Archive for June, 2009
We can’t stop now
Health care reform is not a done deal. Even though two-thirds of Americans want a single-payer plan, it’s really not even being considered.
This plan is NOT a government takeover. It’s is you and me going to the doctors we want and the government paying the bill. The rules would be clear and our treatments would [...]
112 letters
I think it was the cupcakes that attracted them.
Whatever it was, we had 112 letters written at our letter-writing party at First Congregational United Church of Christ today. Several were written by teenagers who face losing health care as soon as they get out of college.
We had older people too, whose health care is assured [...]
More matching donors needed!
After being in the bone marrow registry since 1995, my mom MAY match to a cancer patient. She’s been on the list for nearly 15 years yet this is the first time she’s been called for additional screening. She only matched 5 out of 6 criteria, but since matches seem so rare, that’s enough to [...]
Going broke from health care
From Reuters:
“WASHINGTON, June 4 - Medical bills are behind more than 60 percent of U.S. personal bankruptcies, U.S. researchers reported on Thursday in a report they said demonstrates that healthcare reform is on the wrong track.
“More than 75 percent of these bankrupt families had health insurance but still were overwhelmed by their medical debts, the team [...]
52 million and counting
A new report shows the number of uninsured Americans has risen to 52 million in the last two years. That’s 7 million more than two years ago. Nationally, that’s a 13 percent increase in the number of uninsured.
In North Carolina, Rhode Island and Indiana, the increase was 22 percent. Here in North Carolina, we have [...]
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.