Today, I got a hug!

Today I got a hug from an old, frail, nearly blind Indian lady.  I got this hug because I was doing my job!  I did a very simple thing:  I listened to her, her problem and simply explained to her what her options were to get her sight restored and helped her navigate the perils of our healthcare system.  I did not give her a discount, I did not provide the care for free, I did not pull any strings for her.  Just the simple fact of treating her like a human being made the difference today.  Her surgery is scheduled and hopefully she will get her sight restored on one of her eyes so that she will be more independent and be a more productive member of our community. 

It also reminded me – like it does every day – the importance of safety net hospitals in our country.  This lady has very limited means and has no insurance.  Without Grady Memorial Hospital, this lady and thousands and millions of people like her have no options.   Without Grady, they would most probably be maimed for the rest of their lives, some would limp forever, some would be sightless, and some would die in child birth.  

This lady is also lucky enough to have one caring person who brings her to the hospital, organizes her community and raise money for her care, and is a strong advocate for her.  Without this individual, she would have had no way to navigate the bureaucracy this country has set to prevent deliver care to individuals without means.   I wonder how many other elderly people out there are in the same position she is in, not receiving the care they need because we are too short sighted to see that if we do not take care of these people, it will cost all of us much more in the long run. 

We need reasonable healthcare available to everyone living in this country.  We have to accept the fact that everyone living here constitutes our community and we have to take care of every individual living in our community.  Only then we can all prosper.

I do not even understand how one can turn a blind eye when one’s neighbor is going blind.