This is a picture of me taken just this past Saturday after etensive oral surgery.... This is what happens when there is no dental insurance for the aging....it gets pretty rough !!!!!
If you notice I did not say poor. It equates to the same thing and I have read diaries on here where 20 years ago I would have had a hard time believing but not so anymore.
The ripple effect of pain and suffering is something so many of us live another day wondering when will this fall stop? Then another whammy hits you or a family member and there you are, sprawled out in the floor, looking for your bootstraps and wondering, why is this all happening?
One may have friends and they are so good to you but most of the time they are recovering from some hurdle as well. Your self esteem is down and you still have bills coming in and no one wanting to work with you. It is humiliating as a younger person but at nearly 65, you want to scream and wonder why you even worked so many years, saving, putting in for social security, almost ..no....definately neglecting small kids as you head out the door in your Reagan work years to struggle then as well...
Since about September I have been ill. ( The quilt did help) but bronchitis, ear infections, abcesses, and finally after the holidays were ruined , you get up the courage because even that is low and decide to see an oral surgeon to hope to stop some of this stuff.
Of course all those Reagan years of working thinking you would have a safety net fooled you and you do not have 2K for dental surgery...whereas they pull 7 teeth, put you under, scrape bones and gums and stitch you up.. No you are part of the invisible.
Do you have insurance? Of course not..... Champ VA and Medicare do not cover dental or vision. You do not need to eat or see... You are on your own here ....I heard Sidepocket say, Oh well I am 75 ..I don't have that much longer.... I jumped his butt on that... I want to taste my food and be well no matter how long I have....
I saw the nurse put the amount down after x rays and I said, " I will just take novacaine and get the one tooth out" Well glad I have a friend to make sure I got knocked out with 7 teeth extracted because the grinder was rough and I do remember that and there was infection under the tooth at the bone that the antibiotics did not clear and of course Champ VA said no...to this procedure. I do have a beautiful friend who helped me get this done and I want to give back and pay forward... I want her to know just how much this old lady fighting for vets appreciates her....God Bless those who reach out to people who are on fixed or no incomes... Who say, " let me help you dear" or understand the loss of a kitty of 15 years, the loss of a vet friend the same week, the loss of your favorite uncle and the stress of oral big time surgery all in a week and a half. God Bless people who care and I don't know any who are republicans. God bless the hugs....but no thanks to legislators and greedy utility folks, States like Florida, or even most churches.. No thanks..
I am on the mend.. still bruised badly on my face and eating a little and. of course still struggling to make ends meet but this old lady of 64 who faced the pain and fears and now has a bruised, banged face with stitches feels a little better. Some .People do not know what it is like to rearrange bills, beg for continued payments to hear.. " Uh no, not our policy".. and cry because we old, broke and sick and are just one real emergency from total desolation unless people care enough about you to make sure you don't fall too far. In that respect I have been very blessed now and in the past. It is hard to watch a disabled vet husband run to pawn shops to make sure there is enough meds even though a friend would help but he feels he needs to do all he can as well. Including giving up a lot of his own possessions.
I get all the poor diaries.. I hope many of you do....We don't have to go to some third world country to see fear and pain and yes even hunger... Look Around.
God Bless those who are aware if the plight and do reach out... They come here everyday to help folks. No matter what you believe ...I believe in the song below.
I have a link on my name......that helps veterans... This person who helped me out of pain and into surgery I want to help pay back...because she and everyone like her helps vets when they help me in times of need... I cannot do a thing when down..example I missed my vet friend's memorial yesterday so my husband went and represented me and our small org.
I appreciate you all and will be more active now that the poison is leaving my body and mending.. I literally have been so sick for months on end and am so ready to help change some laws regarding vision and dental coverage as separate entities and make it part of all insurance...Including our federal insurance programs.
As Alan Grayson said, " We are on our own but some of us are lucky enough to have friends who do care"
Listen to the song...