Aug. 27, 6:49 AM. Random thoughts while in the hospital waiting room as my wife is undergoing the final phase of reconstruction.
Yesterday, several people I know went to Tampa to take part in a planned protest of the GOP, its candidates and its policy positions. It might have made 10 seconds on the TV news and a couple of small columns in the papers. So, what? The GOP doesn’t care. No amount of protest will have any impact on them and they are not going to change as long as they have access to big money.
What will make a difference is if the same people who spent significant time and money to get to Tampa actually went into their own local neighborhoods and started registering people to vote in positive reaction to voter suppression laws, and then getting the vote out for progressive candidates. Actions like that will have a much bigger and lasting impact on the GOP than any mere protest.
7:30 AM. She’s just been wheeled into the OR. There’s plenty of time for me to grab something to eat in the cafeteria, and then try and be busy doing something or other.
The last eighteen months have been like a nightmare. In January of 2011 her primary care physician of seventeen years informed her that he would not accept her as a patient anymore over one disputed bill which she had paid. Her Gynecologist, a year earlier told her he would accept cash but not Medicare. What I should have done is publish both SOB’s names all over the internet and I might yet do that. In early February she was rushed to the hospital and treated for five days for pneumonia and other complications. As a result of this we got another primary care physician who does accept Medicare and has a much better bedside manner. In March she was diagnosed with cancer in both breasts and her surgeon tried a lumpectomy that was mostly successful yet there was enough doubt in all of our minds as to what would happen later. She decided to schedule another surgery for a double mastectomy. It was the right choice and she has been cancer free for over a year. In April she started reconstruction and so far so good. Everything has gone off like clockwork. Today’s surgery is the final step. Hey! Did I mention that we’re on Medicare (with a good supplemental plan)? You know, Medicare, the health care plan for seniors that we’ve been paying into since its inception. Guess what? It didn’t cost us an arm and a leg; no, we didn’t have to mortgage the farm to pay any of the resulting bills (yawn). I (yawn) really ought to……zzz…snkxx..zzzzzz…..
9.15 AM. I felt the doctor robustly tapping me on the shoulder awakening me from my nap. He assured me that everything went well and that she’s going to be OK. I would be able to see her in about a half an hour.
(Big yawn) Oh, yes….where was I? Well, considering that we were paying $1400.00 per month prior to going on Medicare it certainly doesn’t make sense to go with a private insurer. We’re also both on Social Security, which is also under the gun from the GOP. This Republican caused ( and maintained) economy we’re in has reduced our business to 30% of what it was, so we’re grateful for the help; of course we both have been paying in since the late 1950s, so it’s not exactly an entitlement.
Five hospitalizations and four surgeries in eighteen months is nothing to sneeze (sic) at. Without the safety net in place I shudder to think what would have happened to us. Worse yet, what’s going to happen to our children and grandchildren in the future? That alone is reason for me to never trust a Republican. Even thinking about vouchers or privatization nauseates me. We’re supposed to provide a better life for our kids, something the current system is not allowing for.
No, the RNC Convention, platform and candidates are not anything I want to watch. The thought of Grand Nagus Mitt and Grand Inquisitor Ryan taking center stage is too much to bear. Protest if you want but it’ll get you nowhere. Go out and do something about it.
Register non voters, or canvass for campaigns. If you act you’re part of the solution: If you don’t act you’re part of the problem.
10:15 AM. “Mr. Waxman, you may see your wife now” said the nurse. She was in good spirits and ready to go home. She was discharged at 11:15 and we were home by noon.
I am going through the same thing Jerry. All the primaries in Orlando are dropping medicaid. i have to drive an hour and a half just to get my cold medicated. My specialist is over an hour away as well. Its insane
Very well said. Get active; don’t protest. Register someone and make sure they vote. Do it inb your own neighborhood.
Protest. I don’t think the individuals in Tampa would be doing teas with the suburbanites that will swing the election. Support the protestors. In some red states they are in such a bubble they assume everyone wants a return to Medieval times. Tell them no. Most who vote have lived long enough to know you are more preventing disaster than ushering in a new Renaissance. So don’t try to sell them the sun and the moon with their vote. And thanks for writing in what has to be trying times for you and yours.
Jerry, I’m glad your wife is doing better and I hope everything with the surgery went well. It’s hell being screwed over by a doctor, isn’t it? They try to play the victim in the health care mess, but I’m starting to see that they’re part of the problem. My own cancer doctor dropped me after I lost my job and insurance. Almost died until I got on Medicare, and it has been a challenge finding competent docs who are on the “approved” list of my supplemental insurance plan which is supposed to be making Medicare more affordable? Seems like all it has done is make me jump through a lot of red tape after constantly seeing and leaving some of the worst practices in Central Florida. I finally found a good one and am now getting my 5-year cancer progression scan….3 years after I was supposed to. God help me if there’s something wrong with me because I am now deathly afraid of Medicare doctors. I think being prepared to go at any time is the wisest strategy. I use it in health, life and politics.
eatingon1: Don’t take voters for granted. We’re talking getting minorities registered, especially in the Hispanic districts. 300,000 people can make a huge difference. Protesting and sign waving are fine things to do ( and I’ve done my share) but not so close to an election where there’s a lot more at stake. All protests do at this point is to extend the status quo. That’s unacceptable. Things will not change unless the voters demand it.
mcspanky: Sorry to hear about your troubles. Don’t be down on all doctors. The staff at MD Anderson in the Orlando Health complex is just marvelous and they couldn’t have been nicer to us. Yes, they accept Medicare. I’m about to submit another article on Rick Scott’s poor health care policy and how it killed a friend of mine. I have to interview my friend’s wife for some factual information and she’s still in mourning so it’ll be another week or so.
“Don’t take voters for granted?” I would say someone somewhere needs to cancel out a vote when it throws Grandma to the dogs. Even if she just loves Republican Governor Scott that everyone I know hates as he is a crook. The best thing we can do for our elderly relatives is this if they are too confused by the $ Billions: Vote. And Vote Obama- because it cancels -a confused- vote.