‘Blessed be the bothersome’
“Blessed be the bothersome for they shall receive health care,” a speaker at tonight’s rally said, after exhorting all of us to call our legislators again and again and again on the issue of health reform.
Another mother, whose son survived cancer despite the worst efforts of insurance companies, spoke about her ordeal after I told Mike’s story. She and I will be in touch. We decided we will be the Blessed Bothersomes. We will continue to advocate for health care for all.
I met Sen. Bernie Sanders and I hugged him and thanked him for standing up for what’s right.
The candlelight vigil was not without incident. A few agitators came with anti-reform signs and people stood in front of them with their “People of Faith for Health Care Reform” signs. I stood in front of one man and held Mike’s picture in front of his sign. He moved and I moved with him.
“I have a much right to be here as you do,” he said.
“Yes you do,” I said as I moved Mike’s picture in front of his sign. “My son had every right to receive health care, too, but he didn’t because of this broken system. He can’t be here tonight.”
After a few minutes they gave up and left.
Word is now that the Senate will give up the public option and allow people as young as 55 to buy into Medicare.
That’s not good enough. What about the people between 18 and 55? Do they just continue to die as Mike did?
This won’t work. We need our senators to have the courage to do this right. That’s why we elected them.
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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