28
August
2008
Okay, IMHO, Obama definitely captured the attention and hit a home run. I write this as a “Life Long Conservative Republican”. Do I agree with his views on all issues impacting America today? No! However, I give him a huge, YES, because he touched a nerve that I know is beyond political rhetoric. I have fought ongoing battles with insurance companies, and totally identify with the story he shared about his mother.In 1995 I have fought my way back to a higher quality of life, after my life suddenly changed when I woke up in severe pain one day. I won’t make this a medical report. However, I will strongly say that America is not a great place to be when one has a rare chronic pain condition. Yes, we have great medical care and I’ve seen some incredibly brilliant health care providers. Thanks to their skills I was able to recover and I confidently say that I’m 80% better. The problem isn’t the lack of appropriate medical care in America. The issue is that one must have financial resources or be a “quick study” to battle with insurance companies to obtain services. I was lucky that we had a policy through my ex-husband’s insurance benefits that allowed us to go “out of network”. The HMO side of my insurance policy said that all treatments that were promising and had been proven to help others with my condition were viewed as “Not Medically Necessary”. Until around 2001 most of my care through “out of network providers” was covered at a 70% rate. After I was diagnosed with a neuropathic condition, suddenly the services were deemed “NOT MEDICALLY NECESSARY”. Since the early part of the 21st century, my tax forms reflect that I spend on average of $20,000 per year for doctor’s care, prescriptions, physical therapy and travel for medical care. Fortunately, I have/had the financial resources to find the funds for care. All was well until my two sons were both in college at the same time. Our savings set aside for college had dwindled to nothing. We took out home equity loans and/or borrowed from my parents to cover my high medical costs.I heard Obama loud and clearly when he spoke of his Mother’s struggle with cancer and spending her last days fighting with her insurance company for care. I’ve fought for so many services and spent my energy, which should have been devoted to healing, to draft letters and make copies of medical reports. My doctors have written letters in my behalf. One insurance company even told me that nerve blocks to treat my neuropathic condition could be self administered. I responded by asking them to form a team to meet with a friend and myself to train us how to administer these nerve blocks. I asked for medical literature to support the finding that patients should be responsible for administering their own nerve blocks. I explained that my physicians wouldn’t train me or a trusted frined to offer self treatment due to significant concerns over malpractice. I guess that the suggestion to train me to administer my own blocks forced them to approve just one more block and the funding for the blocks to be covered with at least 70% of the costs covered.What Obama said about the insurance companies in America is absolutely true!!!!!! I’ve lived that scenario and had no idea of the fact that insurance companies were in the business to show a profit. Wellpoint (i.e. Blue Cross) actually made a profit. I’m sure their investors were very pleased with this news. However, I’ve been on the phone for hours talking to patients, who were close to bankruptcy, due to medical costs. These are people with insurance. I’m lucky that my family and friends will loan me money to help with care. I have limited funds to cover my medical costs, but not nearly enough. Is it fair that I can feel better and escape a life of living in a body with torturous pain, because I have resources? Would you want to be the one, who had to suffer even though you spent $395 a month on health insurance premiums or saw that your family was covered and the benefit cost was deducted from your monthly gross pay?Others have insurance, as well, but can’t afford the quality of care that I receive. These aren’t “dead beats” or “irresponsible people living with no health insurance”. They suffer in pain for hours a day with high level pain meds, because they can’t afford care. There are proven treatments, which help immensely. However, many people in our country suffer, because laws favor the insurance companies. They have strong lobby’s and the laws in the United States at this point support insurance companies. It’s time for everyone to have equal rights to live a higher quality of life and access to to the quality of care that they need.I’m passionate on this issue, because I’ve lived it. I’d be happy to share my story with anyone and everyone to support the Obama camp in their effort to speak up for the rights of patients and not what’s in the best interest of insurance companies. This is a social concern that I feel strongly about and want more people to understand the plight of those in our country with rare chronic health conditions.With passion,Mary Ann Lowry
Posted: Political Lamentations
19
August
2008
The unthinkable happened in March of 2006, my cousin’s son was murdered. Mary Winkler was later convicted of “Voluntary Manslaughter”. The news of the murder reached the media and suddenly my extended family found themselves in the national spotlight during one of the most horrific nightmares of their life. Dan and Diane Winkler have lived their Christian walk throughout their lives. This tragedy would test their faith and trust in God.
