BY CHRISTINA BEACH
I so appreciate your editorial on “The Real Budget Issue” in the Nov. 26th issue. I question whether Washington citizens are aware of what lawmakers are proposing and the consequences of their budget cuts. If I was not personally involved in the care of a disabled person, I would be unaware of the planned cuts and the gravity of their decisions.
My mother is a quadriplegic as a result of Multiple Sclerosis. Like most health conditions, there is nothing she did to cause the disease and it is at no fault of her own. She has fought hard and has suffered more than any one of us could ever know. It has been a long, hard road for her and those of us who love and support her.
What the lawmakers are planning to do now is truly going to be tragic for so many patients like my mom that as you say, “have no voice” and no ability to produce for themselves, despite their desire to do so.
My mother is fortunate to have family who will do whatever they can to assist her in her care, despite their own misfortunes. Most patients do not have such unyielding support.
From my understanding, on Jan. 1 Medicaid patients will lose dental, vision, podiatry and hospice benefits (and perhaps more of which I am unaware). I can not fathom this!
A simple cavity that can be taken care of at minimal expense can potentially turn into a life-threatening infection. Eye infections untreated could potentially lead to permanent vision loss, thus creating further disability. Wounds on feet left untreated again can lead to loss of limb and life. The ramifications are unthinkable to those most in need.
I agree with you…. “as people we should be better than this.”
Sadly, the lawmakers probably will never face a medical condition that they can not get care for because of lack of benefits. With their resources, they will never have to live with pain or live without care. They probably have not sat down with a young or old person with a disabling disease or condition and who is without resources, to understand the realities of their daily struggles and pain.
Do they understand that these people did not choose their circumstances? Most of them would much rather be out in the workforce or serving their families or communities.
Perhaps the lawmakers see them as “of little value” as the old and disabled are taking from the system and not contributing. I would disagree and state that I have learned more about how to serve others and my community by living daily with the consequence of disability and those that are in need.
Those with disabilities and the elderly have an abundance of life from which we can draw. From my mother I have gained life lessons and qualities such as a gratitude, selflessness, perseverance, fortitude, compassion and a strong work ethic, to name a few. I can assure you I would not have gained these qualities to the extent I have without the presence of those who are “in need” in my life.
At this point, I am filled with questions. As a new resident to Washington, I am unaware of the politics of the past. How did we get here? Where did the federal funding to this state to assist these people go? Why does the government allow welfare checks to be used toward cable TV and cell phones, etc., which are wants, yet they are planning to not provide for the true medical NEEDS of the poor, which in turn has potential life and death consequence.
I guarantee there is an extreme amount of “pork barrel” spending that is being overlooked and projects of little relevance taking millions that could be removed before taking benefits away from the poor and disabled.
I believe there is a lot that needs to be exposed and unfortunately time is running out. The question is…. who is going to do it and how do we go about doing it? How do we represent those in need in such a short amount of time?
Christina Beach is a resident of Sammamish.
