Dying 10 yr old + mother taking time off from work = No Medical Insurance

[IdaBriggs]

NOTE: Not a fundraiser by me; just a sad, true story.

One of the kitchen workers at my lunch cafeteria has posted a sign about his nephew, age ten, who has been given less than six months to live due to cancer. There is a picture of him, and he looks like an adorable child. The kitchen worker is doing a "bake sale" to help raise money to cover medical insurance because she has been taking too much time off work and has now lost hers (and one presumes her job, also).

:banghead:

I am *assuming* the medical insurance is for the rest of the family (because I think in Michigan children are covered and terminally ill children have to be eligible for services, right?), but I don't really know. The boy had a charming, mischievous look about him, and he reminded me of my own nephews. The thought of losing one of them ... (shudder) ....

I can't even begin to imagine the loss this woman is enduring, and the fact her family is having to do a BAKE SALE at this point in time is just OBSCENE.

I know these types of stories aren't new, but every now and then, one of them just grabs you by the gut, and I get angry all over again. Five years of Republican "compassionate conservatism", uncounted BILLIONS for Halliburton and company, and we have families of terminally ill children requiring BAKE SALES to meet their basic needs!!!

I hate Republicans.

:cry:

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Pathetic, isnt it? What a "culture of life"

[Hekate]

17. But let the family DARE to pull the plug at the end & Dr Frist will be...

...on the case, one presumes. I am so sorry for this family.

Yes, bake sales. That's this country's answer for ongoing medical needs, for catastrophic medical needs -- bankrupt the family and go begging to the neighbors. Ye gods, how shamful.

Hekate

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. I have been complaining about this for years

It is sickening that we have to have bake sales and put collection jars in convenience stores to pay for medical care. Just sickening. :cry:

[area51]

4. What proud2Blib said.

We are a barbaric country b/c we allow people to die who need medical care, instead of wisely spending tax dollars on universal healthcare.

[SammyWinstonJack]

3. This just isn't right. Holding bake sales to pay for medical care.

:grr: I suppose ** would say that is "uniquely 'Murican. :mad:

[bpj1962]

5. Insurance

My 4 1/2 year old son was recently diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. Fortunately my company has an HMO policy and so far the only thing we have had to pay for is the Co-Pays for the doctor visits and the prescriptions. The downside is that since I have filed this claim with the insurer they are more then likely to either raise the company rates or drop the company entirely. The health insurance industry is a racket. Many people now wish that National Health Care had been created during the Clinton Administration. There is no compassion in the Bush administration just out right greed. My son has a decent chance of survival, however I have been told that the co-pays and the non insurance covered items could cost me up to 20% of my annual net income.

[lostnfound]

8. Welcome to DU.

I am so very sorry that your son is facing this. I'm sure that it must be very frightening for you and for him. May he get the best of care and be fully recovered faster than expected.

Dear God, little kids shouldn't get such illnesses.

[renate]

9. I'm so sorry for what you and your son are going through

The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society offers financial aid up to $500 for those in need.
http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/all_page?item_id=4603

Here's their home page:
http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/hm_lls

They're very active in my area and I bet they would be a great resource for you in terms of either information or advice about insurance.

I'll be praying for you and your son.
A happy story: A friend of mine was recently told that there was so little chance of her son's (malignant) brain tumor returning that he no longer needs annual MRIs--finally, that whole long ordeal is for all intents and purposes completely and utterly over and he is totally healthy. There was a time when that would have been hard for her to even imagine, and now everything is completely fine. I'm looking forward to when that wonderful return to normalcy is possible for you. :hug:

[bpj1962]

13. Prayers

Thank you so much for your thoughts and prayers. It has been the kind thoughts of family friends and strangers as well that has allowed my wife and I to weather this storm so far. On a slightly ironic note a previous poster mentioned the CEO of Exxon-Mobil. Directly across the street from the hospital that my son was treated at is the east coast headquarters for Exxon-Mobil. With all the money they are making you would think that they could give something back to society. Thanks for the website info.

[IdaBriggs]

12. Sympathy ... Support ... and welcome to DU!

All the best for your youngling!

[qanda]

15. I'm so sorry

I'm glad to hear that your son is expected to do well. It must be very stressful to have to worry about insurance and money when you should only be concerned with your child getting well. May peace and healing be yours.

[Junkdrawer]

6. I contribute to St. Judes for just this kind of case...

Has the kitchen worker looked into St. Judes?

http://www.stjude.org/patientsandparents

:shrug:

[IdaBriggs]

11. I wrote this down on a post-it note, and dropped it in the collection jar.

I don't know if they know about it, but it couldn't hurt, right?

And THANK YOU for your support of St. Judes -- from what I understand, they are GOOD PEOPLE -- and obviously, so are you!!! :) :hug:

[Initech]

7. This aint right. Really, not at all.

CEOs, like the one of Exxon Mobil, make obscene hourly wages. And this poor mother has to hold bake sales to cover medical insurance. Something is dead wrong here.

[zbdent]

10. Isn't this one of those many cases that the righties said never happens

and that's why they passed legislation protecting the credit card companies and banks from people who claim bankruptcy due to illnesses and medical expenses?

:grr:

[IdaBriggs]

14. Update: I talked to the uncle some more.

His sister (the boy's mother) has a "proportional" health care plan; when she works less hours, her employer contributes less to the insurance plan. (I think that's what he said.) The boy has been fighting a "soft tissue" (something) sarcoma cancer that is very rare; he now has a tumor around his spine, and the cancer has advanced to his abdominal lymph nodes.

The folks from "Make a Wish" got him a "shopping spree" at Toys-R-Us, and he went to a hockey game, too. He isn't going to school anymore....

His name is "Kurtis."

:cry: :cry: :cry:

[renate]

18. I wish there were something to say...

This is SO SAD.

[SoCalDem]

16. Sad isn't it?

In America, if you are not rich, you might have to BEG to get medical care. Or hold bake sales, car washes to help out.

While it's a good thing that ordinary people are WILLING to help, and DO help, it does NOT lessen the outrage. At a time when families should be able to spend what time they have left with the ill person, they must instead turn into carnival barkers, desperately trying to scrounging for money..:cry:


This is also true to some degree for old sick people. These people are often alone, with poor eyesight, and yet they have REAMS of paperwork to try and figure out and file. In the richest country in the world, you should be able to go to a doctor and say "I'm sick..please help me"..and it should be DONE.

[KT2000]

19. Built into the system

The odds are good that when a serious illness strikes, the health insurance will be lost. When the illness prevents the person from working, they lose the insurance.

This is free market health care.

[KatyaR]

20. Isn't it wonderful what "taking charge of your own healthcare" can do?

Pulling people together and all that . . . . :sarcasm:

Face it, folks, we're all on our own now--don't expect any support from ANYONE other than yourself without having to beg for it.