Bobby Butterworth
My Friend, Bobby Butterworth had some chest pains a month ago, on a Thursday. We told him to go to the ER. He decided to wait the evening, because he had no insurance – He felt a hospital bill would bankrupt him and leave him on the street (the ER asks for money up front now, humiliating you if you can\’t pay.) By Friday, he was dead. We buried him on a Wednesday. It is just NOT FAIR that a hardworking american has to make a decision to seek healtcare or keep a roof over his head.
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.
Could you imagine if your house was on fire and you had to give the fire department cash, check or a credit card before they would put the fire out? How about the police department? Somethings should be part of our society. Health care is one of them. People shouldn’t have to choose between their health or a home.
I work at the ER and yes we do ask for a payment, but treatment is never refused if that payment cannot be met, and never have I seen anyone humiliting someone because they cannot pay. The hospital also offers financial assistants to many patients that qualify. Also ABCCM and the health department provide care for patients for free ( as far as I know)
The ER is a great place for emergencies, but not for regular health care — it just isn’t equipped to do that. We need a better solution. ABCCM will offer care, but it can’t see everyone. The wait to see a physician can be weeks because of the need. The health department isn’t taking any new patients. Many of the people who work in the system are good people, but the system is broken.