All six of us voted for Mrs. Clinton. We count among us a Republican (my husband), several Democrats, a Communist, and a Socialist. We all also voted for our governor, a Democrat, and against Toomey. Our rep (Mike Kelly) didn't have an opponent. We didn't vote for Kelly.
All of us have serious pre-existing conditions. I had emergency double bypass surgery when I was 46 years old (no lifestyle factors involved). My husband has had 5 strokes. My 21 year old daughter has severe anemia, which has caused her to drop out of college for 2 semesters (one per year). She also contracted Mononucleosis with severe liver and spleen complications; another semester lost. She is a math major with straight A's. Another of my sons (age 23) has Bipolar Disorder II. He is a physics major. Another son has ASD and his interests are philosophy and politics. He is also very smart.
This is what worries me the most. One of my sons (age 23) has treatment-resistant depression. He is on Medicaid. He has been sick for 9 years. He has taken 18 anti-depressant drugs, none of which work (even in combination with other drugs). He has been undergoing electro-convulsive therapy for a year. That worked a bit -- he still has daily suicidal thoughts, but is no longer actively suicidal.
He finally agreed to apply for disability in November. In January, he was given that. He cannot work, he cannot go to college.
He is a highly intelligent and creative person. This depression is wiping him out. He wants to be a physician and work with Doctors Without Borders, join the Peace Corps, work in Africa. These are all pipe dreams for now.
He applies for admission to various studies and is always turned down. Ketamine is his latest attempt. I okayed that and thought he would be included. It is an 8 hour round-trip to participate in the study, and my son has our family's full support. He was turned down because he isn't actively suicidal.
He and I sleep in the living room, and have for many years. This is because he is afraid to be alone in case he kills himself and because I want to make sure he doesn't kill himself.
Since Trump's surprise election, he has been extremely worried, which has gotten worse over time. What is he worried about? Health insurance -- what if he no longer has the resources to get treatment? He will die by his own hand. This much I know.
We were all gobsmacked when Trump took PA. None of us have had an anxiety-free day since.
= new reply since forum marked as read
