Healthcare Story

When 67-year-old Clarence Wheeler was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes last year, he was instantly bombarded with various treatment options and medications to help treat his illness. As a long-time employee of the Los Angeles Tax Collector’s office, Wheeler received his health insurance through his job, paying a small out-of-pocket fee for doctors’ visits and medication. Shortly after his diagnosis, Wheeler began noticing sharp pains in his left foot and it was getting more and more difficult to walk and stand for long periods of time.
“It was extremely painful to walk,” said Wheeler. “I just couldn’t take the pain anymore, so I went to the doctor.”
After his visit, a series of tests were performed and doctors found a clogged femoral artery in his left foot. In a normally functioning body, the femoral and popliteal arteries are supposed to supply oxygen-rich blood and nutrients to the legs. Decreased blood flow to the feet can cause excruciating pain, even when the patient is resting. The femoral arteries in Wheeler’s left foot were completely clogged. In order to remove the blockage, Wheeler was scheduled for surgery immediately.
“In the beginning, I thought it was no big deal,” said Wheeler. “Then I started to realize the problem might be more serious than I thought.”
The healthcare package Wheeler received through his job’s plan helped cover the costs of his surgery, yet, he still had to pay out of pocket fees. After his surgery, he was placed on temporary medical leave without pay. Even though Wheeler had already drawn his social security, the money still was not enough to help pay for his coverage. Without a steady income, Wheeler found himself unable to work to help pay for his healthcare costs.
Wheeler’s wife, Carol, was instrumental in making sure her husband could still be taken care of after his surgery. She took matters into her own hand and began calling around to find affordable medical insurance for her husband. She even called his place of employment and collaborated with the health insurance company to ensure her husband would receive the proper medical care he needed. Unfortunately, the insurance premium would prove to be too expensive if Wheeler were to keep it through his employer. He had to drop the plan through his employer and act quickly to find another.
Meanwhile, back in the rehabilitation center Wheeler was recovering in, doctors found the femoral bypass to be unsuccessful. Wheeler was still in severe pain and there was only one way to alleviate it—through amputation of the limb.
Wheeler underwent two surgeries, one to completely remove his left foot, which again proved to be unsuccessful, and another to the bottom half of his left leg. This was a major blow to Wheeler, just as he thought his healthcare would finally straighten itself out.
Eventually, after a series of calls and getting the run-around with some insurance companies, Wheeler’s wife, Carol, found a plan designed for the elderly through Medicare that would allow Wheeler to keep his medical insurance with Kaiser Permanente and pay a smaller premium.
“It was a miracle to find something affordable,” she said. “Insurance costs, even for the elderly, are outrageous these days.”
As for Clarence, he is now on permanent medical leave and is bedridden. A nurse comes to his home two times a week to help him with his rehabilitation. Currently, he gets around with the help of a wheelchair and is determined to gain back some of his independence.
“Before, I was upset to learn that I would lose my leg,” said Wheeler. “But it was either that, or my life.”

Prop 8. Soundoff.

