Infant will receive life-saving brain surgery, after scare

Catherine and Terry Benson, who have been tormented with worry and fear for three weeks about the health of their 5-month-old son Zachary, learned this week his surgery will be covered by insurance.

"It is a load off our minds." Catherine said of the surgery, tentatively set for May 10.

Zachary has hydrocephalus, a buildup of excess cerebrospinal fluid within the brain. When he was 14 days old, a shunt was surgically implanted in his brain to allow the fluid to drain through a tube into his abdomen.

Recent MRIs show the excess fluid is not draining quickly enough because the hydrocephalus has worsened and a cyst has developed. Zachary needs a brain scan, called a cerebral spinal fluid test, which shows the flow of spinal fluid into his brain. The extent of Zachary's surgery is dependent on the brain scan. It will show the size and location of the cyst and if there are any blockages in his brain.

Without surgery, the worst-case scenario is Zachary could go into a coma and die.

"A surgeon from Stanford visits Reno once a month," Catherine Benson said. "He saw Zachary two weeks ago and said he wanted to see him in surgery in one week.

"Our surgical appointment (at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University Medical Center in Palo Alto, Calif.) was canceled when they found out we did not have insurance."

Nevada Medicaid licensed social worker Marti Olsen visited the Benson's Carson City home Monday afternoon. She took her findings to her boss, Sherry Crance, and called Catherine Tuesday to say they were approved through Nevada Medicaid.

The Bensons had previously applied for Medicaid and were denied. They also applied for Supplemental Security Income and were denied because Terry's wages were too high.

The last advice offered was to apply for assistance from the Katie Beckett Fund through Medicaid, which is designed specifically for disabled children.

"Zachary is approved for the Katie Beckett Fund option," Catherine said. "Which means he has full Medicaid coverage for the rest of his life.

The Katie Beckett Fund is for people who make too much money to qualify for welfare, said Michael Sedillo, Zachary's grandfather.

Catherine immediately called her husband to tell him the good news.

"He is very happy," she said. "And I told Marti don't be surprised if he comes in to kiss your feet."

The Bensons have three other children: Tiffany, 19, Alexander, 16, and Hannah, 13. The family needs donations to pay for travel and food expenses.

A Zachary Benson Fund has been set up at Bank of America; donations may be made at any branch.

"Marti said to me, 'We knew your son's life is on the line.' I'm just very happy now."

A call to Olsen's office for comment was not returned.

"I told Marti she saved my son's life - thank you," said Catherine.

• Contact Rhonda Costa-Landers at rcosta-landers@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1223.

You can help

WHAT: Donations to Zachary Benson Fund

WHERE: Any Bank of America