My good deed for 2010

[susanwy]

A few weeks ago I wrote of my Sister-in-law's battle with Breast Cancer.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=7051561&mesg_id=7051561

Over Christmas we visited and presented them with a gift certificate for $4000 to a travel agency.

Can we afford it? No...but I'll be around to pay off the credit card, she will not. My job is stable, and my husband is finally working steady after 9 months of no job. The look on their faces will stay with me for the rest of my life. They cried and were so happy! My normally prideful brother-in-law just looked at my husband and said "thanks bro", with tears welling up in his eyes.

It was especially bitter sweet when my SIL told me her health insurance company had DENIED her chemo and they had just received a bill for $34,000. What pukes. They said it was because she hadn't done the pre-requisite hormone therapy. Only wait, she had done it, but the small business she works for had their insurance policy (sold) swallowed up by another, larger company, who couldn't find the previous treatment in their records. What a crock of shit. Typically insurance company BS, deny, deny, deny and hope she will just go away (die). They just don't want to pay for a dying woman to prolong her life as long as possible so she can be with her children. The chemo isn't to halt the cancer, it has metastasized to the bone, it is just to ease her pain and keep it out of her soft tissues for as long as possible.

I don't post much, but President Obama and Congress have sure made health care reform a big joke. I'm torn, in that I know there are some good things in the house bill, but the senate bill is garbage and a big hand out to the insurance corporations. Obama could have used the bully pulpit, but he choose not to and he let Rahm make deals with Lieberman. Nothing in either bill will help my sister-in-law and her family. Nothing will help my sister, who won't retire because she can't afford insurance and isn't quite old enough to get Medicare (thanks Lieberman). I have a pre-existing condition (Lupus), so IF I left my current job, the house bill would help me (except I'd have to pay 3x as much as a person with no pre-existing, thanks to the senate). Why would I leave my current job? Not because I've worked my tail off for a graduate degree, not to try and start my own business, not because my current job has no room for advancement, no, none of those things. :sarcasm: But, I'm stuck because I NEED health care.

So, here I sit...on the fence about "reform", and knowing that both personally and nationally, the fight to get universal health care continues.

[w8liftinglady]

1. that was good of you...and so typical for her insurance co

[shawcomm]

2. awesome of you

:hug:

I'm so sorry about your sis-in-law.

and I absolutely hate insurance companies. :grr:

[applegrove]

3. Oh you've done such a great thing. I'm sure that family will remember that trip

forever.

I agree the struggle for good health care continues. I think the present Senate bill is worth passing simply because it makes things better - just not all better.

[PatSeg]

4. I'd say that is unbelievable,

but we know what insurance companies are like. No matter how many times I hear the stories, I am still shocked and saddened by the insensitivity.

What a lovely gift you gave your sister-in-law and your brother. It truly was a "bittersweet" holiday, but a little joy is better than none at all.

[lyonn]

5. Awww, so very nice

If only $4000 could have helped her with the care that she seemed to really need But Not Get. Sadly your 4 thou. wouldn't touch the expenses.... This is so hurtful to an entire family and it happens every day in the U.S., as that one Great Dem Senator, forgot his name, shame, keeps telling the Senate.

Our healthcare system is disgusting. Our banking system is disgusting. This is truly Corporate America. When will Congress do their jobs? And Obama needs to start beating the drum for reform.....??!! The repubs are trashing and bashing and the media thrives on it. It is lies and distortions. We thought this would end after Bush, guess not. Billions is the name of the game.........

[JNelson6563]

6. My dad would say there's a spot in heaven for you

And I say I wish there was a heaven, for people like you.