*BENBURCH NEEDS TO PM ME RIGHT NOW*

[WilliamPitt]

I just talked to a producer for Michael Moore's new health care documentary about Andy Stephenson. They are strongly considering putting his story - specifically the fact that he needed friends to fundraise for him - into the documentary.

Ben, write me. Now.

[stop the bleeding]

1. kicked n/t

[stop the bleeding]

3. again

kick

[DS1]

2. Did that 2 weeks ago

[SoCalDem]

10. Hee-Hee. You are ahead of the curve

I hope they do his story ...fingers crossed.. That would be a great way to memorialize him..

[steve2470]

4. kick nt

[tandot]

5. K & R n/t

[stepnw1f]

6. Will They Mention

how the freeps conspired against him?

[ourbluenation]

12. I hope so...I really do. eom

[WilliamPitt]

14. Maybe

That story is so crazy and awful, and is also a little to the side of the main point of the documentary, which is the high cost of health care. They may include it to show how easy it is for someone's healet care to get messed with.

[SoCalDem]

29. Did you look upthread? DS1 has already talked to MM's people

a few weeks ago they called him

[sellitman]

7. Awesome!

[acmejack]

8. kick for Andy

[porphyrian]

9. Paging BENBURCH... - n/t

[Cleita]

11. Fantastic!

Doesn't he come around about the time Mike Malloy is on?

[myrna minx]

13. Oh my god, what a wonderful tribute to Andy if his story was

featured in a Michael Moore film.

[Mr_Spock]

15. I read about this possibility here on DU within the past month

I'm glad this is happening - MM is a good guy.

[suffragette]

16. Isn't he the webmaster at The White Rose Society?

http://www.whiterosesociety.org /
[e-mail]

Can you email him there?

K&R for Andy.

[benburch]

17. Done. nt

[CornField]

18. In thinking about life being so short

I need to take a moment...

Will & Ben, I hope you both know how much you and all the good things you do are appreciated. I'm happy to have you two as a part of my extended, educational circle & am blessed because of it.

[WilliamPitt]

21. Check your PM

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

47. Please let us know how talking to eachother went

asap

[benburch]

56. MM's Producer is a great person.

I had a long talk with her and anticipate several more as this segment moves into production.

[DS1]

65. Steph?

Very pleasant, and clearly interested and amazed

[benburch]

70. Amy.

Charming person.

[DS1]

75. Even better

that means two of them are on the case

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

117. sweet

[Misskittycat]

19. That's wonderful. Would it help if we e-mail Michael Moore to

give support for its inclusion in the film?

[im10ashus]

20. Why don't you just, um, PM Ben?

[WilliamPitt]

23. This way is more expedient

I wasn't sure he was online and don't have easy access to his other contact info. If folks who do have that see this, they'll reach out to him for me.

[im10ashus]

40. Try e-mailing him.

[e-mail]

[WilliamPitt]

43. I didn't have his email

And you giving it to me now still means I didn't have it then, unless you also have a time machine I can borrow.

Why is this such a problem for you?

[im10ashus]

46. Who said it was a problem?

You are trying to get in touch with him and I am trying to help. Why is that such a problem for YOU?

[Pirate Smile]

22. Does anyone remember exactly how much $$$ was raised for Andy?

I can't remember now but I know it was a lot.

[WilliamPitt]

24. An eyelash over $50K

for an operation that cost $50K.

[Pirate Smile]

44. Very impressive.

I hope MM includes it.

[Occulus]

104. I know the film isn't about Andy specifically,

but health care in general, but....

it would be a damn shame if MM didn't include some of the efforts that were put into actually stopping his care... by Certain Parties.

To me, that's the real story... not that he needed to raise funds for surgery- I've heard of that happening before, to others- but that some people were actually trying to stop him from getting it. And that may have (and, honestly, almost certainly did) sealed his fate.

[greatauntoftriplets]

25. SapphireBlue suggested this to me a couple months ago....

So I asked termite if he would go on-camera to talk about it...since he is the one who was there with Andy. Termite declined.

[helderheid]

33. that's unfortunate. How is he doing? How are you doing?

[greatauntoftriplets]

34. Termite is doing okay....

He has a new job and has been finishing their house.

Me? I am getting ready to move and it is a big hassle. Ugh.

Thanks for asking.

[coffeenap]

36. Hi!! Glad to hear Termite is moving forward....I wish we could take

his pain away. Hope your move goes well.

