Published: August 05, 2009 09:56 pm      

Enact health care reform; it’s the right thing to do

I am 40 years old and I have returned to college to pursue a bachelor’s degree in social work after spending 20 years in the culinary field. Unfortunately, the employers of the restaurants I worked in (mostly small business) were unable to provide adequate, if any proper health care.

In 1995 I was diagnosed with an AVM (arterio-venous malformation) and was hospitalized for three to four weeks and underwent two stereotactic radio-surgeries (high-dose precisely-targeted radiation therapy) over a two-year period.

With the incredible doctors at the Albany Medical center I have been able to live a productive life. Unfortunately, I was uninsured at the time and amassed over $30,000 in medical bills, which eventually brought my wife and I to file bankruptcy.

It is 14 years later and I have never been able to keep up with the required follow-up tests and examinations needed. I should have access to neurologists, but I cannot even afford an adequate primary-care physician.

As if that is not enough, I have two prescription medications to control seizures that I am required to take daily for the rest of my life. I have constantly been struggling at times to afford these prescriptions and I am tired of it.

I commend our President, Barack Obama, in his effort to bring people like me an opportunity to have access to affordable and proper health care. His emphasis on preventive care is just common sense — if we have the opportunity to get the tests, such as mammograms, colonoscopies, and cancer screenings ahead of time, then we don’t pay down the road in higher costs for surgeries and the ultimate cost — death!

Please, politicians in Washington, make this happen. Put yourself in my shoes and other Americans like me, don’t just vote it down in spite of our President. Make it happen because it is the right thing to do for those brothers, sisters, parents, grandparents, family, and friends who want our government to do something for us — the American people!

Chris Hartman

Cumberland