Native Americans Against Obama- Trevor’s Story
This is a post, I never dreamed I would have to write. I would first like to say that
The video, “Trevor’s Story” is so personal I could not even watch it after I finished it.
So I am sure there are some typos, and it is not as fancy as many of our videos.
It took me over a week, just to be able to do the video, it was so personal. But, I knew
This was also a story that should be told, so here I would like to explain things in a
better perspective. First, my grandchildren do not live on the rez, they live in everyday
America, just like almost all my readers.
I am not writing this for anyone’s pity, or to cause sorrow for any of you. However,
This is a story that must be told, as it will affect all Americans if the health care bill
is passed.
As with all stories, we should begin at the beginning. In late 2005 my son and his
Family moved to Florida. They wanted to start a new life, one where they could
get better jobs, and hopefully make things better for their three children. Almost
right away, both my son and daughter in law got jobs. But it soon became apparent
that with both of them working and paying for child care, there was no money left.
The new jobs gave them no health care, and things were not as good as they had
hoped. My daughter in laws job was only part time, and within a few months
she was getting no hours. To make matters worse, they did not even own a car.
With no money left each week after the bills were paid, they knew they could
not afford a car payment. So, out of desperation, my daughter in law, and the three
children took the bus, which was a three hour ride to the department of family
services.
The good news was they did qualify for a Medicaid card, this would help pay
for all the medicals needs of a growing family, until they got back on their feet.
Or so they thought, and to be honest so did I. Now please remember, my family was
new to Florida. Just as the appointment was ending, my daughter in law’s new caseworker handed her a piece of paper. The caseworker told her, that this was her “new” doctor. Glancing down at the paper, she read one name next to the Family Doctor and one name next to a Pediatrician.
I can’t tell you how surprised she was, looking up at the caseworker my daughter in
law asked, “I don’t get to pick my own doctors?” The caseworker answered by
saying, “No, you can only go to ones we approve and that will accept Medicaid”.
She went on to explain, “these are the only two”. Now, this is in a city with a population of 330,000.00 people, so its not a small town.
I have to say, that socialism of the health care system is not only for people on the
Rez, but it is here within some states for the poor. This was our first clue as a family,
that the state government was controlling our heath care and choices. The saddest
part of this is, that we had no choice of who my grandson’s doctor was. Why?,
because they are poor, and had no health insurance.
So, I am in total agreement our health care is broken. But, state or federal health care
Is a disaster waiting to happen. The sad truth is the government holds the purse strings
and tells us who we have to have as our doctors. This is yet another example of how
things will be for all of us, rich or poor, if the health care bill passes.
Not that the doctor was a bad doctor, he was not with a few exceptions. It all began
With Trevor’s leg swelling, and the doctor then referred him another “approved” doctor. This doctor discovered a “mass” the size of a baseball in a 53 pound child.
This doctor then referred him to another “approved surgeon”. This all took almost 4 weeks before he had a biopsy. In the meantime, my grandson’s leg kept getting
bigger and bigger. It took another 6 weeks to get the results of the tests, and then
we were told only because my daughter in law kept pressuring the “approved surgeon”.
So, a total of 10 weeks our family was caught up in red tape, going to approved doctors.
If this is an indication of our new health care, we all may die before we get treatment.
The news was not delivered to my son and daughter in law, as you would think. They
did not get called into the office, to speak to the doctor. They were called on the phone and told that Trevor has Sarcoma Cancer. It was then that they were also informed, that
they will have to wait to get approval from the state, to get him into a hospital for terminally ill children.
How long it will take, no one seems to know. Or if they do, they are not saying. So for the time being, all we can do is wait on the state of Florida. I would like all of you
Who think socialized medicine is the right thing, to think of my 9 year grandson, Trevor.
It could happen to your son, or daughter, don’t think so? I didn’t think so either.
Timepassages.
My heart goes out to your grandson and the rest of your family. I know how the bad the Medicaid nightmare can be, I used to live in Fl. 15yr ago and used to do billing for a hospital in Crestview Fl…it is one maze after another. I now live in Oklahoma, back to the State I was born. I am sure you have tried many alternatives, but maybe you have not tried to contact Cancer Treatment Centers of America this is the web sit address: http://www.cancercenter.com/contact-us.cfm
I do not know if they except Medicaid but it might be worth looking into. Tell your story, show them your pictures, Oklahoma has one of the most cutting edge cancer centers in the United States. But they have other choices, unfortunatly nothing in or near Florida. If you don’t mind I would like to link your web site to other sites get your story out there, the more people that know the better. I am sure there are others more knowledgeable than me. Of course I will not pass on your link without your permission.
My prayers are with you, Trevor and your family.
Just remembered another link and I am quite sure this is a non profit research hospital….and may be even better because it concentrates on children. St Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
http://www.stjude.org/aboutus
I am truly sorry for what has happend to your grandson, I pray that your family will have peace through this trial. Again I am so sorry, for the pain you family is going through. I also saint jude was awesome, for familys that are not finacially able to pay for treatment. I agree with you on government healthcare its nonsense.