[greatauntoftriplets]

37. Thanks, M.

Closing up a big house after many years in it to move to a condo isn't easy. Lots of throwing away, and my mother was a packrat. It runs in the family.

Termite has good friends who look after him well.

[helderheid]

26. I so hope he tells Andy's story!!

[npincus]

27. can someone recap to those who are new(er) to DU...

I've heard references here but don't know the story. Thanks.

[helderheid]

30. this will help catch you up

http://www.seattleweekly.com/news/0528/050713_news_andy...

[npincus]

41. thank you.

[helderheid]

99. you bet. unfortunately it cannot truly convey what he was feeling and

how we felt. I will never forget the night before he was diagnosed his posting here how scared he was to die and he didn't understand what was happening to his body - why he was a strange color and itching all over. I have panic attacks from time to time. I felt like I could understand. Thinking back and knowing he is now gone -

I remember the night he died. I meditated on him and felt he would leave. I let him know in that meditation that he could go - that we would carry the fight for fair elections. Now we need to take the next step and include health care.

God bless you Andy. You'll always be on my buddy list.

[Radio_Guy]

28. Mainstream exposure of what the freeps did to Andy

Lies have to be hidden, but the truth can run around in the sunshine. Well the light of truth will shine on this story and expose the freeps for what they truly are!

Viva Michael Moore!

[VelmaD]

31. Will...if they need copies of documents...

or anything else...you know how to get ahold of me. I have jpegs of a lot of the documentation while Andy was going round and round with getting his surgery. And I might actually, finally be at a place where I can talk coherently about what happened.

I still miss Andy.

[OzarkDem]

32. Andy's story was a classic example

of how difficult it is for uninsured cancer patients to access quality health care. Its a disease where a delay of a week or more in getting treatment can mean the difference between life or death, its tragic. Cancer care is truly becoming an area where those who can't afford to pay get delayed or inferior care.

[coffeenap]

35. Talk to SFEXPAT2000. She knows everything. (Of course, you

probably already know that.)

[EFerrari]

39. I'm on board, have a call in. Andy would love this.

(((((((((DU)))))))

[jhain]

94. Andy's photo

I only 'knew' Andy through DU...I have alays wanted to tell you how much that baby photo of him tugs at my heart... His spirit was so evident- even at that tender age.
Thank you for using it in your posts...it is good to 'see' him in that sink every so often...

[EFerrari]

95. I'm glad you like it. That heart was already there, wasn't it?

lol

[DearAbby]

38. I hope MM does this

Watching it will break my heart all over again, but Andy's story needs to be told. Andy, we miss you...we miss your light.

[Lochloosa]

42. Back to the top

[BrklynLiberal]

45. kicked for Andy

[arwalden]

48. What does that mean exactly?

<< I just talked to a producer for Michael Moore's new health care documentary about Andy Stephenson. >>

The way you worded it could be interpreted a couple of different ways. Is Michael Moore is doing a new health care documentary about Andy Stephenson?

Or was it that you talked---about Andy Stephenson---to Michael Moore's producer, who is doing a health care documentary?

Either way... this whole thing could be a nice feather in your cap, eh?

[WilliamPitt]

49. No feather for me

They reached out to me because Moore is doing a documentary on health care and was told by someone else that Andy's story should be part of the whole. I basically gave the producer the back story and then set her up with the people who were closest to the fundraising.

If you look at Moore's site, you'll see his letter about the documentary. He is looking for healthcare horror stories from anyone who has one.

[EFerrari]

64. This feather was recorded quietly.

"Love is not love that bends with the removers to remove." - Donne

And in fact, you didn't bend.

Our friend may yet be justified.

It's all good, Will.

[VelmaD]

54. Hey arwalden...

haven't seen you in a while. This thread has been such a good way to reconnect with people today and I just wanted to say hi and

[progmom]

50. I think DS1 talked to them last month already....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[EFerrari]

51. Yes, DS1 did. Kudos. I wrote in, too, and didn't stir a response.

I really hope this happens, if it is cool with Termite, because this is exactly what Andy wanted to do -- shine a light on our criminal excuse for a healthcare system.

[ChavezSpeakstheTruth]

52. I remember that. I think PMs are very effective in these cases.

Just sayin'

[EFerrari]

53. It's all good. We get it done somehow.

[Fleshdancer]

55. I hope they use it!

I still can't get over the idea of seeing his smiling face on the big screen.

