General Chat

Thank you Daff:o))

jude xx

Have heard that Obama has got his health bill through Congress. Dont know whether that means it will really go ahead, but what a boon for Americans if it does.

Oh Jude, how is that some people have everything thrown at them at once?

God bless her, I hope all goes well for your sister, and *try* not to worry too much.
Stupid thing to say, but don't dwell on it all the time.
Let us all know that our prayers have worked for her.
Bless her.
Deanna X

PS. I should have said, I too am a survivor of bowel cancer. I was discharged last year after 6 or 7 years. They still want to keep an eye on me, but that is normal anyway.
Deanna X

Jude, have sent you info about the heart cushions, I got one for my late friend and sent one to Vicky too, but I can't find the details of the pattern now, I think I printed it out but it's lost in the piles of papers I hoard. Maybe Vicky could send you details of hers, ( size etc) altho you can get them from Cancer centres and maybe Cancer charity shops too, they are small and light so would be easy to post to her and are made by volunteers and usually given away for a donation.

Glad you don't have the worry of the genes in this case.

Lizxx

Jude so sorry to hear about your sister I will hold her and you close in my prayers.....


love Jean xx

Thanks Liz...... l have the link now:o)

Thanks everyone:o)
This awful desease affects so many people does'nt it. Will let you know when l next hear from sster.

Jean.....yes l saw this on TV, l really hope its the right thing to do in USA, so many are against it!!

jude

positive thoughts to your sister

Jude

Honestly, I think it is the ONLY thing for the US to do


30 million people have absolutely no coverage at all because the privately run insurance companies refuse to cover them

Children born with disabilities are not covered by most health insurers because it is a pre-existing condition.

People who don't earn much or are unemployed have no coverage because they can't afford the premiums


One acquaintance who lives in North Carolina was paying $700 a month in health insurance premiums for several years after early retirement until she finally turned 65 this year. Her premiums now drop to about $200 a month. Divide by 2 to get a rough idea of the cost in UK £


Under the current situation, your sister's health provider could turn round right now and say "Sorry. We don't cover you now because you have cancer". Or they could refuse to cover her next year because she has had cancer.

It's happened many many times.

Add to this, the absolutely horrendous cost of health care in the US, and many people have to literally choose between treatment and death.


A hospital charges you for everything that you have or are given while in the hospital ..... every drug, every x-ray, for every doctor.

The mother of one of my friends fell while visiting another daughter in the States, and was taken into hospital. The invoice that was submitted and had to be paid before she could be moved back home in Canada included a charge of $10 (ca £4 at the time) for ONE aspirin. That was in the 90s, and it has only got worse since then.

The health companies are only in the business to make money. We have doctor friends who have opted out of billing health providers for the care they provide ..... they now insist that the patient pays up front, and the patient then claims from the company. Why? Because it was taking so long to get paid by the health insurer, who took every delaying tactic they could.

One friend shared his office with 3 others, they employed 2 receptionists to book appointments etc ...... and 4 to 6 others responsible solely for stick handling claims for payments from health insurers. The final straw for him came when the doctors' take-home pay one month was $100 each (after paying rent, employee salaries and benefits, overheads, etc), because there were so many unpaid invoices.


Unfortunately so many of the laws in the US are due to the efforts of lobbyists ........... who go after every congressman whenever a bill that affects them is coming to a vote. Companies pour millions of dollars into lobbying efforts, including payments to the congressmen who will accept them.

Congressmen of both parties will hold the House or the President to ransom ..... saying we "won't vote for your bill unless you include in it x million dollars for my pet project". A project that could quite literally have nothing to do with the bill in question. It's called pork barrelling


Add to this an attitude dating back to the beginning of the US that says everyone is responsible for themselves ....... so why should we help anyone else?

It's a very strange attitude, but it is one of the reasons why their social services network is so far behind every other developed country ................ because it is your responsibility to look after yourself.


OH and I have watched with incredulity some of the debates in the House of Congress over the last few weeks.

It has been so nasty ....... racist remarks about Obama, calls of baby killers or edler murderers inside the House. Sarah Palin has come down forcibly on the side of calling the bill one that will result in Elder killing and baby killing ........... god help the US and the rest of the world if she ever becomes President!


The only problem will be the sabotage of the program that could come over the next few months.



Obama has signed the bill into law this morning




BTW ...... we lived in Texas in 1967/68 when we first emigrated from the UK, and have lived in Canada since 1968. My views on the US system have been developed over the last 43 years of watching their politics.





sylvia

Morning Sylvia....

Wow what a reply, looks very interesting, l have c & p'd it and will read through later.

Take care
jude x

PS No news from sister yet!

Hi Jude


keeping fingers crossed for your sister!
xxxxxx

Not heard anything from my sister and we'll be away now for a few days.
l asked LindaBerkshire to add her to Linda's thought thread and also my s i l who also lives in USA. It was suspected she has TB, but her own doc today says it could be Valley Fever, still not nice but not as drastic as TB. She's had another TB test taken and will get results in a few days. The lst test was done at a walk in clinic, this 2nd one was by her own doc.......so fingers crossed for her too!!

jude x

Sylvia....have read your post and wow l can quite understand more so how important this new bill is in USA, l was for it anyway but more so now.

jude

Just popped in to send more positive thoughts and prayers for your sister, and for you... and your sil as well..


((((hugs))))

Daff xxxx

Morning.......

Thanks Daff:o)
Spoke to b i l last evening, s i l was asleep, we had heard that the 2nd test for TB was negative, but they apparently are'nt sure if its valley fever or not, she's not at all well and now her OH is poorly. Her daughters were coming to see her with the children, but she actually asked them not to go as they are both feeling so poorly:o((
My sister emailed last night, she had been away up in the mountains with the kids and is dreading the next 3 months, she just signed off her email with a Y!!!

So all in all not good at the moment.

jude xx

Holding your family and you Jude close in my prayers,

Love Jean xx

Thank you Jean & Carol, waiting for the phone to ring now!!

jude xx

Just popped in to see if there is any news.... fingers crossed, positive thoughts and prayers winging their way...

Love and ((((hugs))))

Daff xxxx

Aw thanks Daff....no not yet. l have been chatting to one of s i l's daughters via facebook, but we are all in the same boat no one knows anything as yet:o((
Just emailed my sister!! x
jude xx

fingers crossed for you all
xxxxx

Just popping in again before I close down for the night, have you heard anything?

Prayers.... and ((((hugs))))) for you

Love

Daff xxx

Nooo still no phone call:o(((

PS we also know that she is waiting scan results on her abdomen!!!