HMW 29

Facing Terminal Illness- from my understanding I thought that there wasn't a 'normal' way to deal with facing a terminal illness. I thought that it was one of those things that had to happen to you, and since reading literature and hearing a guest speaker face it only enforced this theory. "Tuesdays with Morrie" is a piece of literature facing this exact issue. It follows Morrie through his journey on coming to terms with his terminal illness, and eventually, his unfortunate death. It was enlightening to hear the story of someone who faced such an awful experience with such an open minded attitude. The 'social norm' is to go to hospital at the first sign of something out of the ordinary, but Morrie decides to die at home, spending his final days with the people he loves. Saying such things as ""Mitch, I don't allow myself any more self-pity than that. A little each morning, a few tears, and that's all." (pg 57) Although I cannot promise I would face a disease like this with such complacency, I found it enlightening to see someone treat such a situation like this. Relating this a real life situation, Beth, a guest speaker came in and told of her husbands battle with cancer. As Beth told her story I sensed a medley of different emotions from denial of her husbands death and the nasty disease that took his like to shock of the diagnosis. I identified with everything she said, although I can't imagine the person I'd spent over two decades with not being there when I woke up everyday. Seeing this in real life reinforced the different ways in which people approach death. And unfortunately, although I would love for it to be this epiphany and an enlightening time, I think sadness would be the overwhelming emotion.

Paying for medical care - As Michael Moore has made clear to us in Sicko (although completely biased) the state of the healthcare system in America is a mess. The United States spends the most GDP on healthcare in the world, but still is plagued with mostly preventable deaths such as heart disease and diabetes as its biggest killers. You think that the Yanks would have learnt by there close neighbours, the Canadians. Tommy Douglas, the first person to introduce public healthcare to Canada is seen as the most important person in their history. But with 45 million people currently without healthcare in the US, its quite

obvious that they haven't.

As seen above the US has spent the most on healthcare for a decade and a half, but yet still the healthcare is still in the poor condition that is was in 15 years ago.

“Fixing our healthcare system as a whole is our primary challenge, and to make it happen you need to get engaged – to pound the pavement, get your hands dirty, endure real sacrifice, take on antiquated thinking and help lead the public debate.”

iilana Senator John Kerry quotes All eyes are now on Obama's healthcare reform. Five years from now, there's an excellent chance you won't have the same health insurance you have (or don't have) right now. That's because members of Congress are gearing up to reform the U.S. health care system, "and unlike in 1993 when then-first lady Hillary Clinton tried her hand at changing the medical system, this time the important players -- doctors, insurance companies, pharmaceutical manufacturers -- seem to be on board." (CNN.) Whilst nearly 46 million Americans have no insurance, a further 25 million more are underinsured. One major reason for this crisis is that many employers have stopped offering insurance to employees because of the high cost. In the United States, total health care spending was $2.4 trillion in 2007 -- or $7,900 per person -- according to an analysis published in the journal Health Affairs. ONe of the FAQ about Obama's healthcare reform is that of where the money is coming from. Whilst one option is to reduce tax deduction amongst high income Americans, which of course is unpopular amongst Republicans, another is to eliminate waste fraud and abuse in Medicare and Medicaid, which Obama believes which credit the system "hundreds of billions of dollars." One of the main improvments is the point that no insurance plan "would be able to deny coverage on the basis of pre-existing conditions," which means many Americans could get the healthcare that they are entitled to. Being Sick- I have always said that I never want to get old and frail and become a burden upon someone. When you hear children turning up their nose at 'speaking to Grandma' or dragging their feet because they have to go visit Granddad. I'm not sure whether this comes with getting old or just the person you are. I've just realised that I'm actually focusing more on getting old, rather than getting sick. But in some ways they are pretty similar. You get aches and pains. Things don't work the same as they used to. People have to come and visit you. You don't do the same things you used to. And you definitely have a different outlook on life. Wow that's depressing! Anyway, when i get older I intend on being exactly like my Grandma. Still with the grace, pride and fashion sense of a 30 year old, but with the dry, frank, i-don't-give-a-shit-what-you-think humour you get with age.