[EFerrari]

57. Me, either. I thought I was all healed up but just thinking about

what Andy and Termite were put through, thinking about how loving DU was to them, and thinking about the last really really terrible days, I confess that I'm crying again.

I miss Andy, too.

And I will never forget what DU did. How you all made a circle around him. It's probably the most beautiful thing I'll ever see in my life.

(((((((((DU)))))))))))

[VelmaD]

59. You aren't alone...

greatauntoftriplets convinced me today to turn my sig lines back on (I turned them off after Andy passed when so many people had his pic in their sig). What convinced me was her description of the pic you have in yours. I look at it and smile and cry at the same time.

[EFerrari]

60. me, too. I love that sink baby.

[VelmaD]

61. And you can sure tell...

it's him. Adorable.

[EFerrari]

62. Andy was like Florimel in "The Faerie Queene". He was so

attractive, you'd need a harness or some major hardware not to fly directly into his back pocket.

He could have sweet talked the light from the moon. I loved that about him.

lol

[Fleshdancer]

71. I know what you mean

I had to take a break from this thread actually...I get this weird emotional mix of hope and sorrow which makes the tears fall too easily. It's hard to not relive his roller coaster of a story from the first "I'm scared" post to the nightmare of having to pay for the surgery up front to the amazing fundraiser and, well, you know.

My biggest regret is not posting more. I wish I had told him how much I was thinking about him.

OK, gotta stop now.

[EFerrari]

76. . . .

[glitch]

58. I hope they tell everything about his story - including the smear campaign

while he was dying.

[EFerrari]

63. And, it continued after his passing.

I don't think that's the story that MM's folks want.

But, you know glitch, I think it's enough that WE know it. That we know what really happened.

[benburch]

66. The primary focus is on how we had to raise money to get him help.

When in any decent nation on the planet, that would have been an understood part of citizenship.

But my understanding is that they DO intend to go after the freepers at least in passing.

Those goons should expect to come out of their places of employment to find camera crews waiting at their cars...

[EFerrari]

67. Those lovely, compassionate conservatives

who tried to shut down the fund raising for a man's cancer treatment.

God bless you, Freepers, because you will need the vote.

[benburch]

68. I just hope they treat the surgeon well in the piece.

As far as I can tell he did the modified Whipple correctly. Had the cancer been the sort that the vaccine was designed for, Andy might still be with us.

[EFerrari]

77. The surgeon might be a good guy but his bulldogs were bitches.

When they couldn't find the check that was sitting on the mailroom sup's desk, she refused to talk to me any more and she had Andy escorted out of the building by security.

[benburch]

79. I know.

I can't find it in myself to blame him for it, though.

I wish Termite had sued JH over this.

[EFerrari]

80. It wasn't the surgeon's fault. He did a wonderful thing.

He gave Andy 6 more weeks.

peace.

[Raksha]

106. What sort of poetic justice would it be

if the spitefulness of the freepers helps bring about "socialized medicine"? And via their arch-enemy MICHAEL MOORE, no less! I could not think of a better revenge if I tried all year. It's too beautiful.

[benburch]

69. You might like this posting I made about Andy's puppy, Ballot

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[havocmom]

73. And we might consider getting Will an address/phone # book

Anybody know when his birthday isn't?

[benburch]

74. A beer-proof one!

[janx]

92. I remember that!

It was GREAT!

[benburch]

72. This, I believe, was Andy's last radio interview.

http://server4.whiterosesociety.org/content/malloy/Andy...

[KyndCulture]

78. Kick for Andy!!!!!

[Janice325]

81. I was already sniffling after reading the Ballot thread,

and then I see this one.
You guys are great!
k&r

[EFerrari]

82. I hate to ask but, does anyone have a copy of Andy's service?

Several people have offered to send me one but it sort of never happened. I understand, that's so much going on.

But as I couldn't go, I'd really appreciate being able to at least see it.

tia,
Beth

[benburch]

83. If you get one, I want a copy.

I've never seen it.

[EFerrari]

84. Okay, ben. It's a deal.

[Daphne08]

85. A Kick and a recommend for Andy!

[arwalden]

86. I'll Bet Andy's Mom And Ted Are THRILLED At This News!!

Have they been contacted yet? Have you personally spoken with them? What do they have to say about it? Are they as eager to participate and get involved as you are? It's all very exciting, isn't it?

