Re: From Ontario to CT in Chicago?

[Guest guest]

Haylee, sorry it took me so long to reply. We have twins too and as you can imagine, our hands are full. We go to Oakbrook location in Chicago, so I cannot really give you any advise about getting to Glenview. Is there any particular reason you chose Glenview. From what I know the same clinicians work at both locations. We chose to rent a car, because it's quite a drive from O'Hare airport and renting a car is not only cheaper but also more convenient. We used Thrifty car rentals and their prices are great! We stayed at La Quinta Inn. USD $ 80 per night including continental breakfast. Very clean and quite nice. If you decide to go to Oakbrook, there is a Brookfield zoo nearby, which is really great, and it was a lifesaver during those first few hours after the fitting. Airplane tickets are significantly cheaper if you buy them at least two weeks ahead the trip. That's everything I can

think of, at least for now. Let me know if you have any specific questions. I am so happy for you and Andre that you are going to Chicago. The staff there is absolutely amazing. We've been seen by Joanne and Ginny and both are great! Who are you going to see? Val Mark 16.5 months, banded on May 4.haylee204 <rascle204@...> wrote: We are planning to take our son to Chicago (Glenview)for DOC band #2 and we live in Manitoba Canada. I remeber that there were some people from Ontario going there and I just wanted to know if you guys had any advice on traveling there. Is it best to take a cab or rent a car once you arrive? Are there any hotels near by the clinic. I am very nervous about having to drive on the freeway. Is it that bad? I'd love to hear any advice anyone

had. Thanks.Hayleemom to andre 20 months tort/plagio doc band #1 11/22/05 - 03/22/06Lesly 20 months

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[Guest guest]

Haylee,I don't know exactly where the Glenview clinic is located, but there are plenty of hotel options not far from the Oak Brook location...and a great shopping mall too! The same clinicians work at both clinics, so you'll get the same care whichever you choose. I think it's likely a toss-up regarding distance from the airport. Traffic is crazy these days with construction everywhere, so be prepared! The expressways aren't that scary, but maybe I'm just used to it. I do think it would be easier for you to have a rental car at your disposal once you're in the area of the clinic.haylee204 <rascle204@...> wrote: We are planning to take our son to Chicago (Glenview)for DOC band #2 and we live in Manitoba Canada. I remeber that there were some people from Ontario going

there and I just wanted to know if you guys had any advice on traveling there. Is it best to take a cab or rent a car once you arrive? Are there any hotels near by the clinic. I am very nervous about having to drive on the freeway. Is it that bad? I'd love to hear any advice anyone had. Thanks. Haylee mom to andre 20 months tort/plagio doc band #1 11/22/05 - 03/22/06 Lesly 20 months __________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

We were thinking Glenview because they said it was easier to get to

from Ohare Airport. Now I am confused as to which place to go to,

lol.

Haylee

> We are planning to take our son to Chicago (Glenview)for DOC

band #2

> and we live in Manitoba Canada. I remeber that there were some

people

> from Ontario going there and I just wanted to know if you guys had

any

> advice on traveling there. Is it best to take a cab or rent a car

> once you arrive? Are there any hotels near by the clinic. I am

very

> nervous about having to drive on the freeway. Is it that bad? I'd

> love to hear any advice anyone had. Thanks.

>

> Haylee

> mom to

> andre 20 months tort/plagio doc band #1 11/22/05 - 03/22/06

> Lesly 20 months

>

>

>

>

>

> For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

Hi Haylee! I was just wondering if you checked into Angel Flights?

We flew from KY to Chicago and went to the Oakbrook offices through

Angel Flights and it was great. We would leave and get back the same

day. If you are interested, I can tell you the names of the small

airports we flew into. We also rented a car - it was much cheaper.

Cab fares were $40-50, and Enterprise was around $25-30. I got them

off of Hotwire.com, I think. Best wishes! The staff are great...

