Archive for October, 2009
Last night’s service coverage
Check out the coveravge of last night’s service in Raleigh at : http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local_state/story/165254.html There are some nasty comments connected to the article, but I didn’t feel compelled to answer them because they are from people I don’t think would listen anyway.
Another memorial service
We had a beautiful memorial service tonight for the people who have died, and several stories from people who are struggling to survive in our broken system. One woman had her Medicaid canceled because she did some work from home and made $900 in four months. She has renal failure and is on dialysis. She [...]
Since they’re paying the postage …
I got a mailer from Blue Cross/ Blue Shield of North Carolina today asking me to let Sen. Kay Hagan know how I feel about the public option. Of course, the mailer tried to convince me that BCBS could make the health care system better without government interference. Apparently, they’re spending millions on this marketing [...]
In Loving memory
Our memorial service tonight was beautiful. Gary Kovach spoke about the injustice of denying care to the poor and homeless; Emma Clare Hoffman talked about worrying whether she’ll ever be able to get insurance because she was treated for anxiety and depression. Robbie Williams spoke about poor families and told the story of a single [...]
Some of the faces of our broken system
I got a call a couple weeks ago from a man in California who wanted to use the image of my son in a video about health care reform. Mike’s is one of several faces in the video, which you can see at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIawdllb_EQ Doug Drenkow has put names and faces to the issue. Nearly [...]
More goodies for the auction
I picked up this painting this afternoon for the auction at Eat at Mike’s. Peggy Taylor loves to paint scenes of the mountains. She has donated this painting to Life o’ Mike for the auction. We also have an original Jonas Gerard painting, beautiful pottery, jewelry, a night at the Grove Park Inn and more.
More letters for health care
We had another letter-writing party this afternoon at the new Land of Sky United Church of Christ in east Asheville. It wasn’t huge, but it was great. Land of Sky, as I said, is a new church and one centered on social justice issues. One of the women writing letters is homeless. She waited three [...]
So much to do
It’s been a busy week. We’re doing a letter-writing party at 4 p.m. Sunday at the new Land of Sky United Church of Christ, then we’re taking part in a memorial service Tuesday evening to honor the people who have died because of our broken system. We’re calling the service, “In Loving Memory,” and it [...]
‘It’s just the way it is’ isn’t good enough
I spent the morning with 33-year-old Dawn Smith, who is fighting her insurance company, CIGNA, to get appropriate treatment for two brain tumors. Her condition is rare, usually found in children, and the tumors are inoperable because of where they are in the brain. Dawn used to be a member of CIGNA’s PPO, which would [...]
Working on Eat at Mike’s
Now I understand why most nonprofits have entire committees to organize fundraising events. I can’t sit still and relax for a minute without thinking of something else that needs to be done or someone who needs to be called. I was shopping yesterday and realized we have to get a bunch of steam tables for [...]
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.