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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMy letter from President Obama.
Some of you may remember this post from about a year and a half ago, when my 4 year old daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021502000
On the one year anniversary of her diagnosis, I wrote the President, thanking him for Obamacare and making reference to the points in my post. This is what I wrote:
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Dear President Obama,
On October 8, 2012, my five year old daughter Olivia was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. As a father, Im sure you can imagine the devastation of learning that your child is inflicted with a disease for which there is no known cure. Indeed, the first few months were a blur for my wife Kari and I, but we were determined to do anything and everything we could to make sure Olivia is able to lead as healthy and normal a life as possible. One year later, I am happy to report that Olivia is thriving. In fact, despite being stuck with approximately 4,000 needles over the past year (between finger pricks and insulin shots), Olivia is the same sweet, active, empathetic and outgoing little girl she always was. Maybe even more so. For diabetics with Type 1, it takes extraordinary effort to do ordinary things, and our whole family including big sister Sophia (age 8) and little brother Peter (age 2) all work together to help make that possible.
While there are certainly times when the present seems overwhelming, our main worry is the future. Will we be able to teach Olivia to take as good care of herself as we take care of her? Will she make the right choices? Will a cure ever be found? At times like these, however, including when Olivia was first diagnosed, we take comfort in the Affordable Care Act, which we are proud to call Obamacare. Thanks to your efforts and those of your Democratic colleagues, under Obamacare Olivia can remain covered by my insurance until she is 26. Afterwards, she cannot be refused coverage due to her pre-existing condition. Nor will her treatment be restricted by lifetime coverage limits. In short, thanks to Obamacare, we are confident that Olivia will have access to the care she needs. To the parents of a child with a chronic disease, there is nothing that is more important.
Keep up the good work. We are behind you all the way. Thank you, God bless you, and may God bless the United States of America.
Respectfully,
MATTHEW GENNARO
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Today in the mail I received a response.
Thank you again, Mr. President.
Forward.
3catwoman3
(24,041 posts)...and hoping your story gets widely publicized.
RedSpartan
(1,693 posts)3catwoman3
(24,041 posts)I'm a pediatric nurse practitioner in a large busy practice. One of my collegues diagnosed a new diabetic just yesterday, and we were discussing the unexpected adjustments the family will now be making - lots of learning ahead, as you well know. I don't think anyone ever comes in to the office anticipating a life changing diagnosis.
Whisp
(24,096 posts)sheshe2
(83,898 posts)May she stay healthy and strong.