Kentucky

> > We are planning to take our son to Chicago (Glenview)for DOC

> band #2

> > and we live in Manitoba Canada. I remeber that there were some

> people

> > from Ontario going there and I just wanted to know if you guys

had

> any

> > advice on traveling there. Is it best to take a cab or rent a

car

> > once you arrive? Are there any hotels near by the clinic. I am

> very

> > nervous about having to drive on the freeway. Is it that bad?

I'd

> > love to hear any advice anyone had. Thanks.

> >

> > Haylee

> > mom to

> > andre 20 months tort/plagio doc band #1 11/22/05 - 03/22/06

> > Lesly 20 months

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

Haylee,

I just started going to CT in Oakbrook and live about 20 minutes away. I'm not

sure if you are set on going to Glenview but if you change to Oakbrook, I can

help you. If you need some specific suggestions about travel and

accomodations, you can e-mail me at cmiller3000@...

For either choice, here are some of my suggestions. I think Val's information

is very good.

I do think that the best thing to do is to rent a car because it will be

difficult to

get around the suburbs in cabs. Oakbrook and Glenview are suburbs so the

traffic is not scary. It may be a little confusing to leave the airport but you

won't

be heading into downtown Chicago so you should be fine.

If you are really afraid to drive, you can take a cab from the airport (usually

they have a fixed price to certain suburbs) or a limo and then go to your hotel.

There are numerous hotels (at least around Oakbrook) because there are a

lot of businesses and conventions in the area. Limos cost around $75 one

way and a cab will cost about $45.

From the hotel, you can call for a cab but you'll have to give them time to get

your car seats into them. As you can see, taking cabs and limos everywhere

can start costing a lot. But I also dislike driving and if I were really

nervous

and could handle moving a car seat in and out of a cab, I would take a limo

and/or cab if money is not an issue. I believe that removing any type of stress

is a good thing. My daughter got her band on Monday and I was so nervous I

thought I was going to throw up when I was driving my 20 minutes. But my

daughter acts like nothing new ever happened to her. Her band fit perfectly,

no marks, no sweating and she slept through the night.

I believe that both locations have some of the same clinicians who alternate

days back and forth. I think either location will do a great job.

Please feel free to contact me. I can tell how much you care about your son

to travel so far to do this for them and I can help you if you still need it.

(6 1/2months banded yesterday May 15)

> We are planning to take our son to Chicago (Glenview)for DOC band #2

> and we live in Manitoba Canada. I remeber that there were some people

> from Ontario going there and I just wanted to know if you guys had any

> advice on traveling there. Is it best to take a cab or rent a car

> once you arrive? Are there any hotels near by the clinic. I am very

> nervous about having to drive on the freeway. Is it that bad? I'd

> love to hear any advice anyone had. Thanks.

>

> Haylee

> mom to

> andre 20 months tort/plagio doc band #1 11/22/05 - 03/22/06

> Lesly 20 months

>

>

>

>

>

> For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

I did check into Angel Flights and they said they don't come to

Canada so I'd have to drive across the border to say Grand Forks

or Fargo ND. They are the closest cities but still far. How long

does it take to drive from the airport to the clinic? I'm hoping to

get there and back in one day too. It is a 2 hour flight from

here. Thanks for your response.

Haylee

> > > We are planning to take our son to Chicago (Glenview)for DOC

> > band #2

> > > and we live in Manitoba Canada. I remeber that there were

some

> > people

> > > from Ontario going there and I just wanted to know if you guys

> had

> > any

> > > advice on traveling there. Is it best to take a cab or rent a

> car

> > > once you arrive? Are there any hotels near by the clinic. I

am

> > very

> > > nervous about having to drive on the freeway. Is it that bad?

> I'd

> > > love to hear any advice anyone had. Thanks.

