For the past year, I would have unexplained swelling and arthritic pain in my hands, knees, and feet. I wear size 8 shoes but I have to buy size 9 shoes because of my swelling. Some days, the swelling is so bad that my hands and feet remind me of brown water baloons on the verge of busting. I am thirty-one years old but sometimes, I feel like a senior citizen. Once in a while, walking feels like a chore. I am a mom of six kids, (two biological and four through marriage) so I have to ignore my pain and take care of them. I also suffer from unexplained bouts of severe exhaustion and I cannot get out of bed. When I go brush my hair, clumps of it fall out. Last Monday, I found out why.
I have Lupus. I know it is not a death sentence but I cry every time I think about it. I knew that I might have the disease because my grandfather had it, my mother has it, and doctors diagnosed my little sister with it last year.
Unfortunately, I am unemployed. For over a year, my children and I went without health care insurance. I paid for my children’s health care out of my own pocket but I neglected myself and lived with my symptoms. Let me tell you, it is not fun knowing there is something wrong with you but you could not do anything about it. The reason why I am discussing my diagnosis is that I got married two months ago and I used my husband's health care coverage to find out what was wrong with me.
While writing this diary, I think about people like me, the 47 million Americans who survive without health care and all of the Americans who are under-insured.
I knew I had to say something when I heard United States Senator Jim DeMint (SC) say,
"If we’re able to stop Obama on this, it will be his Waterloo."
Pardon my language but... FU Sir! My health should not be a battle used to play in your imaginary war on the Government!
President Obama got it right with his health care plan for America. We need health coverage and we need it now!
Our Senators - Some Democrats and nearly all of the Republicans are stuck in the Washington bubble.
Some of them do not know what it means to struggle between paying your bills and sending your epileptic child to the doctor on your own dime because our Senators have health care. They do not know what it means to worry about your son’s cavity and wondering if that job you applied for will come through because Senators have a job. They do not know about swallowing your pride and asking your family for help and support for my dreams of a life in politics, while I stay up at night, stressed out about missing another student loan payment because Senators care about their biggest donors and not me.
Many of you do understand but many Senators and Representatives just do not get it or they just do not care. Yesterday, President Obama said
"We can't afford the politics of delay and defeat when it comes to health care...There are too many lives and livelihoods at stake."
I agree with my president. There are too many lives at stake and one of them is mine.
I live in Michigan. We have an unemployment rate of 15.2%. Our family is fortunate to have one working parent but we worry about my husband's job every day. I am asking everyone to call your Senator and your Representative. Tell them to support a health care plan with a public option today.