An Ol' Broad's Ramblings
Archive for Chris From Racine
Health Care – It’s Personal
by Paul Miller
Emotions are running high in America as the country is entrenched in the debate over health care. Conventional wisdom dictates that rational thinking must always prevail over irrational judgment that almost always accompanies human emotion. However, as a victim of child-hood cancer, I can tell you as I live and breathe today, it is our humanity that must triumph in our national discussion that may ultimately decide who lives — and who dies.
Twenty-four years ago this month I found myself on an operating table in a suburban Chicago hospital undergoing what was supposed to be routine surgery. Doctors were removing a mass of calcified tissue that was present for a few years in my right arm, but finally, the growth had caused this 14-year old baseball fanatic to lose the zip on his fast-ball, or so it would seem.
When I awoke from surgery, I learned that I didn’t have a harmless calcium deposit – I had cancer.
The decisions and actions taken after the diagnosis would determine if I would live or die. My fate would ultimately be transcended by choices that were made by my parents and doctors.
The cancer discovered was described by doctors as “rare, mean and deadly.” It was almost unheard of to be found in a teenage boy. My pediatrician advised my family and me to seek treatment at Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago. I transferred there the next day. A team of oncologists reviewed my case and they recommended I see “one of only two doctors in the country that have ever treated this type of cancer.” This time my path to survival would take me to the University of Chicago.
In less than a week’s time after my cancer diagnosis, countless medical professionals, including some of the finest medical minds in Chicago, had reviewed my case and advised my family how to save my life. Every step of the way, my parents and I were always given options, ultimately allowing us to have control and make the final decisions.
Amputation or Radiation Treatments were the choices presented and explained to me by the doctor that countless of other medical professionals agreed was my best hope for survival. My doctor and his team took into consideration numerous intangibles such as age, type of cancer, location in my body, but possibly most important; my quality of life.
When my family and I made the decision to proceed with Radiation therapy I was fully aware that if my cancer returned (reoccurrence) an amputation would most likely be required to save my life.
Two years later my cancer returned and my right arm was removed.
Over twenty years later I’m alive, married with two beautiful boys and lying awake at night knowing that if my medical care in 1985 was left to politicians and bureaucrats, I most likely would be pushing up daisies and my children would have never been a twinkle in their mothers eye.
If America was under government-controlled health care when I was first diagnosed twenty-four years ago, would I have received the medical care necessary to save my life? No.
No honest-thinking person would ever claim that government is efficient or personable. Imagine the bureaucratic nightmare my parents would have had to endure if they had to go through a system that is derived from the same service mentality that created the Internal Revenue Service or Department of Motor Vehicles. Wasn’t my family suffering enough? Didn’t they have enough to worry about after learning their first-born son had cancer? Wouldn’t a humane society like ours embrace what is the fastest and most efficient manner to save a human beings life and not try to add to the suffering already taking place?
Read the rest here.
Kinda makes you think, doesn’t it? I sincerely do NOT understand the so-called intelligent people who think that this is a good idea. Do they not understand that ultimately, if Obamacare passes, that the government will have the power to decide who lives and who dies? Do you really want the government using some sort of ridiculous “formula” to determine whether it’s financially worthwhile for your loved one to receive the treatment he/she desperately needs to save his/her life?
Friends, this is beyond scary.
H/T Real Debate
No Shoes, No Shirt, Say WHAT?
Okay, I understand rules are rules, but c’mon dude…seriously???
SUNSET HILLS, MO (KTVI – FOX2now.com) – No shoes, no shirt, no service: there is word that the manager of a St. Louis County restaurant threatened to kick out a six-month old baby and her mother because the baby wasn’t wearing shoes. The infant’s mom says the restaurant is taking the policy too far. Jennifer Frederich said the manager of the Sunset Hills Burger King at 10734 Sunset Hills Plaza cited ‘health concerns’.
Frederich said her daughter, Kaylin, was too young to even get her feet dirty; she couldn’t walk, couldn’t crawl, her feet still pretty much too small for shoes.
