Ed and Christie Forrest of Suffolk, Va. on the advantages of Optima Health's Clinical Care Services.
“Optima helped when no one else would. When the other insurance provider fell down, they dropped the ball, Optima was there to pick it up...”
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Ed Forrest is an assistant principal at an alternative school in Virginia Beach so he’s used to dealing with difficult situations. However, he wasn’t prepared for what happened on September 29, 2007 when he collapsed in the bathroom at his home. The diagnosis was not good—paralysis from the neck down. He had to pull out all of his skills to deal with this situation.
Less than one year later Ed is on the mend and has hope of living an altered life, but a life worth living.
“I have really been able to get better through therapy, through diligence and through the help of my wife and the support of her family,” comments Ed on his current situation.
His wife, Christie, a professor at a local community college, has been his teammate throughout this experience.
The severity of Ed’s illness has required lots of healthcare services. They are so pleased that they have Optima Health insurance because their experience with another provider had not been positive.
“Optima brings us a lot of hope because I just think one day he’ll (Ed) go back to work,” continues Christie. “If he had never gotten the therapy, he would still be flat on his back in bed and that’s where the other healthcare provider would have left him.”
They give credit to Ed’s strong recovery to Optima and their case manager, Betty, who has been their "angel" from the first day she called.
“I feel overwhelmed since his (Ed's) accident…She’ll console me, give me direction. She gives me hope. All in a single phone call,” a tearful Christie accounts. “She’ll call sometimes to check on us and it is always just at the right time. It really does lift me up when I talk to her,” continues Christie.
Christie is continually amazed that she is talking with a case manager from her insurance company, not a girlfriend or family member.
“Optima helped when no one else would. When the other insurance provider fell down, they dropped the ball, Optima was there to pick it up and offer their services,” Ed states proudly.
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