Blog 5

Once upon a time, in a land not so far away–Springfield, Mo.–I ran a free clinic. It wasn't something I ever foresaw, it just happened. I made so many great friends there. Oh, and it changed my life forever. When my mother found the lump in her breast, our family didn't have insurance. She waited to tell even my dad until we again were insured. There's a chance that she would still be with us had things been different. Fast forward a couple of years and we are living in my mother's beloved Kansas City. I don't like to dwell on the past, but I liked my job–at MetroCARE–liked my house–in Brookside–I was glad we moved. MetroCARE made so much sense. Volunteer doctors would see needy patients for free in their own offices. We closed on our home in August and I had my stroke in March. Our neighbors were so kind, though we were such short-timers. At the risk of becoming the family pariah, there are parts of “ObamaCare” that I like. For example, I rather like the part that made it illegal for insurance companies to deny coverage for pre-existing conditions. I likely wouldn't have given the bill a second thought had I not worked with those less fortunate. I am grateful for my non-profit jobs and the way they made me more compassionate.