“Everybody loves baby feet,” she said.
Yet she said those feet nearly got the baby, her mom and her grandmother, booted from the restaurant, as grandma was holding Kaylin at the counter and the cashier took their order.
“The manager was standing next to him said, ‘you can order “to go” but you’re going to have to leave if she doesn’t have shoes on’. He said, ‘it’s against health code’,” Frederich said.
Frederich said she was taking her church youth group to the Rock the River concerts under the Gateway Arch, Sunday; she, her mother, daughter, and about 25 others, stopped at the Burger King on the way; Frederich’s mother went in with the baby first; then Frederich came in with the rest of the group.
“The guy was still saying, ‘that lady is still here with that baby without shoes’,” Frederich said. “I just looked at him and I said, ‘that’s my daughter. She doesn’t own shoes. She’s only 6 months old’… she doesn’t walk. She’s not touching the ground. So there’s no reason for her to have shoes on.”
Still, a sign on the door did say, “shoes and shirt required”. So, Frederich said she put socks on the baby in an effort to comply; but the manager threatened to call police, so the group ate hurriedly and left.
The restaurant’s management referred Fox 2 to Burger King’s corporate office for comment on the incident. After repeated calls, Fox 2 had yet to get a response Tuesday night.
My question is why in the WORLD did they stay and eat?
Oh Cry Me a River
Now this, my friends, epitomizes the entitlement generation.
NEW YORK (WPIX) – She graduated college with hopes of swiftly finding a job in her field – but when the recession hit and jobs became scarce – the 27-year-old ran to court instead of the unemployment office and filed a lawsuit against her alma mater.
Trina Thompson filed a lawsuit last week in Bronx Supreme Court suing Monroe College for $70,000 – the total amount of hard earned cash she shelled out for tuition. Thompson claims she hasn’t been able to find gainful employment since she received her information technology degree in April.
Thompson claims the school’s Office of Career Advancement did not provide her with essential leads and career advice to help her chances of landing a job. She claims she was sent only three emails from the college with little job advice.
“They have not tried hard enough to help me,” Thompson is documented as saying in court papers. “I need a full-time job placement and that’s what they said they were going to help me with and they didn’t.”
Monroe College spokesman Gary Axelbank, says Thompson’s lawsuit is completely without merit. He said the college does its best to help find students jobs out of school but it is not guaranteed.
Seriously? The widdle bitty baby couldn’t find a job, so she’s suing the school?? Wake up sweetheart!! Look around you – there are more qualified people than you out of work. It is NOT the college’s responsibility to get you a job…sure, they may send leads, but it is up to you and ONLY you to secure employment.
Good grief – talk about entitlement! Sounds like this little chicky had everything handed to her on a platter. What about personal responsibility? I’d like to know what efforts SHE made in securing employment, or did she just sit around and wait for the college to do it for her?
Hmmm – I’d like to see what kind of company would EVER hire her now! Talk about a legal liability!
How I Spent My Saturday
As y’all know, I’ve been doing reviews on The Chadcast – okay, mostly promoting The Chadcast, but I DO voice my thoughts! 
And YES, I am behind – there is another podcast I haven’t posted yet.
ANYWAY, what I’m trying to get to is that there won’t be a podcast for at least a week, and here’s why!
CONGRATULATIONS CHAD AND HOLLY!!!!
Congratulations!!!
Word on the street is that our friend Brian Fraley and his wife Sara welcomed a beautiful daughter into the world today. Welcome Lillian Joyce Fraley!! Congrats to the happy family!!
The AMA’s Take on Obamacare
Got this in an email.
Apparently the American Medical Association has weighed in on Obama’s Nationalized Health Care Plan
The Allergists voted to scratch it, but the Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves. The Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it but the Neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve.
The Obstetricians felt they were all laboring under a misconception. Ophthalmologists considered the idea shortsighted. Pathologists yelled, “Over my dead body!” while the Pediatricians said,”Oh, Grow Up.” The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while the Radiologists could see right through it. Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing.
