National Health Care - Why we need it

Almost 4 years ago, my husband was injured on the job. His employer of course sent him to "approved" workers comp doctors.

The doctor put him in a hip to ankle brace for several weeks. Which I thought was odd for a knee injury.

His leg muscles atrophied, but we assumed he was better because the doctors said so.

Fast forward to July 2009. The same knee "pops" one day at work. That night, it swells. Now going to a new doctor, one covered by our own insurance not a 'workers comp' specialist - we find out that he has a degenerative problem. One that began from another injury. A shredded tendon. Now a cyst has formed, arthritis issues....a mess.

All this easily diagnosed with an MRI that workers comp would not pay for 4 years ago.

Now, he is out of work on short term disabilty. His knee will never be better. He will have chronic pain until he dies.

4 years ago we had health insurance. We have always carried 2 plans. A "just in case" scenario for if mine didn't cover something, his would. We never figured on the tricky, shady workers comp experience.

With a National Health Care system - we would get care for patients who need it when they need it. There would be no fuss over the cost of MRI's and proper diagnosis. It seems silly and frustrating to know that now all these years later, insurance is paying thousands of dollars for his diagnosis, treatment etc......wasteful.

Ponder this:

The number of uninsured citizens has grown to over 45 million.
Health care has become increasingly unaffordable for businesses and individuals.
We can eliminate wasteful inefficiencies such as duplicate paper work, claim approval, insurance submission, etc.
We can develop a centralized national database which makes diagnosis and treatment easier for doctors.
Medical professionals can concentrate on healing the patient rather than on insurance procedures, malpractice liability, etc.
Free medical services would encourage patients to practice preventive medicine and inquire about problems early when treatment will be light; currently, patients often avoid physicals and other preventive measures because of the costs.
Patients with pre-existing conditions can still get health coverage.

Passing Me By

Oh my gosh....time is flying by this year....
I have been in a whirl of one crazy bit after another crazy bit.
I just need to take a moment to come back to center....and back to the blog.
You know how it is.

It's Official

I am now scaring myself.

Last night, I sat alone in a hotel room in Charlotte, NC screaming at the TV watching a hockey game. I was calling people names, swearing and everything.

I have never been so caught up in sports before.

But, all the screaming was worth it. We won Game 7 and continue on in the series.

The agony continues.

Thank you.

They won.

Please win, please win, please win.

Let's Go Caps! Let's Go Caps! Let's Go Caps!

Those of you who know me, and most likely those of you who don't know me....know I am not a sports fan.

However, I am a hockey fan. This is new for me...but this was the year I embraced hockey. I love the fights, I love the fast paced play, I love the blood, sweat and tears. The Capitals are playing game 3 tonight in the playoff series against the New York Rangers. I am putting all my good energy into them winning. We have to be best in a 7 game series and are currently down 2. I will be wearing my #8 Ovechkin jersey tonight....even though #52 Mike Green is my favorite player and boyfriend. I just haven't found his number and name on a shirt or jersey yet. One would think that because he is my boyfriend, he would just give me one....but he doesn't know he's my boyfriend...so I have to settle for buying one. By the way....this is now another of my boyfriends that is now young enough for me to have given birth to him.

At least Alessio is 43.

Alessio

I'm not one to post gratuitous photos - but this is one dreamy dude.

I have a love of the Sundance channel, and for the past 3 weeks have been watching a 'made for tv' italian mini series.

I can't quite express the joy of listening to italian and then having Alessio to watch too. I started dreaming in short italian phrases.....

Buona Pasqua

I have been a bit world weary of late.

Many pressing issues and problems - mainly work related...that have been taking their toll. It has left me with a bad attitude - and since nobody wants to hear more complaints...I have limited my communication.....knowing it would be hostile.

The funk has been so bad....that it was beginning to physically manifest even in my home....so I took steps to begin the spring cleaning last week....blinds off the windows and cleaned, windows, screens, dust bunnies begone!!!! Surprisingly ~ it seems to be working.....my psyche is climbing out of the dark, dank hole it has been in for the last few months.

In my mind, I have been traveling to the happy places in order to combat the nasty attitude - and can't help but remember my Easter in Italy a few years back. I had done a lenten fast of pasta that year, knowing that Easter Sunday would find me wrapped in the warm arms of Italy and all her pasta glory. Oh the joy of landing in Rome and within one hour having a lovely first course lasagna laid before you.......

Happily, I am enjoying a nice long Easter weekend - complete with chocolate, some wonderful italian wine, and a marathon of Ben-Hur and The Ten Commandments.....(I gotta get my Charlton Heston on during religious holidays.)

Somewhere in there will be some naps and a delicious Easter dinner with the local family.

She may just be emerging from the dark......(i feel like a tulip!)