Archive for January, 2010
What a day!
Tuesday was an amazing day. I met 14 remarkable people who have struggled with the broken health care system. Kelly and David Arellanes had to go through bankruptcy after she fell off a horse and hit her head and the insurance company covered next to nothing. Heather Mroz had her insurance policy cancelled just [...]
Our first class
We held our first Patient Pals and Family Friends training yesterday, a four-hour session that included a lunch of homemade soups and bread (I cooked most of Friday). The training went well and we expect to tweak the curriculum with suggestions from this first class and hold another training, tentatively scheduled for Feb. 27. You can [...]
It can’t be over
So, Massachusetts elected a Republican to fill Ted Kennedy’s seat. That makes it possible now for them to block everything Progressives want to do, including fix health care. Even the deeply flawed bill now being reconciled Washington is in danger. My sister Robin says there’s still hope because the House can pass the Senate bill [...]
More bad news for people in need
Two large public health systems have announced that they no longer will provide dialysis to uninsured people who have end-stage kidney disease. (see the New York Times report at: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/08/health/policy/08dialysis.html) What this means for patients is that they must go to the emergency room, which is much more expensuive. It also means they can’t have [...]
Remembering Mom
I keep seeing her face, smiling, with those big glasses. She adored Bob, which is why she left three days after he did. She knew her daughters would be OK because she raised strong, smart women. She knew how to fight for what she believed in and her last message to me was to keep [...]
Trying to get back to normal
We’re back from two memorial services in one week. I find it hard to see the deaths of my stepfather and mother as a tragedy since they both got good care from our country’s government-run single-payer health care system, Medicare. They lived long and productive lives and they both were ready to go. Being with [...]
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.