A Different Perspective

I am a rather prolific blog reader. Put a blog in front of me and I'm going to read it, really no matter what the subject matter! I like my friends blogs, acquaintances blogs, perfect strangers blogs, blogs about mommies, blogs about cooking, blogs about crafts...you get the picture. But my favorite blogs have become blogs that are more medical in nature. I read several blogs that are authored by moms who are dealing with a child's illness. This one is about a mom whose son was born with a very severe heart defect that will eventually require him to have a heart transplant. This one is about a mom whose daughter was born with a whole host of congenital problems, including heart, bladder, colon and lung abnormalities. She also has the same kidney problem that my oldest nephew has, a weird coincidence that makes me feel a kinship to this little 4 year old.

But today I'd like to concentrate on this mom. Her name is Patrice and she is the mother of 2 little boys, both who suffer from a disease called EB (Epidermolysis Bullosa). It is a rare and devastating skin disease where the lightest touch causes the skin to blister and slough off, leaving open wounds and creating a host of other problems. Her first son Gabe passed away, likely from this disease, at birth. Her second son Jonah has made it to his first birthday, a wonderful milestone for a child with this disease. She posted this on her site and I wanted to repost it here as I think it shows a wonderful perspective that a lot of people are missing in light of recent political events.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010
My heart is beating kind of fast in my chest as I begin to write this post. I don't know why. Well, yes I do. I'm taking my all about Jonah, all about our little life, cute pictures, sweet videos blog somewhere I've never taken it before...into the realm of politics (but not really). I know why I'm nervous. I don't want people to assume things about me, or judge me for writing this. I don't want it to change your opinion of me or to make you think badly of me. I don't want those of you who come here just for the cuteness that is Jonah to have to read something you'd rather not. (So stop reading now if you are rolling your eyes).

And I feel like an idiot for feeling this way, because I know that what I'm saying is fundamentally right and I feel like God is calling me to write it, so really, nothing else matters. Maybe I'm overreacting anyway. I don't know.

Here it goes.

I support health care reform.

(Holds arms up to block fire lit arrows that are careening down upon me.)

This is not a post in support of the new health care bill. It is not a post against. It's not about that.

It's not about the bill. It's about some of the extreme attitudes, broad statements and hate surrounding the bill. I can't stand it. Really, it makes me feel all tight in my chest. I hate the hate. I can't stand it.

I hate the absolute statements that are being thrown around like "government takeover" and "my tax money paying for lazy people who don't want to work" and "conspiracy".

I know that people have concerns about many things - more government control, the manner the votes were obtained, tax increases on the wealthy, the effect on insurance premium rates, the possibility of waiting lists, etc. I don't want to argue these points. That's not the point of this post.

The point is I hate the hate mongering. I hate the lies, (or twisting and stretching of truths) to make people hate. Did I mention I hate it?

The truth (in our) situation is this:

Not all people who need government assistance are lazy people who don't want to work. I had to give up my job (and my health insurance) to stay home with Jonah. Not because I'm lazy and I don't want to work, but because I have to take care of him. My circumstances require me to stay at home. Jonah is on Matt's insurance. We decided not to put me on his plan because it was going to be way to expensive. So now I pay for a sub-standard plan out of pocket and have a $5,000 deductible before it kicks in. Jonah FINALLY qualified for Medicaid after 8 months of us jumping through hoops and struggling to pay our bills. And that is WITH insurance. If it hadn't been for donations from people who, for whatever reason, love us and care for us and for the help of generous family members, we could have easily gotten in trouble (or had to sell our house) while we waited.

What if Jonah hadn't qualified? What if Matt were to lose his job? What if we couldn't pay the COBRA payments (which are RIDICULOUSLY high) and Jonah had a lapse in coverage? What if the next insurance company wouldn't cover him because he has a preexisting condition? What would we do?

I am very thankful for government involvement.

If it weren't for government assistance, Jonah wouldn't have a nutritionist, and occupational therapist, or a physical therapist. (Well, he probably would, but we would be in very bad shape financially.) Jonah qualifies for those programs. We receive them for free. I am thankful for them. Jonah has Medicaid that covers our copays and prescriptions. I am thankful.

I am thankful that he won't be denied because of his preexisting condition.

Many families who need help are like us - forced out of work by circumstances beyond our control - just trying to take care of their kids, their families, just trying to survive the hand they've been dealt. Many of them are not as fortunate as Matt and I are to have the resources and knowledge to apply for help in the first place. Many of them do not have family and friends making donations to help them get by. We are so blessed. We are the fortunate ones.

So please, before you make blanket statements about the people that are receiving the benefits of your tax dollars, think about situations like ours. It is so hard. And you just don't know until you've been there. (I definitely know that people DO take advantage and there are things about the system that are VERY messed up, so you don't need to argue that point. Believe me, I know.)

For me it boils down to this. I want to be compassionate. I want the hate mongering to STOP. I want the fear tactics to cease. I want people to stop being so prideful long enough to listen to each other. I think Jesus calls us to take care of the sick, the hurting, and the poor. I think he calls for us to pray for our government and our leaders, whether we fully agree with them or not.

Whatever comes from all of this, whatever it entails, God knew it before it happened. He will carry us through it. It is not, unless he planned it to be so, the end of the world. And if it is, then I am one step closer to seeing Jesus and my baby Gabe.

We need to discuss, listen, share, have open minds, but most of all LOVE. Nothing else really matters.

Try to see some good in things, even if you don't agree with all of it. And please, for the love of God (really), stop with the hate already.

It's making me sick.