In the five years I have been here at dkos, I have rarely ranted. This time my daughter's life involved, and I am pissed, furious, mad to the point of crying angry tears.
Fear is at the root of the anger, I know this.
You greedy insurance corporate murderers make me want to believe there is a hell, especially those of you in Congress who line your greedy pockets at the expense of my child, at the expense of thousands of other children.
Republithugs, DINO's, all of you can GO TO HELL!
If you want to know why a usually mild mannered kossack is losing it, I'll share below below the fold.
"Wow she's bitchy". You bet, I haven't really slept for two nights now.
My oldest daughter's credit was shot by medical bills before she could build it. At 18 her gallbladder had to be removed. She worked as an assistant manager for Wendy's, while going to school full time, she supposedly had benefits. After the EMERGENCY surgery the insurance company claimed pre-existing and she was left with a five figure bill. She's battled housing issues since then because of her credit score due to the surgery.
Why didn't I have my daughters covered? I am on disability, have been for 10 years. Before I developed health problems I worked and supported my children on a nursing assistant's salary, I wasn't a freeloader. I would love to go to work, be productive again in the workforce, have even attempted to. If I make over $200.00 a month I lose insurance, medical equipment, and prescriptions that keep me healthy. Even though my disability should have qualified my three daughters for medical until they were 21, they have work ethics that choke me up with pride. They work full time and go to college. Having work ethics is a punishable offense when it comes to getting state assistance with health care.
On Tuesday I took my oldest daughter to dinner for an early birthday present since she has to work Saturday on her birthday. As we left the restaurant and I went to say my good-bye to her she asked me to feel the right side of her neck, there was a large lump. She informed me it had started small, but she became alarmed when it got progressively larger. I know she put off going to the Dr. due to her past experience with medical. In the last two days since she broke the news, she admitted she put off going to the Dr. because she has no insurance.
Her paternal grandmother died from Huntington's Disease. Her uncle, and now her father have it. Starting when she was eighteen she has struggled depression and mood swings, impulsive acts, and anxiety. Two years ago right now she was in a psych unit after calling due to depression and seriously suicidal thoughts.
While we do not understand the precise neurobiological cause, it is clear that psychiatric symptoms occur much more frequently in patients of Huntington’s disease than in the general population. Further, neuropsychiatric symptoms are often the most distressing aspect of the disease for patients and their families and many times they necessitate hospitalization [3]. The most frequent psychiatric symptoms that occur with Huntington’s are depression, anxiety, irritability, obsession and compulsions and psychosis. Also, patients may have difficulty forming new memories and performing complex tasks.
Even during the hosptalization we chose to remain silent about her family history of Huntington's, knowing that at her young age even if she didn't carry the gene she would play hell getting health and life insurance for the rest of her life. If she could have been honest, testing and proper treatment could have been started.
She is now going to request the testing for Huntington's. Once she became an adult I explained to her this was available, but up until these other issues arrived she did not want to know, and since she is an adult I respected her choice.
Yesterday she asked me if I would do some checking into anything that might relate to her family medical history and this growth. I won't, just don't have it in me right now to tell her this, or this.
"An overactive immune system can cause many immune system diseases and disorders. Examples include Huntington's disease, lupus, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia and even depression. On the other hand, an underactive or weakened immune system can lead to common colds, flu, cancer, chronic Fatigue syndrome, cancer and other diseases."
Even though I've had extensive medical training in my earlier years. I'm not a physician, so I cannot, diagnose my child. However, I am a mother, as much as I focus on the positive while talking to her and in my own mind, the possible still haunts me.
On the Rec list is kevvboy's diary covering Senator Al Franken's kick ass take down yesterday.
If we lived in France, or Germany, I believe things wouldn't be where they are today with my daughter's health.
Strong, stubborn, independent. Those characteristics have always been a part of my daughter's personality, yet the last two mornings she has called me first thing when she has gotten up. There is an unspoken "Mom, I need you right now" undertone in her voice. I know she is seeking normal, a calm repose, which somehow I've managed to give her while feeling like my heart is breaking, feeling like an immensely powerful force is twisting my insides into knots.
Those of you who are supposed to represent us but are getting wealthier at the expense of our children's health, and their lives, you can go to hell.
I wish you could have the last two sleepless nights I have had. Your greed would blind you to the look into my daughter's eyes, or hear the fear in her voice she is trying so hard to cover.
In a way you asses are so incidental right now because all I really want is my daughter to be healthy again, or at the very least be able to get the medical treatment any human deserves, especially our children.