Archive for September, 2009
Thank you, Alan Grayson
I finally got an apology from someone in government today for the needless death of my son. Republicans called for an apology to Congress after Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., said the GOP health plan is, ”Don’t get sick, … and if you do get sick, die quickly.” Rather than apologize to Republicans, Grayson apologized to [...]
Do you feel left out?
Well, apparently, you’re not alone, according to a story on NPR. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113307616&sc=fb&cc=fp The majority of us feel left out of the health care decisions being made in Congress. I hate to call it a debate because no one’s listening to us. The insurance lobby has the ears of Congress because it has the money to [...]
Abandoned by our leaders
I’m still having a little trouble believing the Senate Finance Committee shot down two versions of the public option, but there was the headline above the beaming face of Max Baucus. But then, they have health insurance and so do their families. They don’t have to choose between mortgage payments and life-saving medication. Not doctor [...]
A little time with the kids
The kids were here this weekend — well, three of the four; Meghan had a dance thing going on. We had planned to do the waterfall tour — seven waterfalls in one afternoon and then dinner at the Dillard House just over the Georgia border. But it rained all day Saturday. We stopped at one [...]
Another story and a “reply”
I sent more e-mails to Rep. Heath Shuler and Sen. Kay Hagan and got this in reply from the senator: “Dear Friend, I wanted to take a moment to thank you for contacting me to share your thoughts and opinions. Since taking office, I have received an overwhelming number of calls and emails from North [...]
Don’t give up
I went to a meeting of the NC Health Access Coalition this morning, and the message was that we not give up on getting meaningful reform, even though the insurance companies’ stocks shot up when Max Baucus announced his Senate committee’s plan last week. In my mind, if the insurance companies are happy, it’s reason [...]
Hardly a peep about the real truth
When I wrote about the new Harvard medical School study that found 45,000 people die each year because they don’t have health insurance, I thought I would find it in all the papers this morning. There was nothing in my hometown paper, not even a word in the New York Times as far as I [...]
45,000 a year
A new study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine finds that about 45,000 people die every year in this country because they don’t have insurance. The whole study is at: http://www.pnhp.org/news/2009/september/harvard_study_finds_.php Previously, people quoted the Institute of Medicine study that said the total is about 18,000, but that study was less comprehensive [...]
The work begins again
We who organized Sunday’s rally are ready to put together another one. All we know is that we’re going to do it, we hope in October. There’s a whole lot of work to be done and I can’t wait to get started. I’ll post information here as I get it. Let’s get 100,000 people to [...]
The rally and the trip home
I know it’s Tom Coulson and I can’t get the photo caption to update. Sorry, Tom. What a day yesterday was. We had 1,000 people and we’re going to do it again in October. No date was set yesterday, but I’ll post it as soon as I know. I felt like an 18-year-old hippie again. [...]
Patient Pals & Family Friends
Life o' Mike has a peer support program for people with one or more serious or chronic medical issues or disabilities.
We aim to reduce isolation and fear among people who have conditions, including psychiatric illness, HIV/AIDS, diabetes, mild dementia or other cognitive disorder or disability, thereby reducing depression and complications as people learn to improve self-management of their medical conditions.
Patient Pals help alleviate feelings of isolation and frustration. They can help people develop a list of questions to ask the doctor and then accompany the person to the doctor to make sure all the questions are answered, taking notes to be sure the person understands the doctor’s answers.
Our trained volunteers also accompany their “Pals” to art exhibits, movies and walks outdoors, meet for coffee, call to check in and more.
Our Pals have experienced weight loss, improvement in diabetes, HIV, psoriasis, depression and more, just because they have someone who cares about them. Some relationships develop into longer-term friendships; other Pals move on to more independent lives.
Family Friends are there to help caregivers and other family members grow into their new role.
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.