Where Mike is
Yarrow and other wildflowers grow near where we scattered Mike's ashes. It's an incredibly beautiful spot
I was feeling so sad and tired today after the activism of the last few weeks. The sermon at church was the story from Mark of the synogogue official whose daughter was dying. He grabs Jesus and implores him to come heal his daughter. He was desperate.
But on the way, a woman who has been bleeding for 12 years, unclean, powerless, marginalized, has the audacity to touch Jesus’ cloak. He feels the energy leave his body and asks who touched him
The father has no patience for this. His child is dying. But Jesus isn’t to be rushed. He tells the woman her faith has healed her.
Meanwhile, the little girl has died. Jesus arrives at the house and sends everyone but her parents out and tells them she’s just sleeping. He tells her to get up, and she does.
I identify with both these people: the powerless, destitute woman and the powerful parent who is about to lose the one thing most precious to him.
I know I would have died gladly to save Michael, but I didn’t have that option. I know powerless; I know desperation.
I still feel it as I try to advocate for health care for all.
I built a cairn next to the flaming azalea bush where Mike is.
After church, Rob and I went to the place where we scattered Michael’s ashes. I was amazed to see a flaming azaela bush. I didn’t know that in April. It made me laugh because Mike used to call himself a flaming asshole.
The flaming azalea is surrounded by blueberry bushes -- Mike's favorite.
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.
How does this proposed legislation appear to you? JY
http://www.house.gov/ryan/PCA Bicameral Coalition of Reformers Unveil “The Patients’ Choice Act of 2009”
On May 20, 2009, U.S. Senators Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK) and Richard Burr (R-NC) and U.S. Representatives Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Devin Nunes (R-CA) introduced health care reform legislation that delivers on the shared principles of promoting universal access to quality, affordable health care, and does so without adding billions of dollars in new debt or taxes.
“The Patients’ Choice Act of 2009,” transforms health care in America by strengthening the relationship between the patient and the doctor; using choice and competition rather than rationing and restrictions to contain costs; and ensuring universal, affordable health care for all Americans. “The Patients’ Choice Act” promotes innovative, State-based solutions, along with fundamental reforms in the tax code, to give every American, regardless of employment status, age, or health condition, the ability and the resources to purchase health insurance. The comprehensive legislation includes concrete prevention and transparency initiatives, long overdue reforms to Medicare and Medicaid, investments in wellness programs and health IT, and more….
http://burr.senate.gov/public/ June 16, 2009 Reforming the Delivery of Health Care
http://burr.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressOffice.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=ea4b1117-f121-67fc-99a1-a4ffdfd5e078
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.”
2 Corinthians 13:14 KJV
It’s not my favorite idea, but you need to write to Sen. Burr and tell him it’s what you want. We all need to do that.