Thursday, December 15, 2011

For Those Without Money, It's A Heartless World

Tomorrow afternoon I will undergo yet another surgery, the third since August. My right wrist will be fused, strengthening my hand and relieving me of intense, debilitating pain. This is possible because I have good health insurance. It will cause no financial hardship for me or Dennis.

But tonight I'm thinking of others, mostly women, who suffer the ravages of rheumatoid arthritis and who do not have health insurance, who cannot even consider having surgery to restore function and relieve pain. Their lives and the lives of their families must be living hell.

Surely a great democracy can provide its citizens with health care. This should be a basic right of all Americans. But this country, replete with technology, fine automobiles, vacation homes, and material possessions of every ilk, does not grant all of us this right. As Dennis said last evening, "For those without money, it's a heartless world."

2 comments:

Jayhawk Fan said...

No kidding, and those with everything might want to start watching their backs. I feel resentment growing from those in our country who suffer. At the same time, I resent those who have come to depend upon handouts as their right.

Oh, Mama! I'm praying your surgery goes well and that you will be pain-free very soon!

I love you so much and I appreciate your insightful posts!

Shirley said...

No system is perfect. On both ends of the spectrum there will always be abusers. We have to ignore them, shame or punish them and create a system as fair to all as possible. We also must instill ethics and a sense of responsibility to society in our children and all of those who are in our realm of influence.

Thank you for you good wishes. I have complete faith in my surgeon, a steady, skillful man.