> > >

> > > Haylee

> > > mom to

> > > andre 20 months tort/plagio doc band #1 11/22/05 - 03/22/06

> > > Lesly 20 months

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

Hi

Thanks for your responce. We were thinking we'd go to Glenview

because they (glenview) said it would be easier to get to from

ohare. I'm still not sure if this is true

I think you're right about renting a car. I'm thinking maybe I'll

take a cab the first time to see how to get there and then after

that I'll rent a car. I'm sure once I drive it a couple of times it

will be no problem. It's just that we don't have express ways with

any more than 4 lanes total soooo.... that freaks me out a little.

Cars coming from every direction ahhh. I am also nervous about

getting lost in a " bad neighborhood " . I'll likely be a nervous

wreck when I get there. This should be fun.

Haylee

> > We are planning to take our son to Chicago (Glenview)for DOC

band #2

> > and we live in Manitoba Canada. I remeber that there were some

people

> > from Ontario going there and I just wanted to know if you guys

had any

> > advice on traveling there. Is it best to take a cab or rent a

car

> > once you arrive? Are there any hotels near by the clinic. I am

very

> > nervous about having to drive on the freeway. Is it that bad?

I'd

> > love to hear any advice anyone had. Thanks.

> >

> > Haylee

> > mom to

> > andre 20 months tort/plagio doc band #1 11/22/05 - 03/22/06

> > Lesly 20 months

> >

> >

> >

> >

> >

> > For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

I still think there is little difference in terms of getting from OHare to Oak Brook or Glenview. Mileage is about the same; time on the expressway is about the same. As for bad neighborhoods...there really aren't any scary sections in those areas. There are lots of restaurant options in the Oak Brook area near the clinic as well. haylee204 <rascle204@...> wrote: Hi Thanks for your responce. We were thinking we'd go to Glenview because they (glenview) said it would be easier to get to from ohare. I'm still not sure if this is true I think you're right about renting a car. I'm thinking maybe I'll take a cab the first time to see how to get there and then after that I'll rent a car. I'm sure once I drive it a couple

of times it will be no problem. It's just that we don't have express ways with any more than 4 lanes total soooo.... that freaks me out a little. Cars coming from every direction ahhh. I am also nervous about getting lost in a "bad neighborhood". I'll likely be a nervous wreck when I get there. This should be fun.Haylee> > We are planning to take our son

to Chicago (Glenview)for DOC band #2 > > and we live in Manitoba Canada. I remeber that there were some people > > from Ontario going there and I just wanted to know if you guys had any > > advice on traveling there. Is it best to take a cab or rent a car > > once you arrive? Are there any hotels near by the clinic. I am very > > nervous about having to drive on the freeway. Is it that bad? I'd > > love to hear any advice anyone had. Thanks.> > > > Haylee> > mom to > > andre 20 months tort/plagio doc band #1 11/22/05 - 03/22/06> > Lesly 20 months> > > > > > > > > > > > For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

You could probably do it all in one day. Oak Brook is about 20-25 miles from the airport...I'm guessing 45 minutes max on a high-traffic day.haylee204 <rascle204@...> wrote: I did check into Angel Flights and they said they don't come to Canada so I'd have to drive across the border to say Grand Forks or Fargo ND. They are the closest cities but still far. How long does it take to drive from the airport to the clinic? I'm hoping to get there and back in one day too. It is a 2 hour flight from here. Thanks for your response.Haylee> > > We are planning to take our son to Chicago (Glenview)for DOC > > band #2 > > > and we live in Manitoba

Canada. I remeber that there were some > > people > > > from Ontario going there and I just wanted to know if you guys > had > > any > > > advice on traveling there. Is it best to take a cab or rent a > car > > > once you arrive? Are there any hotels near by the clinic. I am > > very > > > nervous about having to drive on the freeway. Is it that bad? > I'd > > > love to hear any advice anyone had. Thanks.> > > > > > Haylee> > > mom to > > > andre 20 months tort/plagio doc band #1 11/22/05 - 03/22/06> > > Lesly 20 months> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

Haylee,

Glenview and Oak Brook are extremely upscale suburbs and are far away

from any bad neighborhoods. Even though they call it the Chicago area, you

are going to be so far away from the real Chicago, you will not run into any

bad neighborhoods unless you head the wrong direction.

