Archive for the ‘Patients’ Category
Not Poor Enough or Not Sick Enough
Shirley Loewe had one of the most aggressive form of breast cancer (inflammatory breast cancer). Her tumor was already 4 inches wide when she was diagnosed in 2003.
Adding insult to cancer, Shirley was repeatedly denied care because she was either “not poor enough” to qualify on Medicaid in Texas because she made $15,000 a year, or “not sick enough” to receive treatment otherwise.
Texas had an obscure law that allowed women diagnosed in federally-funded cancer detection clinics to cover women with cancer by Medicaid even if they did not otherwise meet eligibility – only Shirley did not go to a federally-funded cancer detection clinic because she had no clue about this obscure law.
Since then, Texas amended the law to lift this restriction, but it was too late for Shirley – she died in June 2007.
Personal Perspective of Manic Depression
By Tom Pauken II
“A Personal Perspective of Manic Depression: This reporter gives a first-hand account about the bipolar disorder” reprinted with permission from Mr. Tom Pauken II.
Bipolar disorder, commonly known as manic depression, affects 0.3 percent to 3.7 percent of the world’s population. Fifty percent of them seriously considered or attempted suicide. Forty-five percent of Americans with bipolar disorder believe this sickness made a high negative impact on their lives. Seventy percent of those same respondents assume the public doesn’t understand their condition.
These statistics were compiled by a Global Survey for World Mental Health Day 2005 (Oct. 10) also posted on the upliftprogram.com Web site. Are these statistics important? Do you know somebody afflicted with manic depression? Well, I consider these statistics important because I suffer from this ailment.
I make this revelation not to grab attention for myself. I’m more passionate writing about geo-political issues of the East Asia-Pacific region. I shun diaries and anticipate never using first person voice in future articles.
Nevertheless, I feel an obligation to my readers. I want those suffering from mental illness to feel inspired during their moments of darkness because I might be manic depressive but I’ve taken great strides to overcome my difficulties. Read the rest of this entry »
