The slaughter of innocents.

[renate]

13. I wish there were words....

I'm so sorry--as you so eloquently put it, a clerical snit between insurance companies is responsible for your death. It's not even that a lack of insurance made your life fall apart, which would be bad enough--you are dying because the insurance companies were refusing responsibility and pointing fingers at each other like a couple of schoolchildren. The current state of health care really, literally, is a slaughter of innocents. It is so frustrating that so many people refuse, or choose not, to see this fact.

As sad and angry as I am by what has happened to you, I'm also very touched by the way you chose to list all the way your life has been full, even though you wish it had been longer. Like yours, my thoughts are very much with your wife. The absolute randomness and unfairness of this situation is breaking my heart.

Nobody who read your story will ever forget it. In fact, I hope you will send it to your senator or representative, if you think they would have a sympathetic ear; perhaps it will affect an important vote someday.

And please, please, please keep this powerful essay somewhere safe so it can speak for you if you are gone by the time your case comes to court. Victory in court may come too late to help you, but it would be a big help to your wife. You are both in my heart.