Letter to Congressman Dennis Kucinich 6/30/2010 Re: Health Insurance

Mike works as a firefighter for the U.S. Forest Service. He got hurt on the job in 2008, with no health insurance even though he risks his health and life for his job...OWCP covered the injury and doctor visits...but not before the local Hospital/Clinic in St. Maries turned him in to collections on every single charge...which along with no income...and finally a small amount granted bi monthly...his credit got destroyed. OWCP - which,as you know is Federal Workman's Comp... pays their hurt/off work people only 67% of their BASIC wage which is very little. Wildland firefighters make their money on fires...no one would do the job with just the base pay they get - they earn fire pay and overtime which makes it a worthwhile income. But, only 67% of base wage was paid to Mike while he was laid up.

Also, every thing had to be approved by OWCP before he could see a doctor. The local doctor that turned him over to collections instead of billing OWCP correctly, thought Mike needed Carpal Tunnel surgery ---- for a severe shoulder injury?? What? So, getting the approval of OWCP to see another doctor for a second opinion took a very long time. Meanwhile, Mike's pain is getting worse and constant, and probably the shoulder more damaged. Finally he got approval to see a specialist in Coeur d'Alene... Surgery was next..then physical therapy. He's now released to go back to work and working as of just a few weeks ago. He still has pain and fatigue and wonders if he will be able to work on a fire which entails 12-14 hour days, and 14 days straight with no time off...constant extreme physical labor and mostly upper body and arm/shoulder work. He didn't feel ready to go back...but had no choice. They stopped his OWCP benefits the first week of April...so as it was, he was without any money whatsoever for 2 straight months. He had no choice but return to work.

He can't go to a doctor about it, without OWCP approving... He has NO insurance. He doesn't make enough money to pay for insurance. He makes too much most of the year to get medicaid...

It baffles me that someone works this hard, risks health (breathing in smoke), and risks his life doing a great service, but has no health insurance?

Thank you for your time!
Concerned for Mike..

(photo is right a few weeks after his shoulder surgery...now Mike has cut his hair off for work, again)

I had a dream...A weird dream... March 9,'10, the day son is shipped to Afghanistan.

Dream:
March 9th 2010 ~ am …

Some small poorish town…
Me, Tracie, Gene, a baby… a man and his girlfriend who was Amber’s mom but acted and resembled Judy Kendall.. Amber was there, too.

Woke up in morning laying in street and I was almost completely under water.gasping for air. a baby next to me, too. The man was sitting on bank like he was contemplating suicide…he was so sad and in deep thought… I asked him where’d all the water came from…He said almost in a smart ass way, like I was dumb, that the river had flooded…

Somehow I ended up in the river and I could not get out…I was being sucked in and could hardly get air… I finally found something to grab onto on the bank…and with all the strength I could muster and great determination, I climbed the bank to safety.

I finally made it to this horrible hug building and saw Tracie there. I knew abt this building from before somehow and I remembered it stunk so badly filth.. Surprisingly, it didn’t seem to stink too much now… someone must have done some cleaning and work there. We were all supposed to draw on this huge paper for the couple – the man and Amber’s sort of mom – cuz it was their anniversary…They had been together for years and years but never married… I started drawing some art on the huge paper as other ladies did, incl. Tracie… I reached down to grab another marker and when I came back up the other ladies had moved the paper so that my art was no longer there and I had no place to draw anymore… I almost got very upset then said oh well. And got up and left the table… I went to another part of the building…a roof outside and saw Tracie sitting there w/ Aiyana… I was feeling very left out and hurt abt her not helping me find a safe place to stay and not seeming to care that I almost drowned. I looked at her and she back at me then she turned away…I wondered why my daughter had turned against me and why didn’t she care abt me anymore? I couldn’t deal with it. I was heartbroken and left that place.

I found another old house which belonged to the couple…it was in dire need of repairs..but it was shelter and I was grateful. They welcomed me w/ food and a place to stay… and I took a shower in a weird bathroom… but felt soooo good to be clean again…it had been days and days since I showered… I was bummed becuz I had to wear my underwear again… Amber was making some play toys for kids at a table and I was very impressed that they were so cool… I told her I could show her many neat things to make once things were settled… I was to have part of the basement as my workroom/gallery…

At some point in the dream I was following Gene and Joe somewhere…seems like thru jungle… I remember thinking how proud I was of son in law, Gene, and thinking we had been close once but that it was all messed up now..He had dissed me so often to his family and I was sooooo hurt that I could never trust or be close again…I thought. I wished it had never happened that way…but it was too late now.

Amber’s mom was wonderful, friendly, happy, cool, and hospitable… Nothing at all like I remember her. She was mean and weird and I thought she treated Amber badly when Amber was a teen… But she had changed and was wonderful..

Just for me!!

Finally just for me!

I have always put everyone else in my life first...even when I was a kid being the oldest and mom rarely being there...step dad at work.

Had a couple kids....of course, they have always come first..Quit my career to be home to raise them. Started a Day-Care and ran it for over 18 years. Was a Foster mom for many of those last years. Still me last.

In order for me to be the best person I can be, the best partner, the best pet mom, the best artist, I have to put me first... Not above all others, just at least with them.

Tomorrow is my birthday. This is my present for me. For my life. For my health. For my well-being. ME! Finally, me!

Pledge to take better care of ME!