Why we stood up to Michael Steele

[IndianaGreen]

Comment: Amanda Duzak

Why we stood up to Michael Steele

September 8, 2009

MY MOTHER, Martha Beth Duzak, passed away earlier this year of lung cancer at the age of 49.

Heartbreakingly, one of her main concerns throughout her struggle to get well was how she was going to afford her life-sustaining medication. She often needed seven or eight medications at one time, but her health insurance only said it would pay for three or four.

Because of this, she was forced to choose between getting her medications, buying groceries, or paying household bills. And on top of paying for everyday survival necessities, she was also desperately trying to save up money to travel to attend my college graduation ceremony.

Like anyone in that situation, my mother experienced great physical and emotional pain during the time she had cancer. For her to have to worry about money at such a time in her life not only distressed me--it made me extremely angry at the do-nothing politicians and health insurance industry and pharmaceutical companies that were profiting from my mother's illness.

Experiencing my mother's health care horror story directly--and learning of the 47 million Americans who live without health insurance at all in the richest country in the world--led me to take a stand.

http://socialistworker.org/2009/09/08/standing-up-to-steele