Archive for March, 2010
Our own Carolyn Comeau in DC
Our board member, Carolybn Comeau speaks at a press conference in Washington, DC, about her own experience. Carolyn Comeau in Washington
These long days
This two weeks leading up to what we call Mike Day are filled with the grief of our loss and the joy he brought all of us who loved him. Mike reminded us in his last days that every moment can be joy-filled. Our friend, Dave Russell had given us the coins he had saved [...]
A day of memories and hope
Two years ago today, I brought my child home to die. He had told me before we went to his doctor’s appointment that morning that he was ready for it to be over. We were trying a round of chemo to try and forestall the inevitable, but he was still losing weight. If chemo was [...]
As if we didn’t know already …
Health insurance companies play by their own rules, but some are being caught at their game and punished. Check out this story about a young man with HIV whose policy was canceled not long afterward. He got a lawyer, thinking the company, Assurant nc., made a mistake and would correct it as soon as they [...]
Kucinich is on board
Rep. Dennis Kucinich is on board to vote for the health care reform bill. This is big news; he had said he would vote against the bill because it doesn’t go far enough. While I agree it isn’t enough, we have to at least take this step in the right direction. Last week in Washington, a [...]
Our Patient Pals & Family Friends logo
My friend Lena Richards designed this for us. I’m thinking of putting it on T-shirts for our volunteers. Thank you, Lena.
How low can they sink?
We in the “survivors’ group” called him our Marcelus. He is a brave and bright boy who chose to spend his 11th birthday advocating for health care for all, and he is being attacked by the right as a trick pony who has been fed the lines. Let me tell you, Marcelus is sincere when [...]
We’re almost there
I seriously doubt the Senate will vote by March 18, but I think we’re closing in on a viable bill. I don’t think the bill goes far enough. As Big Eddie said on Wednesday, this is a step in the right direction and we have to take it and then begin the fight for more [...]
We might make a difference yet
We had another great day in Washington today, starting with an informal Congressional hearing. Not all of us got to talk, but I did get to chime a Tibetan bowl every 12 minutes to comemmorate the American who died during that time from not having insurance. The hearing was moderated by Wendell Potter, the former insurance [...]
The Ritz 14
We had 3,000 people in front of the Ritz Carlton today to protest against the control of our health care by Big Insurance. I joined a number of people I met at the last event (when we blocked the entrance to the US Chamber of Commerce), plus 3,000 others, and we marched on the Ritz [...]
Have a beer in May
Stop into Altamont Brewing, 1042 Haywood Road, West Asheville, any time in May and ask for their "charity" beer of the day. Buy one and Life o' Mike gets $1. In fact, we get a buck for each one sold. So go in every day and have one to support Life o' Mike.
Thanks, Altamont!
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.
Start From Seed
Life o' Mike has a new program- Start from Seed (SFS).
SFS is a volunteer doula program aimed at providing non-medical, comprehensive support to low income, high-risk women and families of Buncombe County focusing on three areas:
1. We help new doulas with certification and training in return for their participation as a volunteer doula for SFS
2. We mentor volunteer doulas with their first few clients
3. Our volunteer doulas provide birth and postpartum doula services to low income, high risk moms, providing support and tools to empower them as a new parent.
A birth doula is a trained and experienced professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to the mother before, during and just after birth; a postpartum doula provides emotional and practical support during the postpartum period.
Start from Seed clients are referred to us from the Buncombe County Department of Health’s Nurse-Family Partnership Program, Western North Carolina Community Health Services, and Mission Hospital. The Program is intended and designed for growing clients’ inner strength and helping them gain empowerment to help them cope with the emotional, physical and mental challenges of childbirth, labor, and motherhood.
Our new moms and their infants have many needs. If you would like to help them get off to a good start, please visit our Start from Seed web site: Start from Seed, or call Program Director Chelsea Kouns at 804-814-9946.