In Sickness, In Health II: An Addendum

Hello all. Instead of bringing back the other blog, I decided to create this one. Although it seems natural for me to update the other blog again, I can't do it. She is far too important...

If you haven't noticed by now, I'm a very open person. Somethings, I do keep inside. Somethings, I do not talk about. Everything else is fair game. I cannot help but speak from my heart and my soul. I try to teach with my mind and keep things logical but most times, I have to acquiesce to the feelings I get but cannot explain. The inclinations to say this and move this way and eat this thing, without knowing why (but always understanding that it must be a good thing). Things need to change in the health care industry. I want to try my best to speak from my mind. I want to do my best to talk with logic and common sense. Unfortunately, I know myself too well. What you are about to read comes from an angry place.

I have been soooo happy that my grandma turned 100 earlier this month.
Truthfully speaking, I resolved within myself that even if my grandma were to die today or tomorrow, I would be content because she will be free. I wish it were that simple.

The day after I left my Grandma, she had to go into the hospital. Her heart was beating 15 times a minute. They were going to put a pacemaker in her, but wanted to wait until her potassium levels stabilize. Lo and Behold, her levels did stabilize...so much so that she didn't need the pacemaker. Instead of going home, she went into an acute care facility. "OK," I said, "that's fine." I figured things were going pretty well.

My cousin called me the night before last and told me that my grandma has pneumonia. "OK," I said, "that's fine." My grandma is 100 and I expect things like this to happen. I said a small prayer (as I always do) and went to bed. I woke up yesterday feeling...ok. I even put on shoes for work. The day was going pretty well until I got an email from my uncle.

My grandma has pneumonia, urinary infection with anemia, diarrhea, bed sores, and she caught the superbug, VRE (among other things). Apparently, all is NOT fine at this acute care facility nor at the hospital. I immediately started to cry (I'm crying right now). You see, it was easy for me to understand and process her death but this kind of suffering. A woman like that...a lady like her...doesn't deserve any of this.

Of course, I am upset at myself. This happens to people when they are in a situation like this. You start to wonder what if I was still there, what can I do now, why couldn't I be there for her....all these thoughts start to come into your mind and you slip into the dark path of depression. I'm not depressed yet...Right now, I'm so angry. I'm upset at myself because once again, I am in this helpless state.

My grandma would want me to wipe these tears and pray. I prayed and cried and supplicated myself to the Lord and begged Him to end my grandma's suffering. If I didn't pray, I wouldn't have been able to sleep last night (even though it was not a peaceful one). No, my grandma thought that I was the smartest child in the world. My grandma told people that anything I set my mind to, I can do it. It's nice to feel special but my Grandma didn't only feel this way about me. She felt this way about all children. My grandma was a Teacher...and a very good one too. My Grandma is very proud and happy that I'm back in school. She's even prouder that I'm going to THIS school, as she realizes it's a stepping stone to realize my childhood dream of becoming a doctor.

So now school is not just for Jimmy, nor my Uncle Anthony (Grandma's Firstborn), nor my Daddy (Grandma's Secondborn). Me graduating from school and becoming a successful Holistic Health Counselor and furthering my practice so that one day, I can call myself a Nautropathic Doctor, will be for her as well. I WILL MAKE A CHANGE IN THIS CRAP HEALTHCARE SYSTEM. I am angry at this gov't, for not taking care of those who cannot take care of themselves - children and the elderly. I am angry at this Medicare/Medicaid/Social Security System that puts my Grandmother in these deplorable places and make it even tougher to get out of them. I am angry that we, as citizens, have allowed this to happen and then when it happens in our own backyard, most just put up their hands like they didn't do it and can do nothing to stop it.

This country is supposed to be a democracy. We are supposed to be able to vote for change and change happen. However, as we have seen in the past 7 years, this has not been the case. I'm not asking any of you to vote for Blah Blah and Blah in the upcoming months. I am asking YOU to ask whoever you want to vote for to not only ensure that there will be positive changes in the Health Care System. I am asking YOU to make sure that whoever you vote for in the upcoming elections doesn't just talk the talk but walk that walk. Obviously, this president that we have now does not care.

My grandma fights for her life right now. At 100, should she really have to? Should she even be put in this situation? My grandma was healthy when she went into the hospital and now she is broken. I want my grandma fixed. I want whoever did not do their due diligence to make sure that my grandma and anyone else in that hospital do not contract these diseases, now and in the future.

And as a Holistic Health Counselor, I am going to be a catalyst for change. Oh, you watch me. You watch my 1200 classmates from all over the world. You watch us be the catalyst for change. No. I do not want to be the President of the United States. I want to be an American Citizen. Making changes from the inside out. Doing my part in ensuring that this doesn't happen to any child or senior citizen again. Americans, it's time for you to take care of your elders again. It is time for you to put a vested interest in your children so that they can put a vested interest in you, when it's time for you to be taken care of.

Now is the time for us not only to take health into our own hands, but to make it so that we can pass it onto those who are no longer capable of learning. We must all be healers so that we can help.

So please, as you read this post, do not get angry like I was. Make a change. Do Right For Yourself. Then Do Right For Others. Say NO to this current Health Care "Shitstem" (every aspect of it that is negative and do not help to facilitate change). Write your congressman or woman. Send emails to your Senators. Contact whoever you can to become a catalyst. Don't let what happened to my Grandma happen to you or your loved ones. Please.

My Grandma is a fighter. A Lady to the infinite power. I may not be a Lady (yet) but I am surely a Woman (yes, there is still a difference to me) and I am a fighter, just like my Grandma. 2008 is the time to fight...not literally...but figuratively. We have to fight for our human rights. We have to do it NOW.

Thanks for reading. This post has made me feel a lot better...and I have stopped crying. Now it's time to work.

Fight ALL Dis-eases!