NPR

Father's And Son's Hand Injuries Lead To The Mother Of All Occupational Therapy Bills

After surgery for separate hand injuries, a father and son endured lengthy occupational therapy, which their insurer considered to be an alternative treatment. The family owed more than $8,500.
Angel Dean Lopez and his son Theo both sustained serious injuries to their hands that required surgery and months of occupational therapy.

Angel Dean Lopez is a Hollywood television writer and father who enjoys doing projects with his three kids. Every fall, he helps them transform 7-inch-long blocks of wood into whimsical race cars for the neighborhood's annual pinewood derby in the Los Feliz area of Los Angeles.

"So you have to take your block of wood, shape it, sand it, paint it, use your imagination," Lopez said, pointing to some favorites from derbies past that sit on a shelf in his home office, cars in the shape of an ice cream cone, a penguin and an Altoids peppermint box.

But one derby project lives in infamy: a San Pellegrino bottle on wheels. It was the

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR4 min read
A Portrait Of Haitians Trying To Survive Without A Government
Haiti is on the verge of collapse, with little to no government. But many Haitians have already learned to live without the support of the state, as NPR discovered traveling to Cap-Haïtien.
NPR3 min readAmerican Government
The Search For An Impartial Jury In Trump's Hush Money Case Resumes
Jury selection continues in the trial focused on the former president. Trump is present in the courtroom while New Yorkers answer personal questions about their ability to serve on the jury.
NPR2 min read
Trader Joe's Recalls Basil Linked To 12 Salmonella Infections In 7 States
The Food and Drug Administration warns Trader Joe's customers in dozens of states to throw out fresh basil after a federal investigation linked the product to a salmonella outbreak.

Related Books & Audiobooks