is known worldwide for her achievements in the field.
``They (the insurance company) consider this surgery experimental even though the doctor has done it successfully many times,'' Brittany's 21-year-old father said.
He was gently holding Brittany in his arms, talking softly to her.
``I was surprised they wouldn't cover the surgery,'' he said. ``You'd think they'd look at it and see that it's her whole future.''
Ricks, son of a retired Portsmouth police officer, works a second job at Dunkin Donuts to make ends meet. His total take-home pay is about $900 a month.
Kim Ricks, Brittany's 20-year-old mother, is a senior at Old Dominion University majoring in psychology and counseling. She takes home about $200 a month from a part-time job as a data-entry clerk for the Portsmouth public schools.
The couple need more than three times their combined annual take-home income to pay the surgical team for Brittany's first operation, scheduled for July 11 at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. She will be taken to Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters afterward.
The young father said that while the insurance company will cover a large part of other expenses for the baby's treatment, he and his wife will have to pay a percentage of the hospital bill as well as the surgical charges.
Still, Brittany is luckier than most babies born with obstetrical brachial plexus paralysis, a form of Erb's Palsey.
Many similar birth injuries are not treated until months after birth. Within two weeks of Brittany's birth, her injury was diagnosed and she was referred to Terzis.
The best chance of successful surgery occurs when the first operation is done within 90 days of birth, when the damaged nerves are still healthy. Subsequent surgery will involve transplanting nerves from Brittany's legs to her arm.
``Brittany will be in a Fiberglas body cast from the top of her head to her waist for six weeks,'' her mother said. ``They don't want any movement that could undo what they have done.''
Kim Ricks said her baby will be in physical therapy for 18 months or longer after the operations.
Upon hearing that his granddaughter would not gain use of her arm without surgery, Buddy Saunders went into action.
Saunders called on his fellow Lions Club members for help in setting up the Brittany Ricks Medical Fund under the Lions District 24D Charity Foundation.
``We have a 25-member committee working, and we've gone to other service organizations,'' Saunders said. ``In two weeks we have about $7,000 cash in hand.''
Saunders is confident the public will respond and the money will come in before the surgery begins. by CNB