What if you couldn’t marry the one person in the world that you loved because people thought that it was wrong, even if it didn’t directly affect them? People might say that there is nothing wrong with getting married, as long as those two people are in love and happy about spending the rest of their lives together. The truth is that people fall in love, every minute and every hour of every day, no matter the circumstances. Love is real, it’s consuming and it’s beautiful—so if two people, male or female, black or white, gay or straight, are in love—what does it matter if they’re married or not?
Proposition 8 was a ballot proposition that changed state law in California to restrict marriage as a union between male and a female, and to eliminate the right for same-sex couples to marry. During the November election, many people came out in support of the proposition, stating that marriage only be between a man and a woman, and that children would be at risk of being taught in schools that same-sex marriages are “acceptable.” Conservatives and religious groups alike raised large sums of money to show their support for Yes on Proposition 8, regardless of the fact that the same-sex marriages did not directly affect their lives in any way.
Prop. 8 opponents were adamant that children in public schools would not be taught about same-sex marriage as a part of their regular education. In fact, opponents of the proposition, including NoOn8.com, stated that no matter what you believe, equality should be for all, no matter what.
In the end, yes on proposition 8 was passed and put into effect immediately, on the day following the election.
Over the years, the United States has seen quite a few changes on what marriages it will deem “acceptable” in society. It wasn’t that long ago when men and women of different ethnicities were not allowed to marry, even if they were in love. In fact, in the days of the civil rights movement, if a black man even took a second look at a white woman, he would undoubtedly be hanged. In today’s society, interracial couples and marriages are seen as second nature—as a different way of life. Marrying someone outside your own race has become, for the most part, “acceptable.”
It seems as though people have forgotten that love between two consenting adults should hold no boundaries, simply because someone else feels as though it’s unacceptable or wrong. People come in all different shapes, sizes and colors. We come from many different backgrounds and beliefs, but when it’s all said and done, we are all simply human. We all long for love and acceptance among our peers. As humans, we want to be loved, no matter what. We need the love and support of others, otherwise we would be empty. It is impossible not to learn how to assimilate and live amongst one another as civilized people. To limit the rights of others, no matter your personal beliefs, is simply unfair and wrong.
I strongly believe that same-sex marriage should be legal, not just in the state of California, but in the United States. Why? Because we are all just people, we are all human, and we should all be allowed the same rights. What makes one couple’s love and affection for each other less than another? Absolutely nothing. Who should decide if two people, no matter their sexual preference, should marry? No one. If it doesn’t directly affect anyone in their personal lives and in their own marriages, what is so wrong about it? Love has no boundaries, no color and more importantly, no gender. It’s a shame that more people are not willing to look past their own selfishness and see this law for what it really is—discriminatory and wrong.

Election Night 2008

Hundreds of people were gathered outside of Seventh Day Adventist Church in Northridge, California on election night to perform their civic duty and cast their vote for the next president of the United States. The church saw many voters of different backgrounds, creeds and ideals and interestingly enough, from two completely different precincts. This year, the church was home to two precincts, to compensate for lack of space at another location. To keep mistakes to a minimum, each precinct had its own separate entrances, and its own separate lines. At other precincts, the average wait time was closer to an hour and a half. According to polling staff members at the church, the longest wait was about 40 minutes.

Nick Franchino, a poll volunteer, started his shift at the church at 6 a.m., and said the morning had started rough because of the large crowds, and though the staff got tired early, they remained in high spirits. “The staff got tired early on, but they were all happy to do their part,” said Franchino. “No one [voters] talked about the issues, but they were all happy to be here.” Franchino was excited about the election himself, checking his iPhone for most of the evening, to see how his propositions were doing. “I’m very happy about the initiatives,” he said.

Franchino was most excited for his sister about this election, because it was the first she had ever actually voted her opinions for herself. “In the beginning, she let her husband tell her who to vote for,” said Franchino. “Now she’s actually voting for herself this year.” Franchino, also a county employee, received a small stipend for his work at the polls.

As the night went on, the long lines became less of an issue, and the polling place became almost empty, however, there were a few late voters who beat the 8:00 deadline. Tiffany Rogers, a 19-year-old college student, was among the few people who just barely missed their chance to vote for the next leader of the free world. Rogers, a first time voter, was on her way from school, when she arrived at the church precinct. She made it a point to vote in this election because of the controversial same-sex marriage proposition, otherwise known as Proposition 8. “I felt I needed to vote no on Prop. 8 because I have gays in my family and I wanted to show my support for their cause,” said Rogers. When asked about the candidate she favored, Rogers hesitated and then responded, “I believe they both ran decent campaigns, but Obama seems to be the better candidate for this election.”

Tami Samaniego, a 40-year-old mother of one, said that this election was the most important election that she has seen in her lifetime. Samaniego had just come from work when she cast her vote. “I have to say it’s definitely interesting to see someone of color and a woman involved,” Samaniego said. “I’m excited to see how it all turns out.”

As the polls close and the church parking lot empties, the votes will be counted and when the sun rises on November 5, a new president will be announced in what is considered to be the election of a lifetime.