Sad News especially during this Healthcare debate

[braheem24]

I recently heard my wife's uncle commited suicide a few hours ago.

I dont know him well but have heard of his situation. He had been diagnosed with a failing liver from his years of drinking; After his family finally convincing him to give up drinking he was starting to follow his doctor's advice but was still slowly getting weaker.

A few minutes ago my wife called and told me he didn't have health insurance, applied for medicaid but it was not yet approved along with other complications with paperwork, etc.

He had been paying out of pocket but could no longer afford the medications and treatments so instead of being a burden on his family he went to an old peice of property where he used to live, wrapped himself in a blanket and shot himself in the chest.

I dont know the man too well and I dont sympathize for people who slowly kill themselves, but when I heard he commited suicide to ease the burden on his family it really broke my heart.

It has truly gaven me a different perspective on the healthcare debate.

[Jana Lewis]

Braheem-

I am so sorry for your loss and for your families grief. *hug*

Insurance needs an overhaul... I am not sure what the solution is or how to deal with the uninsured but I think we can all agree that something needs to happen.

I am very sorry.

[Night Train]

Thanks for posting this. Too often, in all of the statistics, we forget the names and faces and stories behind the numbers. You and your family have my thoughts, prayers and sympathy.

[Jubilee]

I am so sorry to hear of your family's loss.

As was stated before, sometimes the names, faces and the lives we are talking about in this debate get lost.

I hope the family finds peace and there are many support groups that help the families affected by suicide. Compassionate friends is the largest one.

Rascal Flatts has a beautiful song on their latest albumn that addresses suicide..

Why

It must have been a place so dark you couldn't feel the light,
Reaching for you through that stormy cloud.
Now here we are gathered in our little home town.
This can't be the way you meant to draw a crowd.

Oh, why, that's what I keep asking.
Was there anything I could have said or done.
Oh, I had no clue you were masking a troubled soul.
God only knows what went wrong.
And why you'd leave the stage in the middle of a song.

Now in my mind I keep you frozen as a seventeen year old.
Rounding third to score the winning run.
You always played with passion, no matter what the game.
When you took the stage you shined just like the sun.

Oh, why, that's what I keep asking.
Was there anything I could have said or done.
Oh, I had no clue you were masking a troubled soul.
God only knows what went wrong.
And why you'd leave the stage in the middle of a song.

Now the oak trees are swaying in the early autumn breeze.
The golden sun is shining on my face.
The tangled thoughts I hear a mockingbird sing
This whole world really ain't that bad of place

Oh why, there's no comprehending.
And who am I to try to judge or explain
Oh, but I do have one burning question
Who you told you life wasn't worth the fight
They were wrong, they lied.
Now you're gone, and we cried

Cause it's not like you to walk away in the middle of a song.
Your beautiful song. Your absolutely beautiful song.

[Happylady]

I'm sorry. That is very sad. :(

[For-Life]

I have a question. I have heard people on this board talk about Medicare and its problems. What I notice is that these problems are not in other nations where the government runs the programs. For instance, one thread had children's eye exams being covered by Medicare and was like $15 an exam. Other nations never paid as close to as low. So why do you think that in the US Medicare is far more inefficient than other national government run health care programs?

[Uncle Fester]

I fear the ugly side of this debate will soon rear its head.

In spite of that, you and yours have my sympathy and prayers.

God Bless.

[rbaker]

May he rest in peace. May his family go forward in peace.

It sounds as though the actual problem was powerlessness over alcohol and and a life too unmanagable to tolerate and not the health care system. All the kings horses and all the kings men . . .

There but for the grace of God, go I.

[Leo Hadley Jr]

Very Sorry to hear this news

[k12311997]

my condolences, and prayers.

[rinselberg]

May he rest in peace. May his family go forward in peace.

It sounds as though the actual problem was powerlessness over alcohol and and a life too unmanagable to tolerate and not the health care system. All the kings horses and all the kings men . . .

There but for the grace of God, go I.

What rbaker said.. hit the nail right on the head.