[Carni]

87. Kicking again EOM

[Scout1071]

88. I hope the film addresses dental care as well.

It's outrageous how much it costs. I need some dental work done and the insurance I have won't cover hardly any of it. I'm paying sooooooo much out of pocket and I have decent insurance with a company that I worked at for almost 7 years. I can only imagine how awful it must be for people with zero insurance. Your teeth/mouth are a big part of your overall health.

[PassingFair]

91. I hear you, Scout...

I have to believe that dentists are hurting in this ecomony, too.

My dentist is practically a telemarketer now, drumming up work for
his practice!

[NMDemDist2]

89. wow, this thread is so sad and wonderful at the same time

it would be so fitting if Andy's story could help bring the abysmal state of our Health Care to the fore and put a face on it.

Andy would be proud I think.

[tom_paine]

90. K & R

[linazelle]

93. This sounds great. You promised revenge didn't you? This might

be what you meant...I'm hoping anyway.

[katinmn]

96. Voter verified paper ballots and health care for all!

One of the last things Andy wrote on this board.

If Michael Moore recounts Andy's story we will get universal health care.

[FogerRox]

97. Kn freakin R

[Hissyspit]

98. Late night kick & recommend

I only got to speak with Andy a few times, but my posts to him were always the same: "Things will turn out O.K." There are some real sick fuckers out there who made a liar out of me.

[EFerrari]

100. You know, those posts helped him. I know they did.

He felt the love flowing his way and he really needed it.

Thank you, Hissyspit, so much.

[helderheid]

101. I'm sure you remember that night

post 99

[EFerrari]

102. Yes, I do. n/t

[Swamp Rat]

103. kick n/t

[EFerrari]

107. . . .

[Hissyspit]

109. I remember both nights well. n/t

[Raksha]

105. I keep thinking about how proud Andy would be if he knew,

and somehow, wherever he is now, I believe he DOES know. For his sake, I truly hope it really happens.

[EFerrari]

108. He would love this. This is what he wanted.

[nicknameless]

110. Another kick for Andy

[symbolman]

111. I posted this on the other thread, where someone contacted MM's People

Here's the Flash Film I created to honor Andy
Edited on Sat Apr-01-06 01:07 PM by symbolman

http://web.takebackthemedia.com/geeklog/public_html/sta...

It was mentioned in one of the articles in the Seattle paper http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002382... I clicked on the link at the Paper and it took me to the fund raising of my film "Rove's War" at Takebackthemedia.com, so I dug into the site to get just the actual link to The Memorial Flash for Andy.

Hope this helps, say hi to Michael Moore from the guy who did the ARMY OF ONE 30 second film for the MoveOn "Bush In 30 Seconds" contest, he actually announced my name at the event as one of the 14 finalists in NYC and I got to stand up under some spotlights, the coolest feeling in the world, he might remember me, we did talk a few times (Not trying to horn in here with Michael, just bringing it up in case he wants to know who did the Memorial should they be interested in using it at all, didn't want to send folks to the wrong link when it's about Andy and Honoring Him..)

Andy loved my "VoteRevolution" Flash work so much that he kept it up on his site for the rest of his days, it made me very proud to be part of the program, HIS work, not "she who shall not be mentioned"

Hope Moore CRUSHES those creeps who attacked Andy, that would be HUGELY JUST.

Good Job!

Get the "Rove's

[katinmn]

112. Beautiful. I loved seeing your tribute again.

We will never forget and we won't ever give up the fight. Andy was a great teacher!

Solidarity!

[paineinthearse]

113. .

self-deleted

(I was going to post a link to Benburch's profile/IM address, but see he already replied to the thread).

[arwalden]

114. How Does Moore's Producer Feel About Second-Hand Information On Andy?

You know what would REALLY have the biggest emotional impact? I'm guessing what the movie probably needs is first-hand information and an actual on-screen interview with either Ted or Andy's mother.

What was the reaction when you contacted Andy's family directly? You're pretty close with Andy's family, right? Did you get a good sense of how they were feeling about it all? Do you think the chances are good that either of them will be willing to appear on film?

I imagine that they are busy moving on with their lives and all... but I would think that for something as important as this, they would do this for Michael Moore, and for Andy of course.



edit: typo.

[VelmaD]

115. y'all...I know everyone is excited and all, but...

I talked to one of the MM folks yesterday and they'd like to keep the whole thing low profile for now. Don't want to even accidentally dredge up the same kind of freeper shitstorm we had prior to Andy's passing.

[Nothing Without Hope]

116. Here is Will Pitt's eulogy for Andy:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

As this current thread shows, he's still with us.