Yesterday we all shared in the story of desertguy's brush with the health care system, and their immense pain and despair over being able to obtain even a MINIMAL treatment option (much less required major surgery to relieve a dangerous and life-threatening infection).
Kossacks responded en masse - and enough was raised to cover his minimal current expense for pain-killers as well as his required dental surgery to relieve the source of the medical problem (and perhaps part of the psychological depression as well).
And it occurred to me........
IF we can respond this quickly and effectively for desertguy, WHY CAN WE NOT PERHAPS HAVE A SPECIAL MONTHLY COLLECTION IN WHICH WE DO THE SAME FOR WHAT ARE CERTAINLY OTHER FOLKS OUT THERE IN DESPERATE STRAITS?
Why can't we establish a monthly drive for one particular emergency case that requires the input of numerous individuals contributing a little (as opposed to a few who would have input a LOT) - and thereby help one truly desperate individual over a tough period in their lives?
I am thinking here of people who:
1. Have an immediate and vital medical need and have no resources or help in seeing that need met (physical condition, mental aid help, painkilling drugs, etc.)
2. Have an immediate and life-threatening non-medical need (computer repair to maintain social contact, auto repair in order to work, etc.)
3. Have an immediate housing need (shelter cost, food requirement, utility shut-off impending, etc.) and face either eviction or life-threatening heat or cold - and who have no means of obtaining social service assistance in time?
Such a program could be coordinated and run by 2 or 3 Kossacks and administered through PayPal or some other online payment service - just as was done for desertguy.
Individuals could self-nominate or others could inform those who oversee the effort of someone they know or love or both of a problem and we could act in their behalf.
The situation would have to be verifiable, of course (through calls to doctors, landlords, repair agencies, etc.) in order to verify the problem and the extent of required assistance, but surely this would not be a problem for those truly in need of immediate assistance?
Does anyone else think this idea might fly - and be willing to help?
Maybe I;m out in left field with this idea - but if desertguy's (and the other people who have had similar emergencies) situation tells us anything, it is that one should not be driven to the verge of suicide to be able to find and obtain life-sparing and life-improving assistance when it is most needed