The Internists thought it was a bitter pill to swallow, and the Plastic Surgeons said, “This puts a whole new face on the matter.” The podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the Urologists were pissed off at the whole idea. The Anesthesiologists thought the whole idea was a gas and the Cardiologists didn’t have the heart to say no.
In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to the assholes in Washington.
Heh!
The Abortionist – A Review
When I started reading the blogs a few years back, I stumbled across a blog called From Where I Sit. It intrigued me because it is written by a fictional character named Elliot Stearns. That fictional character has now come to life in a book titled The Abortionist written by Michael James Caughill.
In this post I reflect on friendships and the internet. Michael James Caughill is one of those who I got to know through Twitter and I finally got to meet him in person a couple of months ago. As a very avid reader, I was a little uptight reading a book written by someone I know – what if it’s bad? What if it’s just so-so? What do I say?
Well, in this case I don’t have to worry about those what-ifs. This book is fantastic!! It a suspense/thriller about a serial killer that takes place in Milwaukee. It is also a love story. It is NOT pro-life or pro-choice…as the author says, it’s pro-thought. The character development is tremendous – I really “got to know” the characters. Above all, it is a spine-tingling blood-chilling page turner. It’s one of those books you just don’t want to put down…you want to find out what happens next.
If you don’t believe me, visit the site – you can read the first five chapters for free!! And if you don’t want to go out and buy the book after reading those first five chapters, there is something seriously wrong with you! 
I Can Relate!
If??? IF???
No way…I cannot believe this… (warning – kind of graphic)
WESTWEGO, La. — A 3-month-old suburban New Orleans girl whose body was covered with rodent bites bled to death before she was found in her crib, according to an autopsy released Wednesday.
Westwego Police Chief Dwayne Munch said Natalie Hill had severe wounds on her nose and leg along with more than 100 suspected rat bites when her parents found her body last Thursday in her crib, which was stained with bloody rodent footprints.
The cause of death was preliminary and more tests were planned, said Elizabeth Evans, an investigator for the Jefferson Parish coroner’s office.
The chief said the autopsy results “tell us what we had suspected already.”
“We were all hoping that we were wrong. It’s just horrifying to think of the baby being bitten and all this trauma happening while she was alive,” he said.
No charges have been filed, but Munch said police are still investigating.
The child’s parents told police the girl was fine when her mother fed her several hours before her body was discovered. When police arrived at the house, the girl’s father was in the front yard shouting that his baby was dead.
Investigators are awaiting the results of drug and alcohol tests that the parents submitted to last week, the chief said.
“It’s just to make sure we cover all the bases,” Munch said of the tests. “If we find neglect, we’ll pursue charges … It’s too early to tell right now.”
Much had said earlier that the girl’s parents had set traps out for rodents.In Ohio, three people have been accused of letting rats bite a 6-week-old girl and chew off several of her toes at a cluttered mobile home. The girl was reported in fair condition at a Columbus hospital after losing the toes on one foot.
IF we find neglect? Are you effing kidding me??? How in God’s name can there NOT be neglect? Do you think that child just lay there and let a rat bite her over 100 times without screaming bloody murder?? Good grief – she bled to death from rat bites – that doesn’t happen in an instant. Where were her parents?? Where was anyone?
IF??? Have mercy.
Unbelievable!!
Wonder how many attempts this took?
Totally swiped from Fred
Utterly Preventable
Sometimes I’ve just gotta shake my head…it prevents me from screaming or crying. Which is what I did when I read this.
The boy being held in his mother’s lap was killed when the SUV they were riding in collided head-on with a semi-truck on Badger Road just before 10:20 p.m. Tuesday, July 21.
Three-month-old Angel Mendoza Garcia was thrown from the SUV and died at the scene, according to Washington State Patrol Trooper Keith Leary.
A child’s car seat was in the back seat, but it was not secured.
