Archive for August, 2009
National rally on Sept. 13
Check out the details at http://americansunitedhcr.wordpress.com/. The woman behind the rally has insurance, but she can’t bear the thought that good people are dying because they don’t have access to care. Julie Paulson remembers before she was receiving disability, when she had to ask doctors to give her the diabetes medications and supplies she needs to survive. [...]
Rally in Asheville
We had 300 people at the rally today. They came from all over Western North Carolina. It was a great day. The signs were clever, the crowd friendly. No one called anyone names, no one shouted over anyone, and we heard some compelling stories. One man had a friend who was hit by lightning [...]
Big day tomorrow
I’ve been working feverishly all week to put together this health care rally and tomorrow’s the day. I hope we get a huge crowd to let our leaders know we really want health care now. I’m as ready as I can be. Now we’ll just have to see how many people come out. I had [...]
Stories, the congressman and the approaching rally
Our story circle tonight was small, but it was a start. We want to do this again next month and hear more stories from more people. I believe this is the best place for us to start learning what we can do in the community to make people’s health care experience better. I listened to [...]
Rushing around and remembering Ted
I’ve had calls all day long from people who want to be at the rally, including one from the local NAACP, which is exciting to me. The more the merrier. But I said on two radio interviews today that there will be no name-calling and no trying to drown out other people. Mike asked me [...]
Spreading the word
I have a busy week ahead, spreading the word about the health care rally next Saturday (10 a.m.-noon, Pritchard Park, downtown Asheville). There seems to be a lot more interest than when we held a rally here last October. I think people know they have to be heard, and if we who want meaningful reform [...]
Busier than ever
I was on the Ed Shultz Radio Show again today. I called in yesterday, but he called me today. I’m so excited to get Mike’s story out there. We need to put some human faces on this issue so people will see the immorality of our current system. I got a call this morning from [...]
‘We won’t settle …’
The Rev. Jim Wallis, president of Sojourners, was host to President Obama today on a conference call that included tens of thousands of Americans. I tried to get on but couldn’t because it was at capacity. Later, Wallis was on The Ed Show on MSNBC to talk about health care as a moral issue. He [...]
‘He Leadeth Me’
The old hymn keeps coming to mind, even as Rep. Michelle Bachman says she will run for president if God tells her to. It was one of my favorites as a child, and it fostered the belief that God will take you where you need to go if you leave yourself open to being led. [...]
A little common sense talk
Columnist Paul Krugman of the New York Times had a great column today, clarifying the options for getting health care to all or most Americans. Any one of the three works for me. He also called out the lies and name-calling. You can read the entire column here: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/17/opinion/17krugman.html?_r=1&src=twt&twt=nytimesopinion
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.