Nancy bringing me water along the roadside east of Gomer, Ohio

Nancy bringing me water along the roadside east of Gomer, Ohio
Originally uploaded by walk4healthcare

Nancy is 60, without work and without health insurance. She has recently moved in with her mother. She has two prescriptions which cost her $140 a month and works odd jobs to pay for one of these. She lives ‘one day at a time’ and hopes that there’ll be healthcare reform, “So people like me can get the prescriptions we need.”

We met on a porch in Gomer (she was helping to clean up someone’s home) where she brought me some juice. Here she is on the roadside near Lima, later that afternoon, bringing me a glass of water as she was driving to her mother’s place.

Kimberly (and daughter Tiffany) in Lima, Ohio

Kimberly (and daughter Tiffany) in Lima, Ohio
Originally uploaded by walk4healthcare

Kimberly has a brain aneurysm. which, she told me, “they are watching.” She’s also had a ‘falling bladder’ problem, which they are not doing surgery on. In terms of insurance, she’s on Medicaid and Medicare but told me, “I can't afford the medicines.” “Otherwise, it’s not been a problem.” “Everybody,” she added smiling with a serious look, “should have insurance.” Her effervescent daughter, Tiffany, gave her mother a hug.

Three generations - Nancy, Gloria & Grace

Three generations - Nancy, Gloria & Grace
Originally uploaded by walk4healthcare

Here are three generations of the Josephs’: Nancy, on the left, Gloria in the middle, and Grace.

Nancy (on the left): Nancy is 60, without work and without health insurance. She has recently moved in with her mother. She has two prescriptions which cost her $140 a month and works odd jobs to pay for one of these. She lives ‘one day at a time’ and hopes that there’ll be healthcare reform, “So people like me can get the prescriptions we need.”

Gloria (in the middle): Gloria’s husband died three years ago. She now has $1,600 a month between Social Security and the Ford pension. “It’s a good plan,” with prescriptions at $2 each, she told me.

Her other story, which bothered her deeply, was about her son. He had retired after 22 years of distinguished service in the Navy—the highly stressful submarine service once dueling daily, in secret, with the Soviet Navy. He had a quadruple bypass and also an abdominal aneurysm operation. “All that went well,” she said, “but he had a very tough time getting reimbursed, especially since his operations left him very sick and weak.” He had to fight to reimbursed while lying in bed recovering. “I’ve seen other veteran’s have the same struggles,” Gloria told me. “And it’s a real shame we treat our heroes this way.”

Grace (on the right): The youngest, hasn’t had any healthcare troubles and is hoping to get insurance as a student when she enrolls in college. She does believe that some sort of healthcare reform is necessary.

Jim near Gomer, Ohio

Jim near Gomer, Ohio
Originally uploaded by walk4healthcare

Jim drove out from Ft. Wayne (after hearing the news) and met up with me near Middle Point on his bike. We walked together for seven miles talking healthcare and healthcare reform along with many other topics. He’s a Yale grad, which goes to show that even traditional rivalries can walk together towards a common goal. He believes in basic care for all but, as he told me, “the definition of what is basic becomes problematic.” “And those that can afford more than the basic,” he added, “should be able to get it.”

7/5/09 Day 9, Van Wert, OH to Cairo, OH

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Example of Raw Notes from the Walk

Note that consent is obtained in all cases (either first name or last name). Sorry for the illegible writing -- doctor's script. I can read it though.