I think when you go for the first time, then all your fears will be gone. The

people here are very friendly and helpful. The traffic will not be at the most

4

lanes where you'll be driving out of the airport but once you enter the suburbs

it'll be easy. It'll probably just be a 1/2 hr to 45 minute ride at the most.

You

can definitely have your visit in the morning and get back. But the most

important thing is to try to avoid rush hour or it'll take you twice as long.

I have some information that could be very helpful for you. If you go to CT and

they say that your son needs a band, they can fax your doctor your son's

information at your appt.. If your doctor can fill out a letter of medical

neccesity

and fax it back, CT can possibly do your casting the same day or next so you

won't have to make 2 trips. Talk to CT and see if you can set up your initial

appt. first thing in the morning and set up the casting for the afternoon or the

next day. You will have to do this ahead of time because they are busy.

They can fax a ready made letter where the doctor just checkmarks the boxes

and signs his/her name and faxes it back. You can give your doctor the

heads up that you will be going to your appt and ask about the availibility for

he/she to be ready to fax back a letter for you.

I needed a turn around time of 2 hours and my doctor did this for me. But my

doctor was very pro-band and had a lot of experience with CT from her

patients. Cranial Technologies will not ok giving you a band unless they find

it is necessary (mild moderate to severe). My doctor says that she trusts CT

because there are many occasions where she sends patients and CT says a

band is not necessary.

But most importantly (and I didn't know this), is that they cannot fit your

child

for a band unless you get a letter of medical necessity from your doctor. Even

if you paid them out of your own pocket (which I offered to do), they need that

letter. Make sure that you have a doctor who will be willing to sign the letter

for sure, otherwise you will have to start searching for a doctor who will.

Plus, if you wait for insurance it might take 30 days so if you are prepared to

pay them upfront and wait for your insurance to process you can get the band

as soon as possible. They have payment plans to choose from.

I know all this info. may be overwhelming but I think that letting you some

ways to lessen the amount of traveling time is worth it for me to mention.

It's been two days since my daughter got her band and I think I can actually

see some small changes already. I believe this because I was never able to

look down and see her right ear ( a buldge was in the way). And today, the

buldge was flattened down a little and I could see her ear! I started to take

pictures today because I was afraid I was just seeing things and now I want to

document them. We'll see at her 1 week appt. if it was just my imagination.

But it makes sense because my daughter constantly sleeps in the same head

postion. Protecting her for two nights of sleep and 3 naps a day is 30 hrs that

she is not pushing her head flat anymore.

Every day is a possible day that your child's head shape could improve with

the band. Stay positive and don't let fear get in your way. You will never

have

any regrets knowing that you did everything you could. Good luck.

> > > We are planning to take our son to Chicago (Glenview)for DOC

> band #2

> > > and we live in Manitoba Canada. I remeber that there were some

> people

> > > from Ontario going there and I just wanted to know if you guys

> had any

> > > advice on traveling there. Is it best to take a cab or rent a

> car

> > > once you arrive? Are there any hotels near by the clinic. I am

> very

> > > nervous about having to drive on the freeway. Is it that bad?

> I'd

> > > love to hear any advice anyone had. Thanks.

