A mother from Texas, Rachele Miller, who unfortunately lost both her hands in a serious dog attack, is claiming that Medicaid has denied coverage for her prosthetics. She explains that the devices she needs to regain her independence are just sitting unused in her doctor’s office.
At 49, Miller is not just facing physical challenges; she also battles severe phantom pain. She’s trying to raise $19,000 to afford a custom prosthetic.
“It was hell,” she shared with the Post.
The incident that changed her life happened in May 2023, while she was watching her daughter’s adopted Dogo Argentino, Oakley. Living in Mansfield, Texas, for seven years, she described the dog as “always happy,” with no signs of aggression, even letting him stay overnight.
But that night, everything turned. The dog attacked her.
“He grabbed my left hand. I remember feeling my arm just jerking out of the socket,” she recalled.
In an attempt to protect herself, she tried to move away with her right hand, but Oakley quickly latched onto it too.
“My son saved me and said there was blood everywhere from my elbow,” she explained. “The dog was fine before this. I cared for him every night.”
After the attack, she was rushed to the hospital, where doctors amputated her arm at the elbow. She spent a month recovering there.
The attack drastically altered Miller’s life.
She left her job and moved to Virginia to live with her brother, who now looks after her. Currently, her income relies solely on Social Security.
Prior to her coverage denial, she had been fitted for a two-headed prosthetic.
However, when she went to pick them up last fall, she was informed that Medicaid would not cover the costs.
“They said I would make too much money,” Miller said.
Finding another insurance provider willing to pay for the prosthetics proved fruitless.
“Your life is so difficult, and when you call for help, it seems like the government makes it harder,” she expressed, feeling frustrated with the system that often leaves those in need without assistance.
Despite the hurdles, Miller remains determined. She initiated a GoFundMe campaign and has raised nearly $4,900 towards her $24,000 goal for the prosthetic and the necessary physical therapy.
“With these prosthetics, I’ll be able to hold my child again,” she shared with excitement, expressing gratitude for being alive. “I’m not getting a real hug. When people see you this way, they worry about hurting you. But you can’t hurt me.”
