This past weekend my son went to the Washington State Fantasy Renaissance Faire and had a great time playing a game called "boffering." Boffering is essentially a renaissance fantasy game where people make or buy foam covered weapons and engage in battle and it is great fun. Due to the fact our family at this time does not have health insurance we have to be conscious of getting hurt or ill so we always caution him to be careful. We do have some savings for medical bills but it is not nearly enough. Later in the week he was invited to a local boffering group at Lake Wapato Park in Tacoma. We met some great kids and adults, all polite and all interested in renaissance history and weapons.
As a parent I like boffering because it is a computer game come to life but the kids and adults get alot of exercise. At this game we met a couple of young men that helped my son play and even game him the foam weapons to use. Later as dusk fell we offered them a ride home as they invited my son to come to a practice later in the week so he could improve his skills. One of the young men was walking to the Econo-Lodge on South Tacoma Way. His dad was laid off from his job, and his mom who has lupus has breast cancer. Due to the fact she had lupus and was laid off from her job earlier in the year she could not get health insurance for a pre-existing condition. Her boss, she says cried when she laid her off. Due to the recession she was laid off as the newest employee but hopes to be hired back when one of the older employees retires.
She is receiving treatment for breast cancer and paying out of pocket. The minimal care they received last year cost the family $58 thousand dollars, they had a rambler in a nice neighborhood. Her husband who is a concrete contractor until fairly recently could make about $4000.00 a week during the busy season.
Due to the economic recession and layoffs they could not pay for the medical treatment and keep their home, so they lost their home. They then were living in a 5th wheel on a friend's property but were kicked out when the City of Tacoma said this was a code violation. They have lived on the street at times, bouncing between friends but do not have family to help them. Currently they live in a motel and today dad went to a job for $40.00 for the whole day. Their son who was so helpful to my son was laid off from his job so they are living on his unemployment and basically waiting for a contract with Bruce Titus to start so they can get back into an apartment. They have lost everything and daily life is very hard.
This young man's mom can only work for a few hours at a time because she is so ill. Had they had health insurance they would have had enough savings to pay the mortgage and keep a roof over their heads. They have contacted every social service agency locally for help but the words are the same...we have waiting list...we cannot help you. This young man's mom does not want to be on the drugs provided by DSHS doctors, Oxycotin and other morphine drugs that make it more difficult for her to function so she pays $45.00 to see a doctor up near Seattle who treats her with less invasive drugs. Sometimes she is in terrible pain but does not want to take narcotics and get addicted as she is a person who does not even drink alcohol.
Many days there is no food in the house and they have to take a bus to a food bank. The young man is still kind and upbeat and praying his mother will get well and his dad will get back to work. Every working American who does not have health insurance could be in the same boat, and even those Americans who do have health insurance. We are all one illness away from bankruptcy and ruin and living in a motel not knowing what the next day would bring. We know as a family if we get sick we will have to get well or basically kill ourselves in order to leave something for the care of our son. As we seek additional employment there are no positions available where health care is available. We are in favor of a single payor system and this is one of the main reasons we support President Obama.
This is a true story and I spoke and met the woman and her family today. They are hardworking Americans who have lost everything due to medical bills and no ability to get health insurance.
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