So, here’s my story.
I first went to Summit Hospital and stayed there from October, 1-10. I went back in November for chest pains, really for pain all over. But, the health care system didn’t want to take care of me for the time I needed. They were losing people who had better healthcare than I. They were trying to get patients who had money who could afford to be there. I didn’t have the money to be in their as long as I needed. And for a person like me who has a lot of illnesses, I need the care. So when they tried to rush me out it didn’t help me much. They said they couldn’t find the cause of the pain, so they sent me home after about a week.
I went back in November for chest and stomach pains, and I had good doctors who tried to get me out of pain. But they couldn’t. I stayed in Summit for a while because I my chest pains wouldn’t go away. So, they did all kinds of tests and even sent me to San Francisco to a specialist hospital that does tests that Summit can’t. A specialist came and talked to me about my pain, but couldn’t figure it out. So they sent me to CPMC to do tests, and they sent me back to Summit. They looked at the test results and said everything was fine, but everything was not fine. I was still in pain.
So, they sent me home with medication for the pain. Bit they always say if it gets worse, you can always come back to the EMERGENCY ROOM and we will see what we can do for you. You are important to us and we will do everything possible for you. I think they say that just to say something. I think this hospital stay was pretty good and they were really very helpful in trying to help me with my pain. But they didn’t know how to help me. But they tried. They put me in touch with a G.I. doctor and he changed my whole diet. It is now boring and tasteless.
It’s Sunday morning, 2:14 a.m. My chest is killing me. I took a pain pill and will see how that goes. I woke up still in pain but not as bad, though it’s still there. So, I’m writing this piece to say that the system is not working for everybody, especially for those who don’t have the money or the support system to help them stay in the hospital and get what they need.
I am very grateful that I have a support system and that I can speak up for myself and that I sometimes have good doctors. Having good doctors who listen to you is key. You need to have a strong relationship with your doctor while you are in the hospital because if they understand you and you understand them, that helps. I had a few good doctors and they understood what I needed and tried to get it for me. The problem is they didn’t stay with you for long time periods of time. So when you got used to a doctor, they would change up on you and then you would have to get used to another doctor, and over and over again. When you are discharged, you can follow up with your physician and talk about what they did in the hospital and what medication they had you on, and why. And then your physician can decide if you need that medication or not. I do have a great doctor who is aways there when I need him and when I get out of the hospital he tells me that I don’t need all of the medication I was on when in the hospital. So I’m glad that I have a great doctor who listens to me and works with me.
I talked to my longtime friend tonight. We were talking about things like life and how it changes. And how people must change too. We both know what loss is because I lost my mom three years ago, on December 12. So, I am in still going through the grief process. My friend’s name is Doc and that’s what I call him. He just lost his mom so I can understand what he is going through. So, we have to be there for each other. We go back a long way so I can talk to him and he can talk to me. And we can tell each other the truth. Like tonight, he told me things about himself that I kind of knew, but I wanted him to tell me when he got ready.
I think that the medical system has a long way to go before they start treating people with all kinds of illnesses and know what you need. But until then we get the short end of the stick. We have to fight for what we need. And what you need is very important to you. We will fight for what is right. It’s important to have healthcare that we deserve. But we need to be sure that we have enough people to fight for what we need. It’s important for us to know who is the enemy causing all these problems. We have to educate ourselves to know what is right and wrong. And then we are half way there.
I am going to try to go to school tomorrow. I have makeup work to do because I missed an assignment when I was in the hospital. I have to get where the rest of the class is so I don’t fall behind. I’m not looking forward too that but I have to keep up with my classes. I don’t need to fall all the way behind because I am doing a great job and I want to keep that up. When I put my mind to do something I do it or I’m not happy. And people don’t want me unhappy because I get all sad. I’m just not trying to go there. I want to succeed in my life and I can’t do it if I don’t make myself do it. That’s where my mother comes out in me. Mom always said if you want to do something you have to do it yourself. So that’s why I’m like what I am, so outgoing and loving of people and myself. If you don’t love yourself, then who’s going to love you? Good questions right? I know, mom was full of good questions and that’s one of the many things I miss about her.
It’s close to holidays which are very hard for me to handle still. Those were the times that meant the most to my mother and I. I remember the last holiday we were together was Thanksgiving. She cooked her favorite meal for dinner. That was her cabbage and her corn bread. I would love to watch her cook dinner and sometimes I would help. We would have a nice dinner, just the two of us. So, it’s not easy though it’s a little bit easier to deal with now. But if mom were still alive, she would be able to do what she wanted with her eyes closed because she was just that good at what she did.
In Chicago, mom worked for an apartment building as the manager. She was a good manager; she knew what she was doing. So, she had people who didn’t like her because she would not take no ‘you know what’ from people. And that’s how I got her attitude and her personality. She knew what it was to be on time and how to take care of business and herself and her daughter. She would take out time for me even when she had to work overtime. She would say “not today.” She could because she was the boss. I was so proud of her because she took time for the two of us. Those are the best things that I will remember forever.
Also, I remember doing takeovers for the homeless people and going to jail. It was worth it just to see the cops trying to get my big wheelchair in the back of the police car. It was something to see. It took about four men to get me and my wheelchair into the van. I was trying not to laugh at them but it was really funny. Every time they got a call they would say that they needed help. I would nod my head. But I guess I am just an organizer who plans everything I do for everyone I come around.
Now I am back in school and I’m back using my IPad. It’s like I never left it because once you learn to do something you never forget how to use it. If you do, it comes back to you. But I’m not back to everything I was doing before I went to the hospital. Thank God I’m so glad I am not back to my old self. It will take me awhile. I hope I never get that sick again – that’s no joke.
I was asked what I thought about the president. He doesn’t give a dam about anybody but himself, his friends and family. He thinks he is the king of the world and it’s going to be like that until we get people to wake up and realize that what he is doing is not only wrong. He knows what’s right or wrong. He wants to take us back to the old days. I think that what he really is looking for is a war because I believe he believes he is a king of the world. But he won’t be happy until he sees who the real king is — and that is the people. But he won’t believe it until we have had had enough. Like my mother would say — “enough is enough.” And I say that too. When we all get tired of this, we will never be the same again. But until then, we are just going to keep on talking it over and over again. But in my opinion, it’s a waiting game to see who’s going to win.
So I think I have a right to go to the hospital anytime I get so sick, even if my family can’t afford it or help me at home. The president is making it worse by signing bills like those I can’t afford to pay out of pocket. I have medical meds and pay my hospital bills. So, if he cuts that out then there will be a lot of sick people. And it’s going to be on him. He won’t be happy until we are all dead. Or until we are fighting each other. But we are starting to get ourselves together!
