health care, bitches!

today... I celebrate. and yes, that means using foul language in my post title.


this is what it's all about. in the country considered the greatest of them all, nobody should be denied health care because of "pre-existing conditions" and no one should be denied procedures or any kind of health care because they work at a job that doesn't offer coverage. I couldn't be more proud of Congress, President Obama and conservative Chief Justice Roberts today. they get it. they care. and I couldn't be more relieved.

so, at the risk of getting emotional, the truth is that my dad would still be alive today if this law had already been in effect. the cost of an LVAD wouldn't have been considered when the doctors made decisions about his care. he simply would have been given one the minute it was needed, and he would have been on the transplant list months earlier. and there isn't anyone, including my dad's amazing doctors at the U of U hospital, who would say that what happened to my dad was fair or right. my dad was a small business owner, and just like most small business owners, couldn't afford an insurance plan on his own. this exact situation happens over and over. people are dying and suffering every day simply because they don't have insurance. the type of profession you choose, or are born into, is the number one factor in whether or not a person has health insurance. is that really what should decide whether you live or suffer from a disease? NO. and the fact that this ever became an issue in our country still astounds and disgusts me.

anyway, today is a major victory. I finally see a light at the end of the tunnel! ...now, back to my victory dance :)

billy jean

about a year ago I got a call from my dad on my way home from work. It went like this, me - "hi dad" dad - "billy jean!" me - "what? who?" dad - "BILLY JEAN!" me - "dad, what are you talking about?" dad - "Billy Jean! I told you I would remember my favorite Michael Jackson song!" it had been about a week since we had the conversation and his mind had blanked on the name of his favorite song. so, it took me a while to catch on. I loved these random phone calls from my dad...

so, when I realized that was the song The Civil Wars were playing during their encore, my eyes welled up with tears and it took me a bit to get the video camera going. they did an amazing job, although I'm sure my dad would have said they ruined it :) love you dad!