A harowing couple of days
Jennifer called me Wednesday night to tell me Danny had been burned at work — again. This is the third time he has been seriously burned at work.
My first thought was that I was about to lose him. A paper mill is a dangerous place to work, but he has had second- and third-degree burns three times now.
Like many industries, paper mills have tried to cut costs by cutting employees — and cutting corners. I don’t know whether injuries are up industry-wide, but I’d be willing to bet they are. Industry leaders use the word “efficiency,” but what it comes down to is greed.
I’ve lost one son to greed already, I can’t bear to think about losing my only surviving child to the same thing.
It’s funny — Danny and I are such polar opposites politically, but when we talk about health care and the way big business preys upon workers while CEOs make multi-million-dollar bonuses, even when companies fail, we agree that governement needs to step in and control the greed so that the middle class isn’t squeezed out of existence. We agree that people who work hard should be rewarded with the ability to support themselves.
While Danny’s out, workers’ compensation will pay 60 percent of his base salary. He did get the best medical care available anywhere this time, and it’s all paid for. But he’s still living on 60 percent of his base salary, which means he’ll sink deeper into debt. I think the company should at least be responsible for paying his full salary since it was a piece of faulty equipment that caused his burns.
I’m so grateful he’s alive. I couln’t face losing him, even if we do disagre politically.
Patient Pals & Family Friends
Life o' Mike has a peer support program for people with one or more serious or chronic medical issues or disabilities.
We aim to reduce isolation and fear among people who have conditions, including psychiatric illness, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, mild dementia or other cognitive disorder or disability, thereby reducing depression and complications as people learn to improve self-management of their medical conditions.
Patient Pals help alleviate feelings of isolation and frustration. They can help people develop a list of questions to ask the doctor and then accompany the person to the doctor to make sure all the questions are answered, taking notes to be sure the person understands the doctor’s answers.
Our trained volunteers also accompany their “Pals” to art exhibits, movies and walks outdoors, meet for coffee, call to check in and more.
Our Pals have experienced weight loss, improvement in diabetes, HIV, psoriasis, depression and more, just because they have someone who cares about them. Some relationships develop into longer-term friendships; other Pals move on to more independent lives.
Family Friends are there to help caregivers and other family members grow into their new role.
We need volunteers, who are asked to donate a minimum of one hour a week. Training is free and includes information on active listening, ways to help and when to know more help is needed.
And of course, we need funding.
To learn more, call Leslie Boyd at 828-243-6712 or e-mail lifeomike@gmail.com.
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