What My Mom and Obama Mean To Me.

I grew up on the middle end of the low class. We weren’t totally poor, but we struggled hard. My mother was a loving, hard working, and strong person who was dealt some shitty hands. When I was about 3 years old, my alcoholic, abusive father left only to be heard from once every couple years with zero intention to take any role in my life, especially financially.

My mother worked hard and often, usually double shifts 6-7 days a week. She was responsible, healthy, and educated. She worked as a waitress while putting herself through college and raising me all alone. When she finally graduated, car and money problems prevented her from seeking a career in the business field she worked so hard at while in college. She remained at the restaurant where she worked, never missing a day, covering everyones shifts, and doing ultimately what she grew to love. What she was doing was a social service. She loved people. She was their counselor and confidant. She felt that what she was doing was actually making a difference.

After my Mothers long time boyfriend literally beat the piss out of me, she didn’t hesitate to pack our stuff and leave in the middle of the night with $3 in her pocket in the dead of Chicago winter. Over a period of months we went from living in the car, to a friends house, then a motel until she was able to get us a small apartment. It was a one bedroom and she gave me the room while she slept on the couch.

We were in the system at this point in time to help us get on our feet. We got food stamps and housing assistance, and when I was sick, we drove for an hour to a state run healthcare facility where it only cost $20 for them to see me. And the second we were back on our feet, we left the system because my mom claimed and paid taxes on the measly $18-20K a year she made, which also meant that we no longer qualified for the medical assistance program.

Fast forward several years, my Mother would tell me about little health problems that were bothering her, and how she couldn’t afford to go see the doctors. She didn’t have and could never afford health insurance, and she made too much money to qualify for public aid. My Mother, who was great, loving, educated, smart, articulate, and a tax paying American was not able get get help. She kept her pain quite, hoping that it would all be fine, as not to worry me and friends.

In February 2002, the night of my 21st birthday, my Mother had a massive and fatal heart attack at the young age of 41. My best friend. The most amazing person I have ever known, wasn’t even given a chance to live because of a flawed healthcare system. Because she didn’t make enough to afford insurance and made to much to qualify for public assistance. My mother was a rock in the community. Someone who everyone loved and came to for guidance. The turnout at her funeral was nothing short of amazing.

In January of 2008, I was hospitalized for a life jarring lung infection. After over 10 years of making a good living and paying into my health insurance, I decided to leave my job to go to Central America and work on my spanish, get to know other cultures, and get involved with organic farming. So when I returned and this incident occurred, I had no insurance. After 27 years of never being sick or hospitalized, the 5 month period when I didn’t have it, I needed it. If that ain’t Murphy’s Law at work… I am sitting on over $55K is hospital bills along with another $40K in student loans, and lets just say, I am a bit discouraged.

So if you really want to know why I support universal healthcare and education? Why I voted for Barrack Obama yesterday morning? Now you know. While many people will take advantage of the system, the are way more people who deserve the help and will suffer for not having it. By helping to create a healthy and educated America, we are securing our future. Don’t you think it’s your duty, not as a citizen of America, but one of humanity, to help your brothers and sisters? I do. I will.