Excuse me? Okay, let’s see here…you have a car seat in the car, yet you CHOOSE to hold a 3 MONTH OLD in your lap? Are you insane???
The mother, 25-year-old Luciana Garcia Silva of Sumas, suffered internal injuries and was taken to St. Joseph Hospital and then airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. She was in critical condition in the intensive care unit Wednesday, according to a hospital spokeswoman.
They were in the front passenger seat of a 1997 Ford Explorer going east on Badger near Northwood Road when the SUV crossed the center line and collided with a westbound semi-truck, Leary said. It was obvious to state troopers that the SUV went well into the wrong lane of traffic because the passenger side of the vehicle where the mother and son sat took the most impact, he said.
The SUV driver ran from the scene. Leary would not say how they linked Lopez to the crash.
The driver, once found, will likely be charged with vehicular homicide and felony hit-and-run, Leary said. Garcia Silva could be charged with reckless endangerment, he said.
Could be? COULD BE?? This woman should be charged with the death of this baby. But for the fact that she, for whatever reason, bypassed the carseat, and CHOSE to hold that precious baby in her lap, that baby might be alive. Maybe not, but his chances would have been greatly improved.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…people should be temporarily sterilized at puberty and not be able to have it reversed unless and until they pass a rigorous parenting test.
Very Cool!!
This story made me smile…
Tyler Perry, the star, writer and producer of films such as “Madea Goes to Jail” and the television show “House of Payne,” could be adding philanthropist to his growing list of credits.
According to his publicist, Perry is sponsoring a Disney World trip for 65 Pennsylvania children at a largely minority day-care center after a swim club canceled pool privileges for the children.
“He wanted to do something nice for them and let them know that for every negative experience, there are people out there who want them to succeed regardless of the color of their skin,” said Keleigh Thomas, Perry’s publicist. She added the entertainer would be footing the bill for all transportation, hotel, admissions and food costs at the Florida theme park.
When Perry heard about the situation with the children in the highly publicized aftermath of the pool cancellation, he immediately wanted to help them, Thomas told CNN, adding that a trip to Disney World is definitely “better than the pool.”
“I am ecstatic for the children,” Alethea Wright, director of the Creative Steps day-care center, told CNN. Perry’s team extended the offer to her on Friday, she said. The Disney World stay will be from August 1 to 3, according to Perry’s Web site.
To read about the history of the situation, click the link above. This story ticked me off when I first heard of it…I’m glad the children are getting a positive experience.
In a statement posted Monday on his Web site, Perry summed up his feelings about the pool situation: “This made me so angry,” he wrote.
“This is awful, and for anyone that has grown up in the inner-city, you know that one small act of kindness can change your life,” he wrote, adding that with the trip to Disney World, “I want them to know that for every act of evil that a few people will throw at you, there are millions more who will do something kind for them. This is all about the kids.”
Well done sir, well done.
The Chadcast: The Cult of Me
In this podcast, the subject is selfishness and human nature. What exactly is selfishness?
Chad makes the point that being selfish means putting your needs before God and others. That is very true. I try to put the needs of God and others before the needs of myself. I consider myself a very generous person – I’m always ready to give someone I care about a helping hand, or the shirt off my back. But – BUT – I’ve learned that a little bit of selfishness is okay. That’s called taking care of myself. If I don’t take care of myself, I can’t be the best mother I can be; I can’t be the best wife I can be; and I can’t be the best friend I can be. The point here, my friends, is balance. Taking care of yourself, so you CAN help others. And yes, he touches on that as well.
Another point is the age of electronics. With all the ways we have to communicate these days, are we or are we not ignoring our real relationships? I’m ashamed to say that I am guilty of that. I have a couple of friends who would go to the ends of the earth for me, as I would for them, but I’m embarrassed to say that I haven’t called them in awhile. Well, to be honest, I called one of them today. But that’s because she reached out to me and I was there for her. But weeks shouldn’t go by before I call my best friends. His words made me think about that. Don’t get me wrong – I’ve made some awesome friends as a result of the blogs, Twitter, Facebook, what have you. But those who have been through hell and back with me? I need to get off the damned computer and spend some time with them.
