11-Year-Old Girl Battles Insurance Company Over Mystery Breast Disease
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Delorian Cole is a typical 11-year old girl except she's battling a rare, painful and public disease.
When she was 9, her breasts started growing, and wouldn't stop.
She loves to watch TV and listen to music. "Pink is probably my favorite color," she said while sharing her story with our sister station in Los Angeles.
Click here to watch Irika Sargent's report.
"People look at me, and they're like 'How old are you are you? 16?' I'll go like this [she crosses her arms in front of her chest] because I don't want people to see me," Delorian said.
It was two years ago that Delorian first told her mother, Thalia Hicks, that her chest hurt.
"It's like they grew overnight," said Hicks. "If I was to measure, we're talking her bra went from a size 32 to 38. They're red, they're hard, and she's telling me 'I'm sore. I'm hurting Mommy, look.' "
Doctors at Children's Hospital Los Angeles diagnosed Delorian with virginal mammary hypertrophy. It's a rare endocrine and hormonal disease that has had only 103 reported cases in the United States.
The disease causes the breasts to discharge and grow at a rapid rate.
By the time she was ten years old, she wore a size 50F bra, only found at plus size stores or online.
"I would have to literally buy these bras every week," said Hicks.
Hicks said doctors recommended monthly shots of Lupron to stop the growth. Lupron is often prescribed to treat fibroid tumors in women, prostate cancer in men and premature puberty in children.
While one dose was authorized, she said, they soon received a letter from their insurance, saying Preferred IPA of Southern California will not cover the shots based on Anthem Blue Cross' criteria. According to Hicks the insurance company said the treatment was "not medically necessary."
The claim was denied because Delorian was older than 1o, and it's recommended the drug be used on girls before the age 8, before puberty.
"My child is not going through puberty. My child is going through a breast disease that needs some medical attention," Hicks said.
Because of the continuous breast growth, doctors performed surgery on Delorian earlier this year, which insurance did cover. They removed 1,000 grams from each breast, bringing her down to a 42C.
But Hicks said Delorian is already back to a double D cup.
"The surgical doctor said she needs to continue on the Lupron so that when she's finished her therapy, she won't have to repeat it. Guess what? Her breasts are growing back, without the Lupron shots," she explained.
Hicks fears an endless cycle of surgeries for her daughter.
In addition, Delorian's condition stops her from going to school.
"She has to wake up and look at scars and feeling like she's not normal. Then to sit there and come to me and say, 'Mommy, I got another knot.' It's too much for a kid."
The family has now filed a lawsuit against their insurance company.
"Every patient is entitled to timely and adequate health care, and that's all she's asking for," said lawyer Travis Corby.
Blue Cross said Delorian was part of a Medi-Cal plan, not a group or private plan, meaning they're part of a government-subsidized plan.
It's a distinction Delorian and her mother don't believe should make a difference in her care. They're asking for the coverage they say will help her cope.
"They need to do what's right," Hicks said, "and pay for my daughter's treatments. That's all I'm asking. They are causing a lot of damage, a lot of suffering, and my child has had enough and so have I."
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