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 45,000 people died last year because they didn’t have insurance. Even more died because their insurance companies wouldn’t pay for the treatment they needed to stay alive.
It’s a powerful video. I watched it over again because I couldn’t do anything but try and memorize the faces of these people. It happened the second time too.
Maybe it’s because one of those faces belonged to my son, but I know how these families feel when they’re left with nothing but memories and photos because our system focuses on money instead of human life.
Tonight, people of faith across the country will hold vigils, prayer or memorial services to commemorate these lives lost to greed. I will tell Mike’s story and offer a prayer at my church.
And every 12 minutes, we will stop, chime a bell, light a candle and offer a moment of silence to honor another person who has lost a life to this system, and pray for the people left behind.
I urge you to watch Doug’s video and look at the faces. These people aren’t just numbers; they are real, and their loss is unspeakably tragic.
Tags: 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.
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