Archive for December, 2008
Through the lens of grief
This is not the Christmas I expected, even a week ago. My stepbrother, Scott Phipps, died in a single-car accident Monday night, so I’m having to plan a trip to Pennsylvania for his funeral service and the family gathering that will follow. I don’t know how Rose will make it through the day. I know [...]
Trouble ahead
This is from a British news service, which dares to say more than our own US media. I think we’re in for an even bumpier ride, and this means we will have to work even harder to get access to health care for everyone. U.S. Recession Will Hurt Health Care Oxford Analytica, 12.23.08, 06:00 AM [...]
More evidence of our broken system
There’s a new study out showing African-Americans are far more likely to die of colon cancer than whites. Why? Because whites are more likely to have health insurance. They’re more likely to have jobs that offer coverage that includes colonoscopies. If Mike had had access to a colonoscopy, he’d still be alive. Instesad he is [...]
An unregulated system
Not only do we deny access to millions of Americans to our health care system, the ones who are fortunate enough to have an in might be relegated to failing hospitals, where errors occur at alarming rates. Check out this story from the NY Times about hospital oversight: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/08/business/08hospital.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hp While other industrial nations have government [...]
Death from neglect
From the Associated Press: LOS ANGELES (AP) — A homeless woman who died after writhing in pain on a hospital floor for nearly an hour could have survived if she had received proper treatment, a county report concedes. The report, obtained by the Los Angeles Times when it was briefly and inadvertently made public in [...]
Second annual Eat at Mike’s
Reserve now
Life o' Mike sponsors its second annual Eat at Mike's, an evening of good food prepared by local chefs, at Tingles Cafe in downtown Asheville. The event also features silent and live auctions with items from Highlands Brewing, artist Angela C. Alexander and more.
Tickets to the dinner are $25; $20 for children 3-12 and free for children under 3.
To reserve, e-mail lifeomike@gmail.com. For more information, call 828-243-6712.
Patient Pals & Family Friends
Life o' Mike has a new peer support program for people newly diagnosed with chronic or serious illness or with a new disability and their caregivers.
Patient Pals are people who have experience with various illnesses and disabilities, who can help someone newly diagnosed or with a new disability work through the fear, frustration, confusion and grief often experienced in the first few months.
Family Friends are there to help caregivers and other family members grow into their new role.
People with new illness or disability fare better when they have a role model -- someone who can help them negotiate their new path in life.
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.