I had such grand plans for the unveiling of this blog’s new look.
And then as soon as the re-do was done, I came down with the plague.
Again.
Cause I’m lucky like that.
I love the clean, crispness of the new design. I’m hoping to fill up those little boxes on the right with button ads. The revenue from which will go towards keeping our Brave Hero alive.
Keeping our Brave Hero alive pretty much tops our list of goals over here.
The reason for my blogging will never change though. My passion is showing the world that a kid with special needs is first and foremost a kid. And the value of my kid’s life is no less than the value of any other kid’s life.
You’d be surprised to know that there are many, and I mean many, who would disagree. Kinda like Obama’s new Science Czar.
I sat in on a conference call with Senator Orrin Hatch this evening. Sen. Hatch and my Dad once spent hours debating the Viet Nam war. A war my Dad served in and brought home a purple star and a couple of silver and bronze stars as well.
Listening to Senator Hatch talk about this new health care reform is a bit nervous making. I listen and read as people talk about this new health care plan sealing the fate of our country’s aging population.
As if the number of doctors no longer accepting Medicare isn’t doing the job already.
I worry about the health care that will be available to Parker. Parker’s coverage via our private insurance won’t last a whole lot longer. I left a message for Senator Hatch asking this very same question since I wasn’t able to ask during the teleconference.
Apparently my name was below the bottom of the list.
I worry if the powers that are drafting this new plan will be friendly towards the medically fragile and those special needs.
The amount of money being poured into abortions makes me wonder.
Will a Mom receiving a new diagnosis for their unborn child be pressured to abort? Because it will be too expensive for the government to allow their child the right to be born?
Have I ever told you that I believe that Parker’s life is worth every bit as much as any other child’s?
Because I do.
I love your new look! Sorry you got sick!
I too wonder about the coverage for our kids will receive, but if the goal is truly to make healthcare more affordable and accessible to all citizens, wouldn’t you think those with a disability would benefit?
Wouldn’t you hope that a new plan would answer your questions about what will happen when Parker’s private insurance runs out? Maybe under a new plan–it won’t be able to run out.
I do like some of the things I am hearing–like insurance companies will not be able to deny coverage for preexisting conditions.
As far as the abortion issue, I suspect the choice a woman makes as to whether or not to have a child with Down syndrome is less about the financial aspects and more about the emotional ones. Questions like “Who will take care of my child if I’m not able?” . “Am I willing to accept a child with an intellectual disability and possible medical issues?” I am not justifying the abortion rate; just not sure the change in our healthcare system would necessarily cause it to increase. Doctors aren’t exactly encouraging women to bring a special needs child into the world now–and it has less to do with how much it might cost the government–and more to do with prejudice and ignorance.
In this nation, ALL lives are worth just as much as the next, and all lives should have access to healthcare–regardless of their chromosome count, their socioeconomic status, their age, their ability.
I am reserving judgement on the new healthcare plan until there is actually a final plan out there. It is already evident that Obama will not get all he wants.
Be sure to let us know if Senator Hatch gets back to you!
I’m definitely worried about the health care reform. Although it needs a makeover, I’m not sure it will get the makeover that we need it to be. Jax will burn through our 2.5 million cap if he has this big surgery, then what?
I too worry immensely about this new “health care” reform. It scares me. I’ve read several pages of the bill and was even more scared. I have a feeling that women will be pressured to aborting babies with special needs/medical issues simply because the government doesn’t want to pay for them. I worry about doctors that will be forced to perform abortions (or risk losing their license). I worry about the elderly, sick, medically fragile, people with pre-existing conditions that won’t get the treatment and care in a timely manner, ultimately ending their lives. It’s scary. And the thing is, the majority of the country doesn’t want this. But they won’t listen. There’s actually a congressman in Michigan who said something to the effect of “I’m not going to read that bill. It’s too long and you’d need a group of lawyers and 2 days to get through it all”. And these are the people who are making our health care decisions for us. Scary stuff.
BTW, love the new look!!
I don’t know, Tammy. Our youngest of five just had a trach placed this morning. And the new health care plan stinks worse than our insurance.
I love the new bloggy look! Fabulous! And as far as health care, it makes my head hurt and my heart ache. *sigh* Hugs to you and Parker!
love your new blog look! hope you are feeling better! I too worry about this healthcare plan! Sick to my stomach worry for Noah and my parents and for all of us really.
Twitter: therextras
Jul 30, 09
WHATEVER information you use to make your decisions on healthcare insurance via the government – you are trusting the source of that information to be accurate.
I posted long and lengthy on healthcare insurance – see the middle column of my blog.
I disagree with Christine – mostly and most on how pregnant patients are influenced in a small room when they have only a paper covering them and two ‘professionals’ telling them their options. Money is ‘in’ the room, too.
The value of each life is distorted when some do not acknowledge a preborn child as a life.
HI Tammy,
Found you by accident! I am mom to one special 5yr old girl named Faith, who has spastic diplegic CP. We are also going to be homeschooling but we opted out of Kind. and won’t begin until next yr. Would love to chat w/ you. By the way, my sister’s oldest son’s name is Parker! So nice to meet you!
scared. to. death. of. obama’s healthplan…….
Worried here too. Not for myself, but for the millions like Parker, who walk a fine line.
Tammy, My wife Deb and I have one son..Nick. He was born 9 years ago with Klienfelters Syndrome. Nick is the sweetest kid, and like his mom has a heart of gold. All this talk about health care reform scares me. I am 52 and when I hear people “mostly politicians” talking about playing God it both makes me scared and very angry. Before my son was born shortly after the doctors did the amnio they knew about Nick’s syndrome. The doctors asked us if we wanted to abort him like it was nothing! If certain people have their way we will take one step closer to being just like Nazi Germany were people with health issues were eliminated in the name of a pure race. I think one of the biggest problems we all face as Americans today is not the need to reform health care but to reform our own hearts. We look at people who are disabled or sick and instead of wishing to help them we complain about how much it costs and that it is taking away care from someone else who needs it. How do you decide who needs it, and who deserves it? Kind of like playing God huh? This country needs more God in the way of love of our fellow human beings and less cold calous money and power hungry politicians. I like your blog. Who is your dad?
Rick M
Praying for your sweet Parker…online trying to find out how this “reform” will affect our daughter with autism. Scary to say the least. We have had to take on extra jobs to pay for her therapies—at least we have this option, not sure for how much longer? I’m not sure who said it, but the quote was to the effect that one can judge a society by how it treats the most vulnerable of its citizens…if half of the rumors I’m hearing are true, then God help us.