Today, I’m making change a little more convenient for you
As we put the spotlight on changing the world and ‘The Inconvenience of Change’ this month at Life Without Pants, I want to use this platform to raise awareness about something that could use a lot of changing – the health-care system in America. Regardless of your political views, it is apparent that their are clear issues with our countries health-care and medicare. People do not deserve to die because they can’t afford to live.
If you are active on Twitter, you might have noticed a lot of talk about Eric De La Cruz. Eric is 27 years old, resides in Nevada, and is in dire need of a heart transplant. He is dying, currently being kept alive by three different IV’s. Eric has been turned down for a heart transplant list because he is on Nevada Medicaid, and there are no transplant centers in Nevada. Eric needs to go to California under the Medicare Disability program, but has been rejected twice. No one will accept Eric regardless of his medicare because he does not have secondary insurance – no one will cover him because of a pre-existing condition. Basically, no one will transport him because of insurance issues and paperwork. Eric’s life is on the line – and his situation illustrates the overall flaw in American health-care. His sister Veronica is doing everything she can for her brother, but she’s caught up in a web of legal red tape.
Eric does not deserve to die
Eric is a complete stranger to me and you – but think about how you would feel if you were in this situation. Maybe you’ve already dealt with a situation where a friend or family member was turned down because they couldn’t afford a procedure, maybe you know of someone who died because they couldn’t get the right paperwork with the right signatures. If you haven’t dealt with it first hand, I can tell you it’s happening every day in our country.
Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails fame has gotten involved and over the past week, offering fans full VIP treatment for donations of $300 or $1,000 dollars. In a week, Reznor has raised nearly $550,000. Over half a million dollars from people like you and me – illustrating how amazing it is when people come together for the common good. Im urging ALL OF YOU reading this to do SOMETHING. Why? Because Eric (and other people like him) don’t deserve to die. Skip the latte and donate $5 or $10 bucks – we can all spare a LITTLE that will go a LONG way.
What You Can Do
- Donate money to the Life Givers Foundation (benefiting Eric)
- Follow Veronica De La Cruz on Twitter
- Add a banner to your blog/website/Twitter Avatar
- Send an email to Nevada Congress members
- Write a blog raising awareness amongst your own audience and community
- Tweet about it, encourage others to get involved
Thank you all for your continued support of the Life Without Pants community. This series (The Inconvenience of Change) has been a humbling and eye-opening experience for me. If nothing else, it’s shown me that I have the ability to inspire others to think outside the box and look within themselves. Take some time to do something selfless this weekend and be a direct contributor in saving a life.