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I'll answer what I can here
There's a lot in your reply that I could respond to, but I'll respond to what jumps out at me right off the top.
First of all, I was in end-stage renal failure from IgA nephropathy - in plain English, my kidneys were completely shot. That's why the dialysis and transplantation.
Secondly, the fact is that government funding for health care is already somewhat political. There are indeed distinct differences between parties as to what gets funded and what does not. Because the bulk of kidney transplants are funded through Medicare - that is to say, most kidney transplant patients use Medicare to pay their medical bills - you already have a political connection right there. Most people on dialysis and with transplants are dependent on politicians to pass bills authorizing the use of tax dollars for their meds; in fact, I get the impression that the single most important cause of transplant rejection in adults is the inability to afford medicine due to the expiration of their Medicare coverage. We have to lobby to keep that coverage - if we want it. And, if we do not want it, we are looked on as suicidal even if the truth is that we don't feel it is the place of the taxpayer to fund payments we might consider to be rightfully our responsibility.
That's just the short course. I will probably go into more detail as I read your reply in more depth.
posted by
kidnykid
on February 23, 2003 at 8:41 PM
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TRANSPLANTS
I am sorry to hear you have a bipolar disorder. I am curious as to what you needed dialysis for. I am more curious as to why you felt you "had" to take them? I am myself a liver transplant recipient. My feelings are more religious than political regarding your dilemma. I thank God every day for his gift of life. I thank God for his gift of medical care and that I live in a country so great, it provides for people to continue to share in Gods most wonderful gift. I am certain that God would never have provided medicine and the practice of medicine had he not wanted us to continue our lives until he was ready for us. God spares us for a reason. We all have something to do or a obligation to fulfill. We just do not realize it until it is either to late or almost to late.
For anyone to politicize the gift of life is one who is way to far off into a political spectrum to see reality as it was meant to be seen. I see that in the conservatives who were badmouthing the Jessica transplant. It was their feeling that she was given some special treatment. I heard some say that 100 American citizens died as a result of her recieving her transplants. The basis for the comment was that, one hundred people a day die waiting for a transplant. I find that for one to be "fuzzy Math" at its best. Also, I know how the system works,. It no longer has anything to do with money or who you are. It is solely based on medical information fed into computers. It is then based on what organs are available and who on the list is most crtitcal and is a perfect match. There are even times when there is no one that is critical and a perfect match. It then goes to the next level regarding a perfect match. The bottom line is, the sicker the person the better the odds of getting the organ(s). I found it appalling that these talk show people thought that because Jessica's parents were illegal aliens, she should have just been left to die. Two of them I heard said she should have simply been sent back to Mexico to die. They obviously have no idea how this system works. They also have no idea how this country works. We are built on love and compassion for mankind. We are out there right now promoting the liberation of people in Iraq through war.
I still have a problem understanding how it is you fought with yourself about your beliefs, yet still did what most any person would do. The bottom line is survival. It is an inborn instinct. If you felt so strongly against accepting government assisted medical care, you could have left the country and simply not dealt with what I am understanding you to say was a forced treatment. I do know that as an adult, you can refuse treatment. Particularly today, people can and do often refuse dialyses. I had a personal friend that did just that. If you notice, I said had. He did pass away about six weeks after his denial of treatment. I also know of a well known doctor in my hometown just two years ago refused dialysis. He also died a few weeks after his decision. He was however 84 and his wife had just died. He chose to be with her as soon as possible.
If I am misunderstanding your writings, please correct me in any area I was wrong. I can only speak from what I read. I can say your writing was a bit confusing as to what your situation actually was. I understood you developed a bi polar disorder. I know just how rare and serious that can be. I am wondering if you were in fact diagnosed with a bipolar disorder aor it was thought you may have symptoms of such. Were you told what type of bipolar disorder it was. There two types you know. I wonder if you at least voluntarily went for treatment for that. It is treatable. I can imagine the disdain you felt being a Libertarian and accepting federal fundng for your tretreatment I just cannot understand how a person can have such a low feeling for life just because of a political belief. If you are a Christian, you should have been able to overcome such feelings. A Chritstian should always put God first above anything and particularly political beliefs. I hope this helps you to better cope with your traumatic feelings of dissappointment for yourself.
With love as an American, thankful to be in America, and blessings from a Christian thankful to be in a country free to practice the religion I choose .
realityspkstru for you and all...
posted by
realityspkstru
on February 23, 2003 at 7:52 PM
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