At the activists’ summit
Today was Day 2 of the Activist Summit sponsored by Consumers Union, and I’m fired up.
The highlight of the day was getting a hug from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.
I got to meet Nancy Pelosi and thank her for getting health reform passed. I gave her a photo of Mike to remind her that people like him won't be denied care because of her efforts.
We spent the morning on Capitol Hill and I met with staff members of both North Carolina senators. I started with Richard Burr and aske his health care ataffer to thank him for supporting the safe food bill. I asked whether he was in support of another bill that would grant federal oversight of health insurance rates.
“I don’t mean to be a Debbie Downer, but that’s not going to happen,” she said. “Not this year, and probably not next.”
I told her I will continue to fight for more regulation of big insurance whether Sen. Burr supports it or not.
People said health reform was dead and we got it passed. Our work isn’t done until huge corporations no longer control access and policy. We have a ways to go, but we have a foundation now.
Sen. Kay Hagan’s people knew me already and were happy to talk about strengthening reform and about making our nation’s food supply safer.
We heard from Nancy Pelosi at lunch, and I got to thank her in person for her work in keeping reform alive and getting it through. I gave her a photo of Mike and asked her to remember him the next time she knows she needs to get life-saving legislation passed. The lives her efforts save are real, and although Mike didn’t benefit from the new law, millions of other Americans will.
I love strong women who accomplish things people say can’t be done.
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.
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