> > >

> > > Haylee

> > > mom to

> > > andre 20 months tort/plagio doc band #1 11/22/05 - 03/22/06

> > > Lesly 20 months

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > >

> > > For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

Haylee, you can definitely make it in one day. The flight from Toronto that we take is 1h40m long. We our consultation and casting appointment (it was done at the same time), we left Toronto at 7:00 a.m. for 9:30 a.m. appointment in Oakbrook and we done with them by noon. Unfortunately we had our back tickets only for 8 p.m. and the airline wanted $ 250 to exchange them on earlier flight and it wasn't worth for us, so we ended up going to the zoo. Now we booked all our flights to leave from Chicago at 1:30 p.m. after a 9:00 a.m. appointment which gives us plenty of time. Someone else here mentioned that you needed a letter of medical necessity to get Andre casted. I think it's the case only if you are going to try to get band covered by insuarance. We paid from the pocket, so we didn't need it. The only thing CT asked us for was a prescription from our family Dr. They have a standart for at CT that they could fax to you for your Dr. to sign,

and then you just bring it with you for an appointment. Valhaylee204 <rascle204@...> wrote: Hi Thanks for your responce. We were thinking we'd go to Glenview because they (glenview) said it would be easier to get to from ohare. I'm still not sure if this is true I think you're right about renting a car. I'm thinking maybe I'll take a cab the first time to see how to get there and then after that I'll rent a car. I'm sure once I drive it a couple of times it will be no problem. It's just that we don't have express ways with any more than 4 lanes total soooo.... that freaks me out a little. Cars coming from every direction ahhh. I am also nervous about getting lost in a "bad neighborhood". I'll likely be a

nervous wreck when I get there. This should be fun.Haylee> > We are planning to take our son to Chicago (Glenview)for DOC band #2 > > and we live in Manitoba Canada. I remeber that there were some people > > from Ontario going there and I just wanted to know if you guys had any > > advice on traveling there. Is it best to take a cab or rent a

car > > once you arrive? Are there any hotels near by the clinic. I am very > > nervous about having to drive on the freeway. Is it that bad? I'd > > love to hear any advice anyone had. Thanks.> > > > Haylee> > mom to > > andre 20 months tort/plagio doc band #1 11/22/05 - 03/22/06> > Lesly 20 months> > > > > > > > > > > > For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

Haylee,

I did make a mistake in my previous e-mail. I used the term " medical

necessity " instead of " prescription " . You need a prescription from your doctor

not a letter of medical necessity. I'm sorry about that and hope I did not

confuse you.

> > > > We are planning to take our son to Chicago (Glenview)for DOC

> > band #2

> > > > and we live in Manitoba Canada. I remeber that there were some

> > people

> > > > from Ontario going there and I just wanted to know if you guys

> > had any

> > > > advice on traveling there. Is it best to take a cab or rent a

> > car

> > > > once you arrive? Are there any hotels near by the clinic. I am

> > very

> > > > nervous about having to drive on the freeway. Is it that bad?

> > I'd

> > > > love to hear any advice anyone had. Thanks.

> > > >

> > > > Haylee

> > > > mom to

> > > > andre 20 months tort/plagio doc band #1 11/22/05 - 03/22/06

> > > > Lesly 20 months

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > For more plagio info

[Guest guest]

Hi Haylee! Sorry - I forgot to check to see if you had wanted the

information. It took me about 30 minutes to get from the smaller

airports we flew to with Angel Flights to the CT. They can vary

where they land depending on which clinic you're going to.

> > > > We are planning to take our son to Chicago (Glenview)for

DOC

> > > band #2

> > > > and we live in Manitoba Canada. I remeber that there were

> some

> > > people

> > > > from Ontario going there and I just wanted to know if you

guys

> > had

> > > any

> > > > advice on traveling there. Is it best to take a cab or rent

a

> > car

> > > > once you arrive? Are there any hotels near by the clinic. I

> am

> > > very

> > > > nervous about having to drive on the freeway. Is it that

bad?

> > I'd

> > > > love to hear any advice anyone had. Thanks.

> > > >

> > > > Haylee

> > > > mom to

> > > > andre 20 months tort/plagio doc band #1 11/22/05 - 03/22/06

> > > > Lesly 20 months

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > >

> > > > For more plagio info