What I took from this podcast is that we need to step back, take a deep breath and consider what is REALLY important in our lives. I know it made me think…I hope it makes you think too.
I’m So Angry I Could Spit!!
A taste of my newest post over at Chad’s place…
The last time Parion visited the care center was March 4. He did not see a doctor again until his death this month, according to investigative reports.
On March 16, Mandisa gave birth to her fifth child, a boy. Friends and neighbors of Randolph said the young mother was completely overwhelmed.
“She was really struggling,” said Randolph’s neighbor, 48-year-old Alice Johnson. “Even though I am very sorry for what happened to (Parion), I don’t really blame her,” Johnson said.”She had so many irons in the fire. She just didn’t have time.”
Read the rest here. And prepare to get angry…VERY angry.
It’s About Damned Time!!
Perhaps common sense will prevail? I won’t hold my breath…
On the verge of going bankrupt with an astounding $26.3 billion deficit, the nation’s most populous state is considering saving hundreds of millions of dollars annually by cutting monthly welfare payments to illegal immigrants.
The savings doesn’t even include the billions of dollars that California spends annually to educate, incarcerate and medically treat the 2.7 million illegal aliens (7% of the state’s population) who live in the state that has so generously offered them sanctuary for decades. It turns out that legislators are finally realizing that illegal immigrants are draining their precious Golden State.
That’s why California officials, extremely generous with tax dollars in the past, are trying to find a way to eliminate welfare payments to tens of thousands of illegal immigrants. The move, which has caused outrage among the state’s powerful open borders lobby, would save a much-needed $640 million a year.
Outrage among the open borders lobby? How about the outrage towards these ILLEGAL immigrants who are bankrupting the state, not to mention the rest of the country?? Do these yahoos not realize that we are in the midst of one of the most serious economic meltdowns EVER?? It’s bad enough that the current administration is gonna kill us with socialized healthcare, cap and tax, and whatever else they can think of to spend MY money…I should NOT have to pay for those who shouldn’t be here to begin with.
An example of who the state cuts the monthly checks to is an unemployed 43-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico who gets $650 a month for each of her four children and about $500 in federal food stamps and other vouchers.
WHISKY. TANGO. FOXTROT. Add it up my friends…that’s $2,600 per month PLUS $500 in vouchers. Remind me again why I get up every morning and go to work??? Oh yeah – I believe in WORKING for my keep, not sponging off others.
Its still chump change compared to what the state spends—between $4 billion and $6 billion annually—on schools, jails and hospitals for illegal immigrants. That doesn’t even include other local government costs such as police and fire, road maintenance and other public services.
The biggest chunk—$2.3 billion—goes to educating about 300,000 illegal immigrant children at public schools throughout the state. California expects to spend around $834 million to incarcerate nearly 20,000 illegal aliens in fiscal year 2009-2010 and well over $700 million to medically treat close to 800,000 illegal immigrants.
More than half the healthcare money will go to emergency services but a substantial portion will pay for nonemergency health services such as abortions, prenatal and postpartum care and even nursing homes.
Abortions?? Nursing homes?? Prenatal care?? Oh – you mean the care for those who are having babies so they can collect MORE of my money?? I’m absolutely stunned. Not that I wasn’t aware of this before, but seeing it all laid out is simply nauseating. What the hell is going on in this country when those of us who do the right thing, i.e. pay our bills, do NOT spend beyond our means, and generally take personal responsibility end up being penalized, while those who DO NOT BELONG HERE are sucking us dry??
I hope and pray that common sense will prevail, and the welfare being handed out to those ILLEGALS is stopped. Seriously folks…is there anywhere else one can go, not be a citizen, sit on your ass, and have the government pay you for that privilege?? Good grief – anyone with a lick of sense will see that this is absolutely preposterous.
I think my head has now officially exploded.
