A dear friend of mine died last night, on the table during a transplant surgery meant to free her from the ravages of a very slowly progressing liver cancer. She was diagnosed during or just after her second pregnancy and treated with chemo and a removal of MOST of the tumor, but not all, after the birth of a daughter. Then the battle began.
Her oncology team (based in NYC) recommended her for transplant. Insurance initially approved, then denied. A second opinion was sought from an oncology team in MN, concurring that the nature of the cancer, the lack of metastasis, the age of the patient all indicated strongly that transplant was ideal. Her husband (an attorney) handled most of the legal battles himself. The hospital, the transplant team, the oncology folks were all on her side. No. No. No.
Until this spring. She got the green light for transplant, now they just needed a liver. Twice this summer, they thought they had one, but various factors nixed the procedure, until this week. She was experiencing ascites (swelling of fluid in her stomach) exacerbated by the diastasis/hernia of her abdominal muscles and everyone who passed her out and about thought she was pregnant. "When are you due?" was the most frequent thing she heard about her condition in recent weeks.
Her oncology team (based in NYC) recommended her for transplant. Insurance initially approved, then denied. A second opinion was sought from an oncology team in MN, concurring that the nature of the cancer, the lack of metastasis, the age of the patient all indicated strongly that transplant was ideal. Her husband (an attorney) handled most of the legal battles himself. The hospital, the transplant team, the oncology folks were all on her side. No. No. No.
Until this spring. She got the green light for transplant, now they just needed a liver. Twice this summer, they thought they had one, but various factors nixed the procedure, until this week. She was experiencing ascites (swelling of fluid in her stomach) exacerbated by the diastasis/hernia of her abdominal muscles and everyone who passed her out and about thought she was pregnant. "When are you due?" was the most frequent thing she heard about her condition in recent weeks.
I am not writing this to call out her specific insurance company. This is about the real cost of our national health 'care' system. Rationing? Bureaucrats coming between our doctors and our treatment? Deciding who gets to live vs who might have to wait and in the meantime perhaps die? Like in England? Oh, wait... This was a woman who was covered and covered well. This was a woman with every part of the 'system' working on her behalf except one. the 'Insurer'
The daughter starts 1st grade this fall. The older child is going into middle school. The husband is without an amazing, strong, funny, and unquenchable partner who shared his life for just short of 20 years.
Her 40th birthday would've been in early October. She'd been battling since she was 35. Battling the disease. Battling the system that the GOP and Blue Dogs are not just content to keep, but intent on preserving.
At the expense of lives.
Every day.
One of them will be your friend. One of them probably already was. It doesn't have to be like this.
CrossPosted at DailyKos
The daughter starts 1st grade this fall. The older child is going into middle school. The husband is without an amazing, strong, funny, and unquenchable partner who shared his life for just short of 20 years.
Her 40th birthday would've been in early October. She'd been battling since she was 35. Battling the disease. Battling the system that the GOP and Blue Dogs are not just content to keep, but intent on preserving.
At the expense of lives.
Every day.
One of them will be your friend. One of them probably already was. It doesn't have to be like this.
CrossPosted at DailyKos
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