So you want to be a hero and save people?

[The Straight Story]

One of the things my sons felt in joining the army is that they would be doing something to help me and mine by fighting the terrorists over there so I would not have them over here attacking me.

Trillions of dollars spent, many lives lost.

All the while we everyday folk sit here sick and dying with no way to make us better because we don't have something as simple as universal health care.

It took two of us today to help my wife to the bathroom and down the steps. The day before she was feeling ok. Then her joints felt on fire, she was sobbing in pain, and in a fetal position.

Her brain is out of whack with this disease. One minute she is happy, later she is sad. Feeling ok, then mad as hell about whatever.

Day in and out for almost 4 years now to the point we split up but are still with each other. It has been hell.

And yet stem cell research is damned by the same people who say they want to save her. She can barely afford her meds most the time, and seeing a few more neurologists to get her ssdi going - well, trying going to them without insurance.

You want to be a fucking hero and make this a better country where we feel safe? Then do something about the millions like my wife who have no real health care and need to see a regular doctor and a psych doctor (mental health is as important as regular imho).

You watch the person you love go in and out for years, one minute hugging you the next freaking out, watch them garden in the sun for a day then lay in bed for a week.

I am not afraid of some asshole in Iraq coming to my house in the middle of the night and taking me out. That's why we own guns, we can handle that here on own thank you very much.

I am worried about the REAL dangers my wife and all of us face each fucking day here - real medical care and education.

Saddam never hurt me, but the in-action of our leaders has.

You want to save lives? Take a look at what is costing us the most here and do something about it.

Until you stop the real threats facing us, don't ask me for a fucking dime for your stupid wars.

-TSS

[Tangerine LaBamba]

1. TSS,

this is the most excellent post I've ever seen on DU - or anywhere.

I lament your situation, and your wife's condition. I don't know what I can say except that I hope it gets better for both of you, somehow. That's magical thinking, but it's all I've got.

Thank you for this. I'm sending it to everyone I know.

Good luck.

[The Straight Story]

4. Probably the best compliment I have ever gotten here, except that one Duzy I got

Thanks again!

[opihimoimoi]

2. The Stem Cell Hold Up is a National Tradegy...A National Shame

as other Nations reached milestone after milestones in the effort to reduce Pain and Suffering...

PAIN & SUFFERING.....HOW TO REDUCE ...209.02

WHY ARE WE NOT ADDRESSING an effort to reduce the Group Level of P/S? It does make sense?

Wishing you the Best in coping with a series prob/condition.

[TomInTib]

3. This should be required reading.

KnR

[DemReadingDU]

5. You are so right

[graywarrior]

6. Damn, if that ain't the f'n truth!!!!

It is just wrong that your wife is going through this...WRONG! It sets my brain on fire. And every time I fill my gas tank or see the price of milk at $4, I think of how this money could go into health care. Every time I count the days until Mr Gray gets to have his squamous cell carcinoma removed I fume. It shouldn't take 5 weeks to get a medical procedure done but hell, we have no health insurance.

I'm with you on this one, friend. We need to make some very loud noise about the suffering that is occurring in this country.

[area51]

7. K&R

It's a national security issue that we are so vulnerable to attack due to having a broken healthcare delivery system.

Because 100,000 people die per year due to lack of access to healthcare.

Nazi lurkers, pay attention.

Because if someone else can't get treated for a disease, it can affect you. For instance:

• Someone gets tuberculosis, but can't afford a doctor. They work with food, and expose people -- maybe your family -- every day to TB.


• Someone's been diagnosed with a seizure disorder, but they can't afford continuing to go to the doctor, or afford their meds. They continue driving to their job, to their child's school, to the grocery store, etc. They have a seizure behind the wheel and take not only themselves out, but another car full of a family that they plowed into.


• American businesses will never be competitive with businesses in other countries as long as healthcare is not a basic human right here; it's getting too expensive due to the greedy HMOs/PPOs for many businesses to even offer healthcare bennies.


• Many businesses get rid of -- or won't hire -- anyone over 35, due to the extremely high healthcare insurance costs. That's a lot of people who are being idled -- who could be working -- in this economy.


• Think of the many people who'd go into business for themselves, if healthcare was guaranteed. Many people are stuck in jobs they'd rather leave, but cannot, as they must stay for the healthcare bennies. That makes them virtually slaves, and too many businesses have no problem with that.

We need single-payer NOW.

[HCE SuiGeneris]

8. Terrorism from the bankers and their pawns

is desecrating this country's greatest asset -- its people.

I am so sorry for your family's struggles, TSS.

[Ohio Joe]

9. Well said

K&R

[ravencalling]

10. Great post. Right on target!

I have a son-in-law in the Navy right now. He can't leave - not now. He has health care, a house, food for my daughter and my three grandchildren. Bennies. More join the military, because there is no choice.

We are all incarcerated by this system.


My mother almost died due to a treatable simple thyroid condition. No insurance. Went to doctors who literally laughed at her. One said, "Oh you probably have congestive heart failure but you can't afford the tests to find out.. sorry - bye!" I am not overstating this. I was told the outcome of each doctor visit. The story is much longer because there was an insurance company who made her go to an insurance doctor for the apts she manages, because there was a fire there and her disease happened immediately after. They said she was suffering from hysteria and trauma, I kid you not! She was treated with not only no compassion but with derision, rudeness and hatred. She found a doctor from a nurse who was a friend of hers who treated her out of compassion who said, I will find whats wrong with you and treat you and I don't care how much money you have, you can pay me as much as you can. It was her thyroid. She almost died, couldn't walk hardly, couldn't breathe.

Here is another one. My ex-step-grandson had a life threatening hernia at the ripe old age of 2 years old. No insurance. Family got together to be able to afford the cost for surgery, but it was during the holiday. You see he was in pain! We wanted him to have surgery now! His pediatrician stated that the longer we waited the more life threatening it would become. A) The hospital would not accept the cash because they could only take money from the insurance companies. No surgeons available until March. This was in December! Managed with the help of the pediatrician to get a surgeon in January. But the surgery was botched. The little boy required two more surgeries, and none fixed the problem and has left him permanently handicapped to a degree, but the mother is "No more" I can no longer cause him any more pain.

Here is another one! Another ex-step-son fell from a ladder - basically fainting and went into a seizure. Taken to the local hospital and stayed 1 day! Outcome? Diagnosed with epilepsy and given anti-seizure medication. The real cause? The boy had not eaten in several days. The hospital bill - $25,000.00. Subsequent MRI and diagnosis from my own neurologist? $1000.00. That was just so that the diagnosis of epilepsy could be removed so that the boy could drive which he needs to be able to work.


We are on our own, slaves to a broken system, and it is a nightmare.

[Quantess]

11. ....

Time for a kick.

[NanceGreggs]

12. One of the finest pieces ever written ...

... and posted on this website.

Just WOW!

[The Straight Story]

13. Coming from one of our best writers on DU

That is a very high compliment. May have to print that one out and frame it next to my DUzy

[Raster]

14. Bravo, my friend! Bravo!

[MadMaddie]

15. The Straight Story

I am sorry aobut the pain your wife is suffering and the failure of America to help American citizens during health crisis.

The Repuglicans have delayed 8 years of critical scientific discovery to help Americans like your wife. To me that is a crime against the people of America.

I am really sorry your family is going through this.