On Grey’s Anatomy last week, Dr. Derek Shepherd (enough playing, McDreamy) is called in from home to soothe a young man unhinged with pain after a highly invasive surgery. The attending physician has already tried morphine with no relief. Where heavy narcotics fail, McDreamy flourishes. After placating the patient he turns to the worried mother, [...]
Last year health insurance companies reported robust profits while everyone else slumped dreadfully. Eyebrows were raised and practices came under question. How much of an institution founded on partnership with the patient still gives the patient a thought in their meeting rooms? Many insist quite a bit. According to a Gallup poll released last year, [...]
On my way to meet a friend last week I happened upon a car going 20 mph under the listed speed and weaving like he just left happy hour. When passing (and hoping to make eye contact to show my displeasure) it was revealed the offender was too absorbed in his mobile to look up [...]
Jeana Moore is the grandmother of a leukemia survivor. Her granddaughter, Jada, received a bone marrow transplant at only seven months old, the donor was an unrelated one from Germany. After seeing a life saved, Jeana decided to literally take steps towards spreading awareness; she is walking across the continental United States in hope of [...]
Having removed my jacket for the upcoming blood draw, I sat down. And would do so for the next hour. Over 60 minutes I observed many things. One, after having trouble inserting IVs into the arms of a few of the older patients the two nurses on duty were running behind schedule. Two, the other patients [...]
Seun Adebiyi is 26 and has an Ivy League education. He has a great job and a a shot at being an Olympian in 2014. Adebiyi has cancer. Lymphoblastic lymphoma and stem-cell leukemia, the cure is a stem cell transplant. For now Adebiyi has not been able to find a bone marrow match and has [...]
This letter from the chief executive of the National Marrow Donor Program, Jeffrey W.Chell, and the president of the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Claudio Anasetti, appeared in the New York Times last week. They argue that changing current laws that bar bone marrow donors from being compensated is a mistake. “International standard-setting [...]
Shawntell Taylor is a survivor. She was diagnosed with Aplastic Anemia in 2004 has since underwent three unsuccessful interventions, including two rounds of ATG. Taylor explains in the above clip she also had two unrelated donors “cancel on me.” Like I said, Shawntell Taylor is a survivor.
Above Regina Holliday explains 73 cents, a mural inspired by her late husband’s healthcare experience. Listen to the NPR feature here. In Novemember, Regina submitted her family’s story to myPICCline.
In October I posted my letter of appeal after Blue Cross Blue Shield’s told me it would not cover my bone marrow donor search. After hearing no response for several weeks I resent the letter certified and finally heard back. The verdict was…there was no verdict. My appeal was not reviewed because I did not [...]
A. Anemia News
