Doctors had to pinch off the entrance to his stomach and install the feeding tube. Now, two years later, Patrick and Lori wouldn't be making this trip, except that they need help. I told them it's his only source of nourishment. They don't care. There's respite care available to give the Krauses a few hours away from the stresses of parenting a disabled child.
Many states provide that for free.
But they can't accept it. The waiting lists are long because of a chronic shortage of money. According to Comcare, the Sedgwick County agency that administers state funding for people with disabilities, there are about 1,200 developmentally disabled people in the county. About one out of 10 are on waiting lists receiving no services at all. Another two out of 10 receive some services but still have unmet needs.