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leslie

leslie has written 215 posts for lifeomike.org

We’re almost there

By leslie ⋅ March 12, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment

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 reform.
“Pass [...]

We might make a difference yet

By leslie ⋅ March 11, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment

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 company [...]

The Ritz 14

By leslie ⋅ March 10, 2010 ⋅ One comment

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 [...]

Heading to DC again

By leslie ⋅ March 7, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment

I’m flying to Washington tomorrow for some protests, possible arrest and an appearance on The Ed Show on MSNBC on Wednesday.
Tomorrow is a travel day and then the big protest on Tuesday. We’re heading over to the hotel where America’s Health Insurance Plans is holding a meeting to plan its attack on health reform. Some [...]

When people deny the facts …

By leslie ⋅ February 28, 2010 ⋅ One comment

I had an op-ed piece published in the Citizen-Times today (http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20100228/OPINION03/100226027/1006). I talked about the fact that 47,000 people die every year because they don’t have health insurance — one every 12 minutes — and I got an e-mail from a person who believes every American has access to quality health care. He didn’t believe [...]

Oh good. It’s covered.

By leslie ⋅ February 27, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment

We got a letter from the insurance company today telling us that the insurance company has approved Rob’s hospitalization for heart surgery.
What a relief. I was afraid they might refuse it because they hadn’t pre-approved it.
You never know. I know a woman whose insurance refused to cover her breast cancer because they said it was [...]

Anniversary syndrome

By leslie ⋅ February 25, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment

It was two years ago today that I got the news Mike’s cancer was back. The doctors had hoped to give him another year, but the cancer didn’t respond to chemo and he died six weeks later, on April 1.
I got the call on my way into work, and Rob and I dropped everything and [...]

There ought to be a law

By leslie ⋅ February 21, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment

It ought to be illegal for an insurance company to stall a vital medical test for 36 hours. Rob came incredibly close to dying because Blue Cross/ Blue Shield insisted on pre-approving a heart stress test for 36 hours.
Rob’s doctor had done an EKG that showed irregularities. That meant there was something wrong with his [...]

A nearly fatal delay

By leslie ⋅ February 19, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment

Turns out Rob didn’t need to come so close to dying last night. His family doctor wanted him to have the stress test Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday morning, but Blue Cross/Blue Shield wanted to review the decision of a doctor who had found a dangerous irregularity in Rob’s EKG.
When it comes to heart problems, every [...]

A day of (bad) surprises and one big miracle

By leslie ⋅ February 19, 2010 ⋅ Post a comment

We started out before daybreak today, going to the cardioloist for a stress test for Rob and talking about going to Tomato Jam Cafe for lunch.
Rob had been having shortness of breath and a tight feeling in his chest, so his doctor did an EKG Tuesday and didn’t like what she saw, so she scheduled [...]

Patient Pals & Family Friends volunteer training

Our Feb. 27 training had to be postponed, but we have rescheduled. Join us 8 days, as we train our next group of volunteers for Patient Pals & Family Friends. The four-hour training will run 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and will include lunch. Patient Pals are people who have experience with an illness or disability. After training, they will be paired with someone who is newly diagnosed or disabled. Family Friends will be volunteers who are paired with family members of people who are ill or disabled, and will have been through the expeience of having a loved one with illness or disability.

In Loving Memory

Life o' Mike has participated two memorial services to remember those who have died from our broken health care system, one in Asheville and one in Raleigh. If you would like to organize more of these services, please contact lifeomike@gmail.com and we will help put it together. The services include stories, prayers and information on how people of faith can make a difference. About 45,000 people die each year because they don’t have health insurance, according to a recent study by Harvard Medical School and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. That breaks down to one American every 12 minutes. Those people can be honored in the service by a bell chime and a moment of silence every 12 minutes in the service. For more information, call Leslie Boyd at 828-243-6712.