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As of last December, when we could no longer pay the rent on our old apartment, we were forced to move into a Budget Suites-style weekly place. We're not thrilled with it, but it's actually a little cheaper overall than where we used to live and less than a mile from my job (which is very convenient because now that I'm also without a car).
Out of our 1,000+ neighbors within this huge complex, there is this gentleman named Russ who lives on the same floor of our building whom we have gotten to know because of his dog. The dog is a companion animal who helps to keep Russ company, and who also occasionally fetches different things. Russ is coping with an array of health problems, and from what I can gather he is receiving various forms of assistance from the State of Nevada, including medical coverage and a stipend to help cover his rent.
A couple of days ago, he was saying that his left arm was getting tingly. Because he just got a computer (a very old one that has Win 98 FIRST Edition for an OS and barely enough capability to get onto the internet, but hey, it has solitaire and some other simple games loaded onto it), we were thinking maybe those symptoms were caused by spending large amounts of time at the computer keyboard in positions that aren't natural for Russ. We asked him to let us know if the symptoms progressed.
Tonight, as my wife was coming up the walkway on her way home from work, Russ had his door open and was getting ready to take his dog down to the groud floor for a walk and potty break (we live on the 3rd floor but have an elevator that works - sporadically). He complained that he was feeling worse now, with dizziness and some discomfort in his chest. Jeanette came home and told me about it, and I asked her to go back to Russ and convince him that he needed to get to the hospital immediately.
He REFUSES to go in an ambulance, because the last time he had to go in one they took him to a hospital that wouldn't accept his insurance coverage, AND the ambulance company presented him with a bill he cannot possibly pay. So, since our pre-loaded debit card has about $300 on it, I asked Jeanette to go to the nearby 7-11 and draw out enough money for cab fare and she could get a cab for him and accompany him to the hospital. He would have no part of that, either. He said he had enough money himself for the taxi fare, but wanted instead to take the BUS once it starts running after 5:00 this morning. This would entail a walk of almost a half mile, a transfer, and then further walking to get into the hospital itself.
Jeanette offered to stay at his apartment for the next few hours, while he rested or whatever, and keep an eye on him to make sure he was okay. He didn't want to "put us out or anything... why doesn't Jeanette just come back home to me and he would be fine". Finally, we got him to agree that when he woke up, he would call our house using his cell. If we don't hear from him by 5:30, then Jeanette is to call him. If there is no answer, then she is to go down to his apartment and knock progressively more loudly, for a couple minutes. ONLY THEN, if there is still no answer, she is to call 911 and have paramedics come to check on him.
As upset as I am with his obstinance, I can understand the root of it, and I am sitting here just fucking FURIOUS with the entire system of so-called health care in this country. And what I find funny is that I learned about all this while I was reading and responding to the earlier post about that law that will allow doctors to refuse treatment for gays. I am so mad at the system right now I could spit nails. Thank any and all of you who have taken the time to read this thread. I promise I'll come back when I have time and post an update. This will most likely be sometime this evening, after I have gone back to work, after spending three days away from my own job because of a gout attack. But at least I was able to get to the quick care and receive attention before the problem snowballed into something life-threatening (sarcasm).
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