I am a social worker in a child abuse and neglect prevention program. I visit in homes and try to teach parents how to be better mommys and daddys in hopes that they won't abuse and neglect their children. We emphasize parent child interaction, self sufficiency, literacy, and proper health and dental care. Ahhhh.......there's the rub.
I just returned from the bedside of a little guy who weighs a bit more than 4 lbs. For the time being, he resides in the NICU (Newborn Intensive Care Unit) of one of the best hospitals in the State of Florida. He was born at 31 weeks gestation. (In case you don't know, normal gestations is 40 weeks) He is on a ventilator and a feeding tube. He has a hole in his heart and his lungs are immature.
His mommy is scared. In the four years I have worked with her she has earned her GED, found employment and started to college. She is an American citizen. She translates on the side for extra money. She has another child at home to care for, so she can't stay at the hospital with this little angel. The father of the older child pays no child support. She receives Medicaid to cover her health expenses. And therein lies the problem.
You see, Mommy had a history of early delivery. Her other child spent 3 weeks in the NICU. So when she became pregnant again, the high risk OB recommended she be given a weekly shot of progesterone for 6 months. This has been shown to help women with a history of premature delivery to carry to term. That would be great, but Medicaid refused to pay the $480 for the shots. Mom couldn't afford them what with gas to and from the doctor, work, school, and her other child to take care of. So, she made a choice and hoped for the best. Now our little angel lies in the NICU with an uncertain future and meanwhile the dollars keep adding up all on Medicaid's tab.
How can we be penny wise and pound foolish in our healthcare while we watch the sickest and weakest among us suffer? And it's not just Medicaid it's all of them. If she were self insured or insured through an employer I'm sure it would be much the same.
This diary is as much a rant out of frustration as anything. I don't know the answers. But, this is a disgrace. We can wage a war on two fronts, one based on lies and greed, but we refuse to prevent illness and possible death when we see it coming.
So if you pray and to whomever you pray, remember this little angel and his mommy. They need all the good thoughts we can send.