Noah Mitchell Warden was born December 23, 2008, weighing 9lbs and 1oz by emergency c-section at 8:51am. Noah did not breathe or have a heartbeat for the first 13 minutes of his life. He was taken to Children's Hospital in order to have a procedure done known as brain cooling in attempts to minimize damage caused by perinatal asphyxia. Noah's brain cooled for 72 hours after which time the hospital ran an MRI and an EEG to determine the extent of the damage. Unfortunately, the results came back with devastating news. Noah had suffered "global damage" to his brain. As a result the prognosis was grim and they believed Noah had no chances of survival or had the capabilities to know how to ever breathe on his own.  Although Noah was removed from life support, God had other plans for Noah and he came home three days later with hospice care. 

At age eight and a half Noah cannot sit, walk, talk, or self-feed but is cognitively very bright, aware and understands everything. Today, Noah has the diagnosis of Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) resulting in spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy with athetoid movements. Noah's also has a history of seizures and has several secondary conditions related to his primary diagnosis such as a severe sensory processing disorder or (SPD) which presents itself as a gagging and continual vomiting when he is experiencing difficulties with his SPD. 

Noah is on EPSDT Medicaid both due to his disability and low family income guidelines, he is also on the State's HCBS-CES Medicaid Waiver which is supposed to cover the costs that traditional Medicaid doesn't cover alone. 

However, because of his mother's strong advocacy efforts and speaking out in the media, local new stations and going public with the mishandling for tax payer dollars through non-profit organizations that manage Medicaid funds for children with disabilities, Noah has directly been targeted and is suffering from the retaliation and retribution as a result of his mother coming forward.  As such, nearly all of Noah's medically necessary Medicaid funding requests are being denied.

In each case an appeal has been filed, and while we have prevailed on all cases before an Administrative Law Judge who has agreed that Noah's requests are being unjustly denied, the State of Colorado has a provision called an Exception to Initial Decision which they can file to void any favorable ruling by an Administrative Law Judge.  Once they do that they can continually reverse the success we have before an appellate court and renders the appellate process moot.

Noah is now on his 9th denial with the first 8 cases having been filed before the Appellate Court.  Because of the level and severity of Noah's diagnosis he needs a high volume of care, adaptive equipment and medical needs for his quality of life and daily living needs.

The Senior Director of EQ Health,Dr. Ellyn Theophilopoulos, MD, JD, FAAP, (Who manages EPSDT Medicaid funded decisions) testified in Court that it is her position that Noah should be able to fit into a wheelchair he was given at the age of two because he has not outgrown it in weight limit regardless that he has grown in height and width and is approaching the age of nine years old.  Furthermore, on the record she stated in her testimony that she believes that it should be his mother's job to carry him since she is his full time CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant) and that Medicaid is not obligated to meet the needs of the child out in the community only in a home setting and that taking Noah out in public is optional on the part of the parent's. 

While the Judge sided with Noah's family and deemed that Noah does need a transit ready wheelchair option, the State overturned that decision by filing an Exception to Initial Decision which they do in all stages. 

Noah's most recent denial being wheelchair accessories that he needs to prevent pressure sores, injuries and give him better positioning to his high tone. 

Other denials have included; Carpet Saver to keep his area hygienic and free from incontinence accidents, habitual drooling and vomit from his reoccurring SPD episodes which he exhibits frequently even in his own environment and home setting; a $100 Wedge Pillow; Communication needs; Adaptive Equipment that the state has deemed "a luxury," and/or "home furnishing" even though no other family member could use the adaptive equipment as a home furnishing unless they had Noah's diagnosis and were his same size and age; sensory clothing; and miscellaneous adaptive equipment, such as walking and crawling assistive devices, and anti-suffocation pillows.

While Medicaid is currently funding Noah's supplemental drinks they do not cover any of his other nutritional needs and supplements that he needs in order to maintain optimal health as a successful pureed eater.  Those costs range between $400-$500 monthly alone.

The family has exhausted all financial efforts and has no available lines of credit to be able to continue helping Noah with his out of pocket costs or to pick up the voluminous denials from Medicaid and his CCB Waiver.

While Disability Law Attorneys have decided they will take on one of Noah's denials they cannot make a commitment or guarantee that they will assist with any future cases, feeling that his mother who has some legal experience is "fully capable" of handling all matters in a court of law.  Each case that they will decide to assist with comes with a filing fee promissory note of $224.

Because Noah's uninsured medical costs are so high, we are seeking your incredible hearts, love and kindness to help get Noah the things he needs to lead the best possible life. 

He's a beautiful little boy that lights up the world of all those who are blessed to know him.  He's deserving of such greatness in his life.  And with your help you can be a part of his journey and his life's amazing story. 

Thank you all in advance for considering to help Noah.  While we know that times are tough for everyone, even if you are unable to donate or contribute to Noah at this time, your prayers, thoughts and well wishes continue to mean the world to us and our family.

With much love and thanks,

Stacy, Chris, Noah & Luke

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