I would also ask you to lend me your eyes for a time, I ask you please, please do not let any of your grandchildren get vaccinated any further if they have. Please do not let them drink the tap water if the water has been “treated” with floride (extensive studies have shown these sources are linked to disease’ such as cancer and autism in both children and adults). This may not be the case with your grandson but there are currently 46,000 children and teens in cancer treatment facilitys in america. These statistics are appalling, whats even more appalling is the vaccines distributed, have proven to be highly cancerous in children, and are being given to them as infants. even in our animals sarcoma cancer vaccines were acually giving a mass amount felines the cancer. below are some links that might be helpful to you and your family
http://drtenpenny.com/why_hepatitis_b.aspx
http://drtenpenny.com/when_parents_question.aspx
http://www.ouralexander.org/<param
How aweful for your family! I cried when it became apparent that Obama was going to win the election. I’ve had this sense of dread/doom ever since. I’m terrified for my family.
I just wanted to suggest that perhaps you could contact the Shriners Hospitals. I looked it up and while they do not list cancer as a specialty, they may make some concessions. If they were to take your grandchild, they would provide transportation and I think even lodging for the family during his treatment.
It’s worth looking in to.
http://www.shrinershq.org/Hospitals_by_Specialty.aspx
Do you believe the Constitution is the rule of law?
Do you believe in the original intent of our founding fathers?
Do you want to reform Congress? If your answer is yes, we have
to work together to make this happen.
http://animal-farm.us/change/constitution-project-575
I am praying for you all. Instead of being “terrified” that Obama was elected how about you be terrified of your locally elected officials and congressmen? Why is the blame of cancer being laid at the feet of the President. How can people want political soveriegnty and autonomy but then want the health care crisis fixed but don’t like that they can’t go to any doctor they feel like going to without paying the full price? The above commentators are not evil people, its obvious in your outpouring of support for Trevor and your suggestions of St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital (which is great, they really helped me with my childhood battle with illness), but misguided? CERTAINLY. Find someone else to blame and a more immediate problem to fear.
BTW I wonder what’s the motivation behind this animosity towards this particular president??? I wonder if there was so much indignation towards George Bush when he completely dropped the ball in governing this country.
This is such a tragic story, and it’s not just your families’ story. It’s a similar story to thousands of people across the U.S. It should not be so difficult for hard working people to try to make ends meet.
In relation to the “socialization” of the Medicare system – there is a problem with Medicare, but it may not be what you think. To keep costs low, the government negotiates to pay doctors at a very low rate. This means that few doctors choose to participate in the program, because they get paid so little (for primary care or family physicians, who are not the ones making the “big bucks,” they could not afford to keep their practice open at such low pay rates). Doctors being “approved” doesn’t mean that they’re approved by the government, but that, as with most insurance, you have to go to doctors who have volunteered to be “in network,” or have contracted with the insurance provider that they will take people covered by their insurance. The problem, then, isn’t that the government isn’t allowing choice directly, but that their pay rates are so low that doctors cannot afford to be health care providers for the program, which limits choice.
During this time where Congresspeople are trying to make proposals to make situations like this less common, we all can advocate people in Congress to reimburse doctors so that they will actually be able to do what this program is supposed to do: provide health services to people who make low wages and don’t have employer-based health insurance. I know this is only a small part of a much larger, systemically unjust system, but it could make a difference for families enduring this type of injustice.
This is a terrible story and I’m sorry for what you’ve experienced.
But it’s no different if you have private health care.
You can always choose your own doctor if you pay for it yourself, out of pocket.
That’s the only way, in the U.S. to get any doctor you choose. Now or with health care reform.
It all depends on your health insurance plan.
Your doctor needs to accept your type of health insurance.
So your access to doctors depends on money or insurance companies or the government. This is the case now.
With health care reform, at least everyone will be able to see a doctor, as your son was able to do.
I don’t understand why you’re against expanding national health care as well as having all of the private health care plans. That’s what this health reform is about. You’d rather keep this system- that you’ve suffered from in place? I don’t understand….
Trevor’s sad story can be retold a thousand times and is indicative of our failed medical system. You have chosen to blame the wrong person. George W Bush, and the Republican in general, have constantly cut the budget for Native American health care. Barack Obama and the Democratic Party have significantly increased funding for Native American health care. Most Native Americans support Barack Obama and the Democratic party for very obvious reasons. My condolences to your family and we will try to improve medical care, unlike the Republican Party who only wants to keep the same old failed health care system that could not help Trevor.
Sincerely,
Justice Moor
Democratic Precinct Delegate Michigan
Executive Board Oakland County Democratic Party
All the best to you, i hope you can see the light at the end of the tunnel – keep pushing on!
Take care
David