As the weeks and months went by proceeding the trial and after the trial, the message that Dan and Diane spread to family and friends was to pray for the girls to be protected. They realize that their role was to never seek revenge for Matthew’s death, but to provide a home with love support and structure for the three precious girls left without a Daddy.
During the sentencing portion of the trial, Diane told Mary that she had “broken her girls’ hearts”. The older two girls, Patricia and Allie, remember vividly the day of the murder. This was history and the media has already shared all there is to say on this topic.
Though my intent in writing this particular post is to not speak for the family, I’m expressing my own views and deep concerns about the rights of children. The law firmly says that the biological parent has first rights of custody and if there is proof that they can offer the proper home and care that they deserve the right to have custody. This has happened throughout our country when children, who were adopted at birth, return to live with their biological parents even after they have bonded with their adoptive parents. Although the child/children see their adoptive family, as their family, they can be uprooted out of their loving caring home, and placed with their biological parents. The adults have first right to the children.
With that said I’m deeply concerned that the Winkler girls and now living with their mother. Yes, their grandparents will have visitation rights and the girls will see them every other week-end. However, the letter of the law was followed and according to the state of Tennessee Mary, indeed had the legal right to retain custody. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: Social Concerns
18
August
2008
Let’s just say that my lapse in blog writing was due to the fact that I was behind in connecting with friends. I spent an hour tonight talking to a friend. Last night, I had a wonderful visit from a favorite “gal pal”. My social life revolves around connecting with my “Gal Pals”, Couples and My Kids and anyone and everyone. Why do I mention this fact? I learned from my own body compass and through neuroscience research that this is one of the most important ways to continually nourish our souls and state of well being. According to the neuroscientists and the brain researchers, we all come equipped with a survival mechanism in the brain. This area of the brain is often referred to as the “reptilian” center of the brain, because it helps with our immediate survival. We go from fight/flight in a manner of minutes when threatened with real danger. There is no time to process the thoughts. Our brain sends an “All Hands on Deck” and the adrenalin flows and we’re out of there. The emotional part of our brain that responds to the reptilian instincts is called the Amygdala. It’s cool to have these two primitive parts of the brain working in sync to protect us from danger. However, usually they work together to make our lives much harder than they need to be. I can easily go into the ‘reptilian fight/flight mode’ and get my amygdala going when I get stuck in the longest line in the grocery store. Imagine what happens when we’ve suffered emotional pain through the words and actions of others during our childhood, teen years and even adult years. Though we weren’t literally in danger, our body responded as if we were in the middle of a 9.5 earthquake. For women, the memories are stored in the primitive emotional part of the brain called the amygdala. The same is true for men. Women have velcro amygdalas and men tend to have teflon amygdalas. Women have more language in the brain, so deep roots of negative instincts, thoughts, perceptions, etc. are entrenched in deep negative neural trenches. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: Life Coaching through My Blog
7
August
2008
As I’ve mentioned in prior articles, the brain lights up in a different way when operating in a state of continual well-being. So how do we create this wonderful state of being? By directing your thoughts towards meaningful goals, you design your life toward intentionally planning activities to create joy. This practice is not only good for the soul,but your body will also reap dividends. You’ll find that your body will respond by exhibiting less stress, better sleep habits and gaining better control of eating habits.When I coach clients, we usually come to a session when we review all the “have to’s on their “to do” lists. Would you believe that most of these activities that must be done are actually “joy killers”? A psychologist from the University of CA San Diego found that most people were stunned when they realized that they filled their days with errands, work related activities, volunteer work and responsibilities that they didn’t even like. The good news is that you do have control over your life…more than you ever realized. In her book, The Joy Diet, Martha Beck advises readers to do nothing and then to take a hard look at the truth. This may not be “the fun part”, but by admitting that you’re caught in a friendship, church commitment, and/or career opportunity that actually kills your enthusiasm for living; you have a chance to analyze where changes are needed and to find a “starting point” to begin to slowly transform your life in mini turtle steps. Don’t tackle everything at one time or this will be a “joy stealer” and will leave you fatugued and overwhelmed. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: Life Coaching through My Blog
