Lately, two of my good friends have faced medical challenges, and in both cases were helped, free of charge, by organizations dedicated to helping those in need. By in need, I mean that they were in need of medical help, not necessarily "needy."
Jan had just had knee surgery and was recuperating nicely, it seemed, at her mother's apartment. She was doing fine until she took the pain killer that had been prescribed for her. She fainted, hit her head and was lying on the floor bleeding when her mother found her. Luckily, her mother knew about Hatzalah.
From their website:
"Chevra Hatzalah, a non-profit corporation, is the largest all-volunteer Ambulance Service in the United States, providing premium quality pre-hospital emergency medical treatment and transportation at no cost to all who need it, regardless of race, religion or ethnicity. Chevra Hatzalah does not receive any government funding on any level – not from any Federal, State or local governmental agency – nor does it seek reimbursement from medical insurance companies. Chevra Hatzalah, which was founded in NYC in 1965, has become a model for similar Hatzalah rescue and ambulance services throughout the world.
Interestingly, Hatzalah's response time is faster than conventional ambulances.
John's father died suddenly, leaving him with no choice but to move his elderly mother in with him. His mother's medical problems seem to have worsened in the past few months. John is now faced with making decisions and dealing with everyday problems. He's lined up some doctor's appointments, but there is a wait for them.
Like many elderly people, his mother has trouble getting around. For her, the short walk from the house to the car is a half hour ordeal, and John admitted that a wheel chair would help.
Enter Comfort Ye Ministry. Comfort Ye is a ministry devoted to helping the elderly with free wheel chairs, walkers, toilet seat extenders, adult diapers, even food and toiletries to people who need them. All of their items are donated to them.
Medical bills and related problems are one of the chief reasons people go into debt. In John's case, he has cut his work schedule dramatically in order to care for his father. When he does go to work, he has a home health worker come to the house to care for his mother, at a cost of $18 an hour. The free wheel chair is a drop in the bucket. Perhaps Medicare would have paid for it, but with unused wheel chairs on this earth, there is no good reason not to make use of the free one.
Jan has not worked for weeks, but is lucky to have a benevolent boss who pays her nonetheless. She does, however, have a large co-pay for her surgery, and not having to pay a thousand dollars for an ambulance ride will make a difference.
I firmly believe in free health care for all of us. The two charities I have mentioned are managing to provide care without the huge bills to the consumer. They are somehow doing this without bankrupting themselves; by accepting donations and, I'm guessing, keeping costs low. These charities are examples of what could be done in America on a larger scale. Hopefully soon.
By the way, both of the aforementioned charities operate by accepting donations, although none is required. Please give generously to any charity that you feel strongly about, whether it's a monetary donation, goods, or volunteering.
