This Crazy Life

We spent almost 17 weeks with Veritas.  We are only in the middle of week 2 with ERC.  I plan on comparing them a few times during this process.  First impressions.  Veritas admittance process was much more organized.  We came in, were sent upstairs to a private room.  We got to say goodbye.  A nurse came to take her and then I met with her entire team (therapist, dietician, psychiatrist and doctor) in person.  I got to tell them her story.  Then each person asked more questions directly related to their area of expertise.  Then I left and we were done.  They do not have any waiting period.  She called me that afternoon.  ERC just seemed much more disorganized.  We went in, were sent upstairs, were put in a very small room.  A couple of different people came in.  We signed some forms.  Then we were given time to say goodbye and she left.  I was taken back downstairs to meet Dr. Wooten.  I waited approximately 45 minutes.  He finally came and found me, and I was told I was told to wait in the wrong area.  Him and I spoke for about 10 minutes.  And that was that.  I left.  I had a virtual meeting later that day with her team.  However, this meeting lasted maybe 10 minutes.  Probably closer to 7.  And that was it.  It just felt very rush.  Very impersonal.  I know, and they knew, this wasn’t our first go around.  However, it was our first time with them.  I didn’t get to meet them.  I didn’t get to know them.  The people that would be with my daughter more than me for the next several weeks.  They told me they had read about her.  I obviously have no idea what people have written about my doctor.  But I don’t think anyone can tell the story better than the mom that has taken care of her, her entire life.  ERC does have a “mandatory” 48 hour waiting period.    I did ask and it was agreed to have that waved.  So, I did talk to her that first night.  First week.  She was homesick both places.  She wanted to come home.  ERC she’s been eating 100%.  Veritas she wasn’t even completing 100% and most of that was by supplement.  Veritas she wouldn’t engage with anyone, other patients, TAs, group therapy or individual therapy.  ERC she is engaging.  With everyone the most she can.  I do think the eating and engagement are not due to the place though, I think it’s her being in a better place than she was last November.  Veritas had TAs.  ERC has BHCs.  Both of these are the people that spend the majority of their day with them.  She liked(s) the people at both location and generally has nothing bad to say about them.  She has mentioned the TAs engage with the patients a lot more than the BHCs do.  But this could also be because she’s only a week in.  A week into Veritas she wasn’t talking to anyone.  One major difference, that only she can tell me about, is the group therapy.  At Veritas the group therapy was led by therapists.  They each had a class or two they taught a week.  At ERC the group therapy is led by the BHCs.  She does not think the group therapy is as beneficial at ERC as it was at Veritas because of this.  She doesn’t think they can go as in depth as the therapists did at Veritas.  She said most people just sit through the group therapy.  There is not as much participation.  The BHCs read the information and that is that.  I’m interested to see if this is still her opinion the longer we get in, but this seems to be a big difference to me.  However, all that said, she still prefers ERC.  She says they have more freedom and more flexibility.  She has a private room.  We get to sit in her room together for visits.  She gets her actual phone for phone time and we get to facetime.  It’s crazy, but actually getting to see her every day really helps me, so I’m sure it helps her too.