I'm sure he is - that's not something you expect to happen to someone your age at that age, and the reason he couldn't go to a doctor is heartbreaking and enraging.

Yeah, Bobby has had issues with headaches for many years. Dehydration, sugar, probably migraines too. But he has insurance. He had every test in the book including an MRI to rule out anything serious. The whole thing is just so upsetting. He knew the kid, but of course didn't really know anything about his family situation. He had a really thick accent and Bobby thinks he was living with some extended family member. It is very common for kids from the DR or Haiti and other countries to come here and stay with some friend or family so they can go to school here. Parents want their kids to have a better life. Sorry, really upset here.

Isn't taking care of our sick and our children a basic responsibility?

In a country and world that I could be proud of, yes. What a terrible thing to have happened. Both to the child and his family but also to Bobby because what a terrible thing to have to see about your society.

Parents want their kids to have a better life. Sorry, really upset here.

A family just lost their child in what was likely a very preventable way. Of course you are upset. I am so sorry, Laura.

Like mexico here. At least before we turned to Hang Em High. That's really awful, Laura. I totally want to "party with the Haiti-ans,"(/Clueless)

What gets to me is that most of the political arguments about health care rarely include the kid who didn't get treated soon enough, or the woman who is blind because of diabetes, or the families who try to eke out medications, probably not helping the disease and increasing antibiotic resistance. Instead, those people who, in an alternate universe, "chose" to be uninsured are perfectly healthly until they take advantage of the system and take all their kids to the ER to be treated for the flu.

That said, I like your 17-year+ plan. As much as we wanna send negative energy to the cancer, we need to send positive energy to Ginger, and judging from the 120+ posts, we got a great start.

This is a very good point. I woke up today extremely angry on Ginger's behalf and angry at the doctor's and schedulers who made it so difficult for her to get her diagnosis. However, I am trying to turn that anger into positive thoughts for Ginger.

Ginger,

you are absolutely correct, which makes me blind with rage with Santorum when he talks about how its people's fault that they aren't insured.

A month later he mentioned that his youngest daughter's illness nearly bankrupted them as a family and they HAVE insurance.

I'm about to go WTF all over him with 8 clue x fours.

Laura,

good grief. (shaking my head). what a tragedy.

Adding my voice to the chorus of love and support for you, Ginger. May there be love and strength in abundance for you when you need it, and may you know every step of the way how much you are loved and cherished by all of us.

Laura, my heart goes out to you and your family. It's so damned senseless, the waste of lives.

And now I need to go find the tissues at work.

JenP, I'm glad your mother is doing better. Continued ~ma is headed her way.

{{{Ginger}}}, just because I can.

Laura, that is heartbreaking. I hope Bobby--and the rest of you--can find some peace.

Sometimes, Karl, I think it's senseless. Sometimes I think it's part of a very deliberate strategy. I don't know which makes me wanna holler more.