FAIRFIELD, Maine (NEWS CENTER) -- Deborah Klane of Fairfield has been fighting with Department of Health and Human Services for the last year to keep her son's home nursing care. It's a fight she can't afford to lose.
Evan Klane was born with Cerebral Palsy and suffers from uncontrollable epilepsy, making it impossible for him to function or move on his own. Doctors told his family not to plan his first birthday. They celebrated his 21st last September. But when Evan turned 21 the state of Maine notified his mother, Deborah, that his home nursing care would be dropped from 24 hours a day, down to four. "I have to have help. I cannot do this by myself," said Klane. "And all I want is the state to just leave him alone. And just leave things the way they are, and just let him have the nursing care he needs and deserves."
Evan has been on his parent's health insurance since birth. But that doesn't cover the estimated $20,000 a month it costs to provide his home nursing, which until now was covered by Maine Care. Ellie Symonevich has been Evan's day nurse since he was 18 months old. "He's a very special young man, I've learned alot from Evan," Said Symonevich of Evan. "I've watched him through the good times, I've watched him through the bad times."
Over the past 20 years Symonevich has learned alot about Evan's passions, from the Redsox to his love of Harry Potter. She was there when he graduated from Lawrence High School in 2009, a huge milestone for the Klane family. But she worries about what type of a toll her absence will have on Evan's health. "I worry about Evan's care, his safety," said Symonevich.
Deborah's husband, Jonathan, had to take work out of state, leaving her at home to run the families consulting business as well as take care of Evan and his younger brother Ian. Their last appeal to DHHS was declined earlier this month, giving the Klanes 15 days to contest. The stress of caring for Evan, and worrying about what his future holds has weighed heavily on the family. But on top of all that, thier main concern is his well being.
NEWS CENTER