It’s really easy to think in the abstract when discussing healthcare reform, but sometimes I think we all need a little reminder about what we’re working for. Here’s a story about my best friend, Leslie.
When Leslie was in seventh grade, she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. After her diagnosis, she underwent many procedures and began a regiment of medication to keep the disease in remission. The medicine was successful, and she was soon able to return to school and all her normal activities.
The real challenges for Leslie and her family were yet to come, however. Before her illness, Leslie and her family did not have health insurance. They applied to get insurance shortly thereafter, and because of her preexisting condition, Leslie was denied. At first things were okay, but soon medical expenses began piling up. Crohn’s requires a large regiment of pills to be taken daily in order to stay in remission, and even then there is no guarantee it won’t flare up again. In order to cut costs, Leslie began rationing her medicine, taking it only when she felt ill. For a disease like Crohn’s this is not helpful at all because the medicine is preventive, and can do very little after the fact.
Today, Leslie lives with the crippling pain that Crohn’s can cause because she and her family can’t afford the expensive medication. Leslie is just one example of the roughly 45 million Americans who are unable to get appropriate medical treatment because they are victims of our broken health system. They are who we are fighting for.
Maggie, thanks to you and Leslie for sharing this personal story. I think it can be difficult at times for those of us who have been fortunate to avoid any major health insurance crisis to fully grasp how broken our system is. I pray we get this right for everyone who has found themselves in a situation like Leslie.