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"What the hell do you think I was doing on the floor? What's twisting her foot going to tell me other than that I" pointing to his chest, "am strong enough to twist a small child's foot! It isn't about what I can do. It is about what she might be able to do." "But how?" "Inventory! Muscle by muscle, joint by joint, sensory skill by sensory skill, for me to do more than just loosen her up for bathing, I have to know what she's got. It isn't about what is wrong. It is about what is left, what's working. Inventory. Is there enough there to put her together some other way that works?" "Is there?" mother shaking breathlessly. "Yes." He paused with a sudden serious demeanor, "but it is going to be a beast of a job. Are you ready to get dug in for this?" Affirmative head bobbing and counter glances between the parents was the answer. Their answer. It wasn't the insurer's answer, however. The insurer's answer was that they had made an error. Although doctor Macaluso was technically in their plan, County Hospital was outside this family's treatment zone. He could give opinions, but actual treatment was confined to their region. Appeals were fruitless. They did see the specialist, Dr. Winter, who was on the approved doctor list in a general hospital in the approved zone, hoping to get the process unstuck. He was nice enough, admitting that he never treated kids like this and "Why don't you stay with Dr. Macaluso? He's weird, but he gets the job done. I'd send my own kid,..." as the parents chimed in that the insurer balked, not them. "Oh. I'll see what I can do," and he did. He could do nothing but write escalating letters that were denied in escalating fashion. This took months. He had left a note for the parents to at least get a wheel chair until